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Game Recap -1.0: Edmonton Oilers vs Calgary Flames (7/28/2020) – Oilers Nation

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Undefeated on route to the Cup. Final Score: 4-1 Oilers

It’s been 139 days since I last wrote a wrap up, a gap in time that has honestly felt like infinitely longer than that, and even though tonight’s Battle of Alberta was only an exhibition game I was still excited for it all day. For me, the idea that the NHL was ever going to come back during the pandemic felt like a pipe dream that I was hopeful that they could pull off, but one that I wasn’t sure was based in reality. Even when the league was initially batting around the concept of holding the playoffs in August with a 24-team tournament, I was excited about the possibility if summer hockey but because of COVID-19, I seriously had my doubts it would happen. Yet, even though I was continuously expecting that an announcement was coming for the season to be cancelled, the NHL and players association soldiered on and came up with a plan that allowed the league to get back on the ice.

Even though tonight’s game didn’t mean anything in terms of the playoffs, I have to admit how much of a morale boost I felt as soon as the puck dropped. I think I can speak for everyone when I say how much I missed watching hockey, but I don’t think it really clicked how big the hole was that having the season taken away had left and it felt damned fine to watch the boys back out there doing their thing. Despite the oddness of watching my first fanless game outside of what routinely happens in Florida, I actually didn’t think it took too long to get over the strangeness of the situation and simply enjoy the game. From start to finish, just watching the Oilers and Flames get chippy despite this game not meaning anything was exactly what I needed and I’m having a hard time expressing how happy I was to be able to spend my night this way. To do something so boringly normal after months of uncertainty was such a welcomed change of pace and I hope everyone reading this was able to enjoy it as much as I did.

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The wrap.

THE BRIGHT SIDE

  • I absolutely loved the Colby Cave tribute to start the game. Incredible touch by the Oilers.
  • Kailer Yamamoto opened the scoring for the Oilers after he found himself in the right place at the right time to bang home a rebound into an empty cage from the slot. Klefbom took the shot, Talbot couldn’t control the rebound, and Yamo was there to pump it home to give the Oilers a one-goal lead only 1:40 into the hockey game.
  • I’m not going to lie, you have no idea how happy I was to watch Connor McDavid do his thing again and to see him extend Edmonton’s lead to two goals with a powerplay marker in the first period gave me happiness all the way to my core. And when he added a second goal in the dying minutes of the third period, my glee was almost uncontainable. Just seeing him make plays in Oilers colours again was more than enough for me.
  • Patrick Russell restored the Oilers two-goal lead with just over four minutes left in the third period, and I can’t tell you how I wish we could make this one count for him. Russell had a goal called back in the regular season and wasn’t able to get another before the season was paused, and I honestly yelled in excitement for him before I remembered that it didn’t count for anything.
  • Mikko Koskinen got the start for the Oilers tonight and I was looking to see how much rust the big man would show after not playing a game since March 9th against Vegas. As it turns out, Kostco looked rocked solid between the pipes and he provided the kind of backstopping that you’d expect from him mid-season, not after an extended layoff as a result of a global pandemic. From the opening faceoff until the moment he made way for Mike Smith, Mikko Koskinen was fantastic between the pipes and stopped all 17 shots he faced.
  • After spending the first half on the bench, Mike Smith got the chance to close out the two-goal lead and show why he deserves some time in the playoffs too. Despite not being able to lock things down entirely as Koskinen did, Smith did a fine job in his half and made some huge saves from in tight that kept the Flames in the rearview mirror. Smith finished his night with 19 saves and a .950 save%.
  • Shout out to Oscar Klefbom for picking up where he left off back in March by adding a pair of assists to go along with two shots on net and 20:54 of ice time.
  • I know it was talked about a lot tonight, but I loved seeing Ethan Bear’s name in Cree syllabics on the back of his jersey. That was a cool moment.
  • I thought Philip Broberg looked a little bit shaky out there tonight in his North American debut, but I can certainly understand why the media were so impressed enamoured with his skating at training camp. Despite the mistakes here and there in the opening frame, something that was not at all unexpected given the moment he was in, I thought he managed to tread water in his first NHL game and I say that as a compliment.
  • In no way did I expect this game to be as angry and chippy as it played out — both sides threw their share of bodychecks — but I loved every single minute of the hatred.
  • 51% in the faceoff circle, baby!
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THE FACE PALMERS

  • Elias Lindholm got the Flames on the board late in the second period to narrow the gap to one goal after he picked up a loose puck at the side of the net and roofed it over a falling Mike Smith. Some might argue that it could have been goaltender interference as Matt Tkachuk made contact with the goaltender, but it wasn’t called on the ice and Dave Tippett didn’t feel like taking a swing on the challenge. The worst part of the goal, though, was hearing the Calgary goal horn at Rogers Place.
  • The Oilers were incredibly flat over the final half of the hockey game and had it not been an exhibition game then I probably would have been a lot angrier about what I was watching despite the favourable outcome.
  • It’s been months since the last Battle of Alberta took place, but Matthew Tkachuk is still just as annoying as ever.
  • To be honest, the only time I really missed the crowd was after goals. Having the horn go off as it normally would without anyone there to react made me laugh every single time.
  • Also, I was kinda bummed that the fake crowd noise did as good of a job as it did to drown out what the players were saying.

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST PERIOD

2ND PERIOD

3RD PERIOD

#GOODCONTENT

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Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

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November 8, 2024

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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.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

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.

___

AP cricket:

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Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

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November 8, 2024

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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.

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Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

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November 8, 2024

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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.

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