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About Last Night: Habs lose Slafkovsky late in defeat to Canes

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The Montreal Canadiens extended their multi-year losing streak in Raleigh, N.C., with a 5-3 loss against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night at PNC Arena.

The Habs have not won in Raleigh since 2016. Cayden Primeau started consecutive games for the first time this season (bookending a five-day holiday break) and made 26 saves against the high-octane Canes offence. Andrei Svechnikov scored a hat trick for the winning side.

Jordan Harris returned to the lineup after being out since Nov. 18 with a lower-body injury.

Juraj Slafkovsky left the game late in the third to visit with the concussion spotters after taking a hit by Stefan Noesen. Noesen appeared to hit the Habs forward in the head. After the game it was revealed Slafkovsky passed the concussion tests.

It was all Canes in the first period, especially early on. Svechnikov opened the scoring on Primeau with a deflection in front.
Despite being outshot 15-7 in the opening frame, the Habs managed to claw back and tie it up. Jayden Struble threw one on net and Mitchell Stephens was there to pot the rebound to halve Carolina’s lead at 2-1.
Then Carolina thought they regained a two-goal lead, but Habs coach Martin St. Louis successfully challenged that Jack Drury interfered with Primeau, so the goal was called back. With three seconds left in the period, and with Svechnikov in the penalty box, Mike Matheson scored on a wraparound to even things 2-2. With an assist on the goal, Sean Monahan hit the 500-point plateau for his career.
Just 1:29 into the second period, the home team got that elusive third goal. Fast once again was in the right place, and he buried the one-timer to give the Canes a 3-2 lead.
Michael Pezzetta missed a redirect by a hair for Montreal’s best chance in the second, but they returned to the dressing room down a goal heading into the third.

At 25 seconds in the third, Josh Anderson scored his fifth goal in five games to tie it up once again at 3-3. It was a true “powerhorse” type unassisted breakaway goal for the red-hot forward.

Carolina regained the lead on the faceoff right after Primeau came up huge to stop Drury. Right off the draw, Svechnikov received a one-timer pass from Brett Pesce and he beat Primeau through a screen to make it 4-3 Canes.
With around five minutes left to play, Noesen caught Slafkovsky with the aforementioned hit, and the latter’s night was over as he was sent into concussion protocol. He was given the green light afterward. Svechnikov would add an empty netter for his hat trick to end the game at 5-3.

Not unlike their recent overtime loss in Minnesota, the Canadiens got close to ending a long-standing losing streak in a particular city, but came up short. The Habs will have to wait to end their droughts in St. Paul and Raleigh.

Harris played 16:16 in his return and immediately clicked with fellow Northeastern alum Struble, according to Hockey Stat Cards.

Primeau also attended Northeastern, and don’t let the four goals allowed fool you: he often stood tall against the very capable Carolina offence, and since his loss against Florida where his glove failed him, he’s looked the part of a real NHL backup in his last three outings.

The lack of call on the Slafkovsky hit got the Liveblog commenters riled up. At the other end, Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour expressed his dissatisfaction with the refs when he thought Struble dove on the Michael Bunting hooking call. The officiating in the NHL can be inconsistent, but are we putting too much weight on every missed call? It comes up a lot in the comments, as you might imagine.

As does the potential return of Arber Xhekaj. With Harris back there’s even more of a defensive logjam in Montreal, so it might take an injury or a dominant stretch in Laval to get him back up with the big club.

3. “It’s absurd that Xhekaj is in Laval and we are getting attacked by head hunters every game. No penalty on the ugly head hit to Slafkovsky? Arber should not have been sent down. Especially to Laval where it is pathetic. His toughness is missed, and if St. Louis is as good a mentor as we are led to believe, then bring him up and let the work begin.” -Charles Patrick

2. “I would like to see xhekaj back as a forward , I bet it would be a good move to have him as the new Gallagher , I’m pretty sure the sheriff can play up front and intimidate, and be very good at blocking the goalies view !” -Wayne Copeland

1. “Pathetic refereeing as usual, head shot is OK but trivial touch by Armia is called! Call up Xhekaj and send Barron down.” -Philip Marlowe

 

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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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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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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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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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