WINNIPEG – We would say hell froze over, but then Winnipeg is always frozen this time of year and it has been a hellish place for the Vancouver Canucks since the Jets returned from exile a decade ago. So, Saturday, maybe hell thawed.
The Canucks, who had lost 10 straight games to the Jets and eight in a row in Winnipeg, not only beat the Jets 4-1, but dominated them over the final two periods to extend their winning streak to four games.
Vancouver accomplished more in this one road victory than it did sweeping three home games this week against the hapless Ottawa Senators. The Jets are so not like the Sens. But the Canucks outshot them 31-11 after the opening period and scored as many goals in one night at MTS Place as they had over the last six years.
At 6-5, the Canucks are back above .500 for the first time since opening night and moved two points clear of the Jets in the Canadian playoff race.
“Yeah, we know that we haven’t won here for a while,” Canucks coach Travis Green told reporters on Zoom after what could be a seminal victory. “We’ve had some close games in here, we’ve had some good games in our building. I think we’ve had some pretty intense games against this team, and they’re a good hockey team. But it doesn’t feel like we couldn’t beat this team.
“Tonight, all we wanted to worry about was our game. I think the media makes a little bit more out of streaks like that than players or coaches. But it’s definitely nice to come in here and get a win because even though you don’t talk about it, the players know. I know.”
And now they know they can beat the Jets, whose formidable forwards and heavy game had always given the Canucks trouble.
Brock Boeser scored just 29 seconds into the game and again into an empty net for a victory that launches the Canucks to Montreal for back-to-back games Monday and Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens.
The Habs may not recognize the Canucks as the team they saw last week in Vancouver, where Montreal won two out of three games and pumped in 17 goals amid slack defending and an epidemic of Canuck turnovers.
“I’m sure you guys can see it just watching the games,” Vancouver goalie Thatcher Demko said of the dramatic uptick in systems play. “We’re starting to get some of that chemistry we were talking about. When guys are on the same page, everything just kind of moves a little bit smoother and you start building confidence that way because you can kind of trust the guy next to you a little bit more.”
BROCK-STAR
After a rib injury and 12-game goal slump at the end of last season left Boeser with just 16 goals for the campaign, the Canucks winger suddenly leads the NHL with eight in 2021, one goal ahead of Mikko Rantanen and Connor McDavid.
“I think the last year — I’ve said it a lot — it was a learning experience,” Boeser said. “I think I was in my head the most I’ve ever been in my head in my hockey career. This year is a fresh start and I just felt like I need to get back to my game, not overthinking things, just playing off instinct.”
He opened scoring Saturday by beating Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck with a deke after the Jets left him unchecked, fooled by Vancouver defenceman Alex Edler, who appeared to be about to ring the puck around the boards to J.T. Miller but slung it back into the high slot to Boeser.
“Eagle shocked the whole rink,” Boeser said. “He made a tremendous pass there. I think everyone thought that he was going to bump it to Millsy behind the net and he did the old Eagle there and kind of looked off Millsy and passed it right to me in front. It was a phenomenal pass by him.”
CANADIAN, EH
Not only does Nils Hoglander play lacrosse, but the Swede is also pretty good at baseball, too.
The 20-year-old Canucks rookie has had a pile of good shifts this season but his first-period twirl against the Jets, on Hockey Night in Canada, may have been his best so far in the NHL. And not only because he scored at 8:17 to break a 1-1 tie.
Famous for a pair of “lacrosse” goals in Europe, Hoglander demonstrated his hand-eye coordination by bunting the puck past Hellebuyck after Bo Horvat’s pass hit Mark Scheifele and bounced off the top of the Jets’ net and into the crease.
But the previous 15 seconds were even more impressive for Hoglander, who on the zone entry embarrassed Josh Morrissey with a spinarama move at the blue line before taking the puck hard to the net while holding off the defenceman. Hoglander shot high, but seconds later stole the puck back as Morrissey tried to transition it up ice. The Canuck went hard to the boards with Morrissey, then spun away and beat Winnipeg’s best defenceman to the front of the net, where the cascading puck awaited.
It’s not Hoglander’s skill that has been most impressive since he forced his way on to the Canucks at training camp — it’s how hard and relentlessly he competes for pucks and protects them once he has them. He makes plays in traffic, where he plays bigger than his five-foot-nine frame.
“I think a little bit I surprised myself,” he said of his NHL start, which includes three goals and six points in 11 games. “I think that’s important for my style to do the D-zone first and then take the offensive zone after that.”
BENN THERE, DONE THAT
We’re not saying Jordie Benn’s return from COVID-19 quarantine is the catalyst for the Canucks’ turnaround, but he has certainly been the catalyst for defence partner Quinn Hughes stabilizing his game and playing with more measure.
A healthy scratch for much of last season and expected to be an extra at the start of this one had he been healthy, Benn has had his best week since joining the Canucks as a free agent in 2019.
Benn’s point shot was deflected in by Zack MacEwen in the second period.
In five games since Green inserted Benn into the lineup on his off-side, to the right of Hughes, the Canucks have outscored opponents 5-0 with the defencemen on the ice together at five-on-five. Before Benn, Hughes was outscored 12-6 at even-strength while playing with a variety of partners.
“He’s a smart guy,” Green said of Benn before the trip. “He’s been calm with the puck, which we’ve liked. He has bought himself some time with the puck. I think he’s bought Quinn a little time, as well. He’s been a good fit with Quinn.”
Last year, Benn couldn’t find a fit with anyone. Now, the 33-year-old is a steadying influence alongside a potential Norris Trophy candidate.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
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.
