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IWTG: Unlikely overtime hero Chris Tanev sends the Canucks to the playoffs – Vancouver Is Awesome

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4 years ago

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The 2019-20 Canucks are officially a playoff team.

That may seem confusing to some people that haven’t been closely following how the NHL has approached this pandemic-coterminous postseason. Weren’t the Canucks already in the playoffs in a series against the Minnesota Wild?

Well, no. But also yes, sort of. It’s complicated.

Technically, what the Canucks just won was a special best-of-5 qualifying round for the playoffs, but not itself a playoff round. Next round, they’ll face either the Dallas Stars or St. Louis Blues in the actual first round of the playoffs. 

At the same time, points scored in the qualifying round count as playoff points for individual scoring. That means that Chris Tanev officially scored a playoff overtime goal to win a non-playoff series. 

This bizarre postseason managed to take the unlikelihood of a Tanev overtime series-winning goal and make it even more unlikely. It’s a goal caught in quantum superposition: simultaneously a playoff series-winning goal and not a playoff series-winning goal. 

All of that, of course, is minutiae. What really matters for Canucks fans right now is one simple truth: the Canucks are going to the playoffs, where they’ll compete for the Stanley Cup. Are they likely to go all the way and win the first Cup in franchise history? Let’s face it, they’re still long shots and underdogs, but unlikelier things have happened.

For instance, I saw Chris Tanev score an overtime series-winning goal when I watched this game.

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  • Tanev isn’t exactly known as a goal-scorer, but perhaps his overtime tally wasn’t quite as unlikely as it seemed. While the defensive stalwart doesn’t score often, he has a predilection for overtime winners. His first career NHL goal was an overtime winner, a perfectly-placed shot off a setup by both Sedins. Of his 23 career goals, five of them are overtime winners, 21.7% of his total. I can’t imagine any other NHLer has a higher percentage of their goals coming in overtime.
     
  • Before we get to Tanev’s shining moment, let’s take on the rest of the game, which got off to a rough start with yet another Tyler Myers penalty. The rangy defenceman got his penalty box loyalty card stamped repeatedly all series, finishing with a whopping 9 minor penalties in four games. One more and he gets a free Slurpee.
     
  • The Wild opened the scoring just ten seconds into the subsequent power play, with Luke Kunin jamming the puck past Jacob Markstrom when the Canucks goaltender couldn’t seal off the post with his pad. It was an uncharacteristic error for Markstrom, who looked shaky all game, giving up multiple ugly goals. Fatigue may be a factor, as he was playing his second game on back-to-backs and fourth game in six days.
     
  • One player for whom fatigue doesn’t seem to be a factor? Quinn Hughes. The rookie was dominant all series, but elevated his game even more in Game 4. He led the Canucks with over 27 minutes in ice time, tallied two points including his first NHL playoff goal, and was on the ice for all five Canucks goals in the game. Aside from a couple defensive miscues, he was the Canucks’ best player at the exact time they needed him to be.
     
  • “It means everything,” said Hughes about being entrusted with so many minutes in a crucial game. “I take a lot of pride in that, for sure, but I think Chris [Tanev], Eddie [Alex Edler], Mysie [Tyler Myers], I think us four played really well tonight and ate a lot of minutes. I think it’s a really good top-four.”
     
  • The goal and assist will get the attention, but my favourite play from Hughes was this zone exit from the first period. It looked like he was pinned against the end boards or was at least contained by the forecheckers, but he broke free with ease, then burst out of the Canucks’ zone, flew through the neutral zone, and gained the Wild blue line like it was nothing. He makes it look so easy, but it isn’t.
  • Tanev finished off the offence for the Canucks, but he also got it started, assisting on the Canucks’ first goal. He whipped a breakout pass to centre, where Bo Horvat tipped it through for Tanner Pearson on the left wing. Pearson picked up the puck, disabled the hyperdrive failsafes, and pulled off the Holdo Maneuver, blasting the puck through hyperspace right through Alex Stalock.
     
  • The Wild responded quicker than a guy who just got a text from his crush, as Eric Staal picked a corner over Markstrom’s shoulder from a tight angle to make it 2-1. Like Downton Abbey, there was too much room upstairs, as Markstrom, crouched low in his reverse-VH, couldn’t seal off the top of the net.
     
  • Olli Juolevi made his NHL debut in this game, a surprise addition to the lineup with Oscar Fantenberg a late scratch after taking the warmup. While he had only 6:16 in ice time, he looked surprisingly comfortable and confident, moving the puck effectively whenever he had the chance, and the Wild didn’t get a single shot on goal when he was on the ice. His best moment was this subtle fake at the point before sending the puck across to Elias Pettersson.
  • After Joel Eriksson Ek made it 3-1 on a rebound off a tipped point shot, the Canucks needed a quick response to turn the tide. They got it from an unlikely combination: Quinn Hughes and Brandon Sutter. Hughes made a slick turn in the offensive zone to create some space, then got a quick shot on net through traffic. The puck popped up into the air and landed behind Stalock, where Sutter jammed it home like The Allman Brothers Band on the last leg of a tour.
     
  • The moves on the assist were nice, but Hughes had something even better saved for the power play a minute later. He corralled a pass from J.T. Miller, then sent a laser of a shot off the post and in with an incredibly-satisfying “ping” sound that echoed throughout the empty arena. Stalock had no chance to even see the shot, as Brock Boeser took advantage of his opaqueness to set a perfect screen.
     
  • Before the end of the second period, however, the Wild regained the lead, scoring a deflating goal from an awful angle in the final minute. Markstrom was quick to take responsibility for his shaky play, saying after the game, “I want to thank all the players for scoring one more goal than I Iet in.”
     
  • It was a close call, however. The Wild are known for their sound defensive structure and didn’t give the Canucks much in the third, except for one major exception: with six minutes left, Tanner Pearson got to a puck on the endboards and protected it from Jared Spurgeon, then found Bo Horvat wide open in front of the net — Kevin Fiala got caught puck-watching and drifted away from Horvat in the most dangerous area of the ice. That one defensive blunder cost Minnesota the game.
  • Horvat had a superb game, playing primarily against the Wild’s top line of Kevin Fiala, Eric Staal, and Marcus Foligno and winning the battle. He had three points, including the tying goal, and was a force in the faceoff circle, going 10-for-16, including 6-for-7 in the defensive zone. It was a defining game for the young Canucks captain.
     
  • Overtime lasted just 11 seconds. Nico Sturm, who scored the 4-3 goal, made a weak clearing attempt that Chris Tanev collected and pulled into the middle. His point shot whistled towards the net just as J.T. Miller and Matt Dumba skated through Stalock’s eyeline and the goaltender didn’t pick up the puck until it was far too late.
     
  • The Canucks bench erupted in excitement and poured onto the ice to celebrate with Tanev, whose gap-toothed grin said it all. Tanev is one of just two Canucks remaining from the last time the Canucks won a playoff series, way back in 2011, and he’s been a warrior for the team for nearly a decade.
  • Tanev, clearly not used to being the centre of attention when it comes to post-game media, had the line of the night when asked how the team will celebrate within the quarantined bubble in Edmonton: “I’m sure we can think of a few things after we get undressed.”
     
  • Appropriately, Tanev’s goal song back when the Canucks had individualized goal songs in the arena, was “Hot in Herre” by Nelly. So take off all your clothes, the Canucks are going to the playoffs.
     

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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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2 days ago

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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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2 days ago

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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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