Sports

Bertuzzi flashes playoff form in lopsided Maple Leafs victory – Toronto Sun

Published

8 months ago

March 15, 2024

Get the latest from Terry Koshan straight to your inbox

Maple Leafs’ Tyler Bertuzzi, centre, celebrates with William Nylander, left, after Bertuzzi scored a goal against the Flyers’ Samuel Ersson during the first period on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Philadelphia. Photo by Matt Slocum /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

There’s the Tyler Bertuzzi that the Maple Leafs want to see in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Advertisement 2

Article content

Bertuzzi, among the Leafs who have something to prove in the final stretch to the post-season, had one of his best games in a Toronto sweater on Thursday night.

Article content

It wasn’t just that Bertuzzi scored in the Leafs’ 6-2 victory in Philadelphia against the Flyers.

At the Wells Fargo Center, which will play host to the Leafs and Flyers again on Tuesday, Bertuzzi played the kind of game that not only is best-suited for the playoffs, but one that fans of the Boston Bruins came to love the first round last spring during Bertuzzi’s brief stint in Beantown. He was a presence everywhere in the offensive zone, doing what coach Sheldon Keefe spoke to during his morning media availability.

“Forecheck, make plays in tight spaces, create turnovers, be good around the net, go to the net and create more space for Auston (Matthews), do the work in the offensive zone,” Keefe said. “Do those things and do them well. Puck comes to you, make a play and you got a chance to score, put it in the net. Those are all the things that Bert has the ability to do.”

Article content

Advertisement 3

Article content

Bertuzzi helped the Leafs keep control of the puck in the moments before he scored at 2:01 of the first, then went to the net and got his stick on a Matthews pass. Never mind that the Flyers’ Marc Staal and Ryan Poehling could have knocked Bertuzzi over had they been a little quicker, the Leafs forward knew exactly where he had to be to score.

That approach followed, and Bertuzzi, who also had an assist, would have had a second goal off a terrific tip had a subtle Matthews hand pass not negated it.

“He just always seems to come up with pucks in those dirty areas and he’s just sticking to it,” Matthews said after the game. “He was all over it. Makes it easy to play with a guy like that when you know he is going to be in around the net. Tried to look for him throughout the game and connected on a couple of good ones.”

Advertisement 4

Article content

Once Mitch Marner returns from a lower-body injury, believed to be a mild ankle sprain, Keefe wants to give Bertuzzi a long look on the top line with Matthews and Marner. That didn’t work in the initial stages of the regular season, but Bertuzzi is now playing with a higher level of comfort.

Bertuzzi, in the morning, called his shot to an extent.

“Try to find open spots, trying to get (Matthews) the puck as much as possible, get in front of the net,” Bertuzzi said. “He creates space for himself, so let him do his thing and try to find little areas.”

It doesn’t matter whether the Leafs play the Bruins or the Florida Panthers in the first round of the playoffs. Bertuzzi will have to be a positive factor. He could do well to use his game on Thursday to help draw up the blueprint.

Advertisement 5

Article content

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

JARNKROK INJURED

An unfortunate fact of life for any NHL team heading to the playoffs is that injuries will happen in the next several weeks.

That became reality for Toronto when winger Calle Jarnkrok left the game in the second period after he crashed into the side boards, absorbing the fall with his left shoulder and head, though Keefe said afterward that it was not a shoulder or head issue.

“It looks like he’s going to miss some time, but we’re not going to know the extent fully until we get back home,” Keefe told media after the game. “That was a factor in the game. Just like we had others step up for Mitch, we’ll have to do similar with Jarny if he’s going to miss a period of time.”

It has been a tough go for Jarnkrok, who was playing in his sixth game after he missed 13 because of a broken knuckle.

Advertisement 6

Article content

Yes, the Leafs’ stars will lead, but the team is better when the industrious Jarnkrok is in the lineup.

In the third, defenceman Ilya Lyubushkin departed, but eventually returned, after he was drilled into the side boards by Garnet Hathaway. During the first period, Lyubushkin missed a couple of shifts after appearing to hurt his left hip.

Recommended from Editorial

GAME ON

Rust after the Leafs hadn’t played since Saturday? Not at all. Keefe gave the players two full days off in the interim and they looked refreshed. It was the eighth time — the most in the NHL — that the Leafs have scored at least three goals in the first period … The game was closer than it should have been, at least on the scoreboard, when Matthews and William Nylander scored eight seconds apart before the five-minute mark of the third to put the Leafs ahead 5-1. The Hathaway hit on Lyubushkin came when the defender made a play to get the puck up the ice, resulting in Matthews’ 55th of the season … With his goal, Matthews became the first player since Pavel Bure (in 1999-2000 and 1992-93) to have more than one season with at least 40 goals at even-strength. Of Matthews’ 60 goals in 2021-22, 44 were at even-strength … How about that playmaker Ilya Samsonov? Not only did the goalie have another strong game in net, putting further claim on being the post-season starter, he picked up his fourth career assist on a goal by Timothy Liljegren in the first period … Keefe on Samsonov: “He is more like himself that we came to expect from last season, and it has been like that for quite some time. Huge part of our group right now.” … The Leafs have won eight in a row against the Flyers … One negative: Toronto was 0-for-4 on the power play and is 1-for-20 in its past eight games. The Flyers coaching staff, minus the suspended John Tortorella, was not happy that Keefe sent out his No. 1 unit with the Leafs in full control late in the game. Assistant coach Rocky Thompson was visibly upset. “Understandably,” Keefe said. “I got no intention of (showing the Flyers up). I already reached out to the other side. I had tired people on our bench and had been sitting Auston for quite a bit. I have to manage my team and manage my bench at that point. They got a shortie (by Tyson Foerster) out of it.” … Samuel Ersson allowed three goals on 12 shots in the first period and was gone to start the second. Felix Sandstrom was fine until the Leafs lit him up in the third, culminating with Matthew Knies’ 12th of the season … The Leafs stand a good chance of setting the franchise record for most road wins in one season. They’ve won 20 road games, putting themselves within three of tying the club mark of 23. With eight road games remaining, we say they win at least four to re-write that sentence in the record book … Samsonov has won seven consecutive road games. He has not lost on the road since Dec. 29, before he was sent to the minors to re-discover his form. On Thursday, he was aided by a defence that did not give up many second chances … An effective game by the fourth line was highlighted by a Pontus Holmberg goal in the first period … Easton Cowan’s point streak with the London Knights hit a snag this week as he didn’t play against Erie on Wednesday, sitting out with an upper-body injury. Cowan, the Leafs’ first-round pick last year, is considered day to day and hopes to play against Sault Ste. Marie on Friday. The 18-year-old is riding a 32-game point streak.

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun

Article content

Share this article in your social network

Comments

Join the Conversation

Adblock test (Why?)

Source link

Sports

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

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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:

Source link

Sports

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

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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.

Source link

Sports

Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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).

—

Follow @NeilMDavidson on X platform

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

Source link