Vladimir Tarasenko, who had surgery Oct. 29 to repair a dislocated left shoulder, was about a week away from returning to the lineup when the season was paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. Now with four more months to get stronger, Tarasenko should be back to form. His biggest impact could come at 5-on-5; his 112 5-on-5 goals from 2014-15 through 2018-19 were second in the NHL behind Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals (118). The Blues were 12th in the NHL and third among the four teams in the West round-robin with 149 goals at 5-on-5 this season.
Jordan Binnington helped the Blues win the Stanley Cup last season and carried his strong play into this season. He went 30-13-7 with a 2.56 goals-against average, a .912 save percentage and three shutouts in 50 games. His 30 wins were third in the NHL, and his 34 starts with a save percentage of at least .900 were tied for second in the NHL with Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning (Connor Hellebuyck of Winnipeg Jets, 38).
Numbers to know
The Blues were 18th in the NHL on the penalty kill this season at 79.3 percent, but it didn’t affect their record because they were one of the more disciplined teams in the League. They averaged 7:13 of penalty minutes per game, sixth lowest in the NHL, and were shorthanded 2.86 times per game, 12th fewest. The potential to be better is there; the 2020 postseason roster includes nine of the 11 skaters who averaged at least 1:16 of shorthanded ice time per game last season when St. Louis finished ninth on the penalty kill at 81.5 percent.
They said it
“We’re preparing for something big. Biggest challenge in the NHL is the [Stanley Cup] Playoffs. … Everybody understands how important it is and everybody understands we need to be ready to go right away. Just do what we can to prepare and play our best in the playoffs.” — forward Vladimir Tarasenko
Projected lineup
Jaden Schwartz — Brayden Schenn — Vladimir Tarasenko
Zach Sanford — Ryan O’Reilly — David Perron
Sammy Blais — Robert Thomas — Tyler Bozak
Mackenzie MacEachern — Oskar Sundqvist — Alexander Steen
Carl Gunnarsson — Alex Pietrangelo
Marco Scandella — Colton Parayko
Justin Faulk — Robert Bortuzzo
Jordan Binnington
Jake Allen
Scratched:Ivan Barbashev, Troy Brouwer, Jacob de la Rose, Klim Kostin, Jordan Kyrou, Austin Poganski, Niko Mikkola, Derrick Pouliot, Jake Walman, Ville Husso
Center Nathan MacKinnon is a finalist for the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP, the Ted Lindsay Award as most outstanding player and the Lady Byng Trophy for gentlemanly play. He was fifth in the NHL with 93 points (35 goals, 58 assists) in 69 games before the season was paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus, scoring 14 more goals and 43 more points than any teammate. In 12 playoff games last season, he scored 13 points (six goals, seven assists), second on the Avalanche to forward Mikko Rantanen‘s 14.
Goaltending
Philipp Grubauer and Pavel Francouz each is a potential starter, and the Avalanche won’t decide on their No. 1 goalie for the Stanley Cup Playoffs until after the round-robin, according to coach Jared Bednar. Grubauer, who was the backup for the Washington Capitals when they won the Stanley Cup in 2018, went 7-5 with a 2.30 goals-against average, a .925 save percentage and one shutout in 12 playoff games for Colorado last season. He battled injuries this season and went 18-12-4 with a 2.63 GAA, a .916 save percentage and two shutouts in 36 games. That opened the door for Francouz, who went 21-7-4 with a 2.41 GAA, a .923 save percentage and one shutout in 34 games but never has played in the postseason.
Numbers to know
Defenseman Cale Makar has scored 56 points (13 goals, 43 assists) in the first 67 games of his NHL career, regular season and playoffs. He made his NHL debut in the 2019 postseason and scored six points (one goal, five assists) in 10 games, then scored 50 (12 goals, 38 assists) in 57 games this season and is a finalist for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year. He scored seven points (three goals, four assists) in eight games against the Avalanche’s round-robin opponents: two assists in four games against the Dallas Stars, four points (two goals, two assists) in three games against the St. Louis Blues, and one goal in one game against the Vegas Golden Knights.
