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Blue Jackets lacked difference-maker vs. Lightning in East First Round – NHL.com

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The Columbus Blue Jackets were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-4 in overtime in Game 5 of the best-of-7 Eastern Conference First Round on Wednesday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, the East hub city.

The Blue Jackets were the No. 7 seed after defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs in five games in the best-of-5 Stanley Cup Qualifiers. Columbus was the No. 9 seed in the Qualifiers after finishing the regular season with a .579 points percentage (33-22-15). 

Here is a look at what happened during the 2020 postseason for the Blue Jackets and why things could be better next season:

The Skinny 

Potential unrestricted free agents: None

Potential restricted free agents: Josh Anderson, F; Pierre-Luc Dubois, F; Ryan MacInnis, F; Devin Shore, F; Kevin Stenlund, F; Jakob Lilja, F; Gabriel Carlsson, D; Vladislav Gavrikov, D; Matiss Kivlenieks, G.

Potential 2020 NHL Draft picks: 5

What went wrong

Can’t close: The Blue Jackets are known for their defense but stumbled when it counted. They were eight minutes away from forcing a Game 6, but the Lightning rallied from down 4-2 to tie Game 5 and eventually win in overtime. The Blue Jackets failed to eliminate the Maple Leafs in Game 4 of the Qualifiers, blowing a 3-0 lead in the final 3:57 of the third period and losing in overtime.

Worn out: The Blue Jackets’ heavy forechecking game is fatiguing under normal circumstances. Combine a compacted schedule, numerous overtimes and the Lightning’s ability to match their physicality and the result was not unexpected. The Blue Jackets played the equivalent of 12 games in 18 days. Their lack of energy was most telling when they were held to 17 shots in a 3-2 loss in Game 3 that gave the Lightning a 2-1 series lead.

Not good enough: After scoring 13 goals and losing in five games in the 2017 East First Round to the Pittsburgh Penguins, coach John Tortorella said the Blue Jackets needed a game changer to make a difference. They acquired Artemi Panarin in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks. He scored 169 points (55 goals, 114 assists) in two seasons, but signed with the New York Rangers as a free agent July 1, 2019. His absence was felt: All four losses to the Lightning were by one goal, and they and were 1-5 in one-goal games during the postseason. “Unfortunately, we didn’t come out on the right side of the big moments,” defenseman Seth Jones said.

Video: Lightning advance on Point’s OT winner

Reasons for optimism

Youth being served: Dubois leads a young group that is looking to make major contributions next season. The 22-year-old led the Blue Jackets with 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 10 postseason games. Among others expected to step up include forwards Emil Bemstrom, 21; Alexandre Texier, 20, Liam Foudy, 20; and defenseman Andrew Peeke, 22. It’s easy to forget that Zach Werenski, who led NHL defensemen with 20 goals in 2019-20, is 23.

Goalies galore: The Blue Jackets are deep at the goalie position, beginning with Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins, who was unfit to play after Game 4 against the Maple Leafs. Each of the 26-year-olds is under contract through the 2021-22 season. Korpisalo was a 2020 NHL All-Star Game selection, and Merzlikins’ five shutouts were tied for second in the NHL (Marc-Andre Fleury, Vegas Golden Knights; Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins), one behind Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets. Kivlenieks, who turns 24 on Aug. 26, was 1-1-2 with a 2.95 goals-against average and .898 save percentage in six regular-season games this season. The Blue Jackets are also high on Veini Vehvilainen, 23, and Daniil Tarasov, 21.

Organizational depth: Columbus led the NHL with 419 man-games lost and went through long periods in the regular season with at least six players out. The Blue Jackets were able to qualify for the postseason with help from players such as defenseman Dean Kukan (15:58 ice time per game in 33 games) and forwards Eric Robinson (12 points in 50 games), Nathan Gerbe (10 points in 30 games), Stenlund (10 points in 32 games) and MacInnis (9:21 ice time in 10 games). 

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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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