“He’s played so tremendously well. There’s been a lot of focus on the pursuit of 70, but you lose sight of how he’s played. The last two games, give him those types of chances and he might have got 75. It’s okay. Sixty-nine is still damn good. There are more great things to come.”
Kucherov collected his 100th assist as part of a three-goal Lightning second period that helped build its five-goal lead. Those breakdowns did get under Matthews’ skin.
“The second wasn’t good enough in our end, definitely not how we want be playing going into the post-season. I don’t think we can just think we’re going to just turn it on come Saturday. But the third (three late goals by TJ Brodie, Pontus Holmberg and John Tavares) showed signs of life and playing to the final whistle.
“Now it’s the important part of the season and we turn our focus to Boston.”
Until the second period it seemed Kucherov might be denied, too. On an earlier power play, Jones made a huge save on Brayden Point that would’ve been his hundredth helper, while Steve Stamkos hit the post on another feed.
But the Leafs kept playing with fire. When Connor Timmins over-reacted after a crease scrum with Matt Dumba and got an extra two, Kucherov set up Point in the slot and the extended home celebration began. McDavid and Kucherov getting to triple figures became the first duo since Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux in 1988-89.
Matthews’ close calls included his 20th post/crossbar, an unofficial league record. He had seven shots in the first period alone with Lightning back-up Matt Tomkins coming up as big as Andrei Vasilevskiy. Matthews, without Max Domi on his line the past couple of games, ended the ‘23-24 campaign with 107 points.
Before the game, Tampa coach John Cooper said the pure fan in him wanted both Kucherov and Matthews to reach their milestones.
“If (Matthews does it), I’ll take solace that 69 times before that, no one else could stop him.”
Kucherov changed the narrative by scoring in the first period to increase his lead in the Art Ross Trophy race to 144 on McDavid who was playing out the schedule in Arizona.
GAME ON
Three ailing forwards legitimately needed Wednesday off for Game 1 recovery time, Domi (undisclosed), Bobby McMann (lower body) and Calle Jarnkrok (hand) were in the stands, with Keefe listing the trio as “possibilities” to play Saturday … Defencemen Morgan Rielly, Jake McCabe and Joel Edmundson didn’t play in Tampa, replaced by Tuesday scratches Mark Giordano, Timmins and Brodie … There were duelling “MVP” chants among fans of Matthews and Kucherov, only two candidates in a crowded field … Jones deserved better from the team in front of him in what might be his last appearance of the year. That said, Samsonov should get the chance to carry his excellent second half into playoffs … If there are any health issues Saturday, Ryan Reaves (with Toronto’s first goal) and Noah Gregor proved themselves effective as individual fill-ins or as a unit … Brodie ended a 111-game scoring slump with his goal, though he was hoping Matthews was closer to the net for a tip … Among the poor attention to detail on Wednesday, Tyler Bertuzzi dropping a puck meant for Matthews that became Nick Paul’s opening goal and a breakaway for Brandon Hagel after William Nylander chose not to play a puck off a Toronto high stick. It allowed Calvin de Haan to wait for the Leafs to leave open ice for Hagel … The Leafs had not lost four straight since early January.
LOOSE LEAFS
Matthews is the Leafs nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for leadership qualities on and off the ice. Matthews does a lot of work with the Hospital For Sick Children that he keeps low key … Matthews’ flurry of shots on Wednesday moved him to 2,273, past Bob Pulford into sixth place in Leaf history … Leafs assistant to the GM Shane Doan was one of the many former Coyotes who flew in for Wednesday’s last home game before the move to Salt Lake City … Matt Murray made 24 saves in the Marlies 3-1 loss in Rochester on Wednesday.
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.