“I think this unfortunate break kind of benefited us the most, just in that everyone got the time to rejuvenate and we got all of our injured guys back. So that’s definitely a plus that came out of this. But I think for us, obviously our goal is to make it all the way. We know we can.” — defenseman Cale Makar
Projected lineup
Andre Burakovsky — Nathan MacKinnon — Mikko Rantanen
Gabriel Landeskog — Nazem Kadri — Valeri Nichushkin
Matt Nieto — Pierre-Edouard Bellemare — Matt Calvert
Ryan Graves — Cale Makar
Samuel Girard — Erik Johnson
Ian Cole — Nikita Zadorov
Philipp Grubauer
Pavel Francouz
Scratched:Shane Bowers, Sheldon Dries, Tyson Jost, Logan O’Connor, T.J. Tynan, Mark Barberio, Bowen Byram,Kevin Connauton, Anton Lindholm, Conor Timmins, Michael Hutchinson
Unfit to play:Colin Wilson
Vegas Golden Knights
2019-20 season: 39-24-8, .606 points percentage
Season series: COL 0-2-0; DAL 1-1-0; STL 2-1-0
Game breaker
Forward Mark Stone led the Golden Knights in scoring in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season with 12 points (six goals, six assists) in seven games. He was leading them in scoring this season with 63 points (21 goals, 42 assists) in 65 games through Feb. 26, but a lower-body injury caused him to miss the final six games before the season was paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. He’s healthy now and expected to return to his spot on the Golden Knights’ top line.
Goaltending
Coach Peter DeBoer said he has two starting goalies and will play each one. Marc-Andre Fleury has been the face of the Golden Knights since being chosen at the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft and helped Vegas to the 2018 Stanley Cup Final. He was 27-16-5with a 2.77 goals-against average, a .905 save percentage and five shutouts in 49 games this season. Robin Lehner was acquired in a trade Feb. 24 from the Toronto Maple Leafs, who earlier in the day had acquired him from the Chicago Blackhawks. He was 19-10-5 with a 2.89 GAA, a .920 save percentage and one shutout in 36 games, including 3-0-0 with a 1.67 GAA and .940 save percentage in three games with Vegas.
Numbers to know
The Golden Knights led the NHL in 5-on-5 shot attempts percentage at 54.8 percent. Vegas had four of the top 10 players in the NHL in SAT percentage (minimum 30 games), led by forward Max Pacioretty, who was fourth at 58.9 percent, and Shea Theodore, who was fifth and led NHL defensemen at 58.5 percent. Stone was seventh at 57.7 percent, and defenseman Nick Holden was 10th at 56.8 percent.
“Playoffs are a different animal, right? We go out on the road. We’re in the hotel. We hang out together. I guess the only difference is you don’t get to stay at home, you don’t get to see your family. So that’s going to be tough on guys. But they’re not going to be in the city, so I don’t think it’s going to be difficult. What’s more fun than hanging out with your buddies every day playing hockey?” — forward Mark Stone
Projected lineup
Max Pacioretty — William Karlsson — Mark Stone
Jonathan Marchessault — Paul Stastny — Reilly Smith
Forward Jamie Benn had a disappointing regular season with 39 points (19 goals, 20 assists) in 69 games, his fewest in a season since he scored 33 points (12 goals, 21 assists) in 41 games in the shortened 2012-13 season. But he is a proven postseason performer with 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) in 32 Stanley Cup Playoff games. His average of 0.94 points per game in the playoffs is the best for the Stars since the team moved to Dallas in 1993-94 (minimum 10 games).
Ben Bishop went 21-16-4 with a 2.50 goals-against average, a .920 save percentage and two shutouts in 44 games before the season was paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. He is the Stars’ No. 1 goalie. Bishop has 49 starts in the NHL playoffs, 11th among active goalies, going 28-19 with a 2.12 GAA, a .929 save percentage and five shutouts. That gives him the experience edge on Anton Khudobin, who has played in two playoff games (no starts) in 11 NHL seasons. But Khudobin went 16-8-4 in 30 games this season, tied for second in the NHL with a 2.22 GAA, and had a League-best .930 save percentage (minimum 25 games). He’s almost a No. 1B behind Bishop.
Numbers to know
Dallas allowed 2.52 goals per game, second in the NHL behind the Boston Bruins (2.39), but was 26th in the League in scoring at 2.58 goals per game. The Stars scored 108 goals at 5-on-5, second fewest in the NHL ahead of only the Detroit Red Wings (92).
They said it
“We know what our issues are in terms of puck possession and creating offense. We’re the No. 2 team in the League defensively, so that’s our identity. Can we do more with our identity? Absolutely. So we’re working on it and we feel we can improve that area.” — coach Rick Bowness
Projected lineup
Jamie Benn — Tyler Seguin — Denis Gurianov
Mattias Janmark — Joe Pavelski — Alexander Radulov
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.
The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.
Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.
There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.
Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.
But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.
The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”
The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.
Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.
Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.
Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.
Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.
“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”
“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.
Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.
Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.
The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.
Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.
Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.
Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.
Canada Roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).
Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).
Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
