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By the Numbers: McDavid’s road to the cusp of 500 career points – TSN

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There aren’t many sure things in sports, but Connor McDavid putting up points is one of the safest bets you can make.

The Edmonton Oilers superstar has come out of the gates absolutely flying during the 2020-21 season, tallying nine goals and 21 assists in 17 games for a league-leading 30 points. While he  sits in a five-way tie for fifth in goals scored, McDavid is leading the pack in assists, with teammate Leon Draisaitl’s 18 sitting in second place.

Coming into the season, it looked like the 24-year-old centre would reach the career 500-point plateau near the midway point of the campaign. But thanks to his incredible scoring pace he already sits at 499, just one away entering Wednesday’s matchup with the Winnipeg Jets.

Below is a statistical look at how the start of McDavid’s career compares with some of the greatest scorers to ever play.

With a goal or an assist Wednesday, McDavid would become just the third active player to reach 500 career points prior to their 400th game. The others aren’t too hard identify as Alex Ovechkin did it in 373 contests and Sidney Crosby in 369. As luck would have it, McDavid will play his 369th career game Wednesday.

The start of Crosby’s and McDavid’s careers are actually quite similar. Neither highly-touted rookie won the Calder Memorial Trophy but both led the league in points while taking home the Hart in their sophomore seasons. Now, both could pick up point No. 500 in exactly the same amount of games.

If McDavid does pick up a point Wednesday, he’ll become tied for the eighth fastest player ever to reach the mark. Wayne Gretzky tops the fastest-to-500 list at 234 games (194 goals, 306 assists) while Mario Lemieux (287 games) sits in second. Peter Stastny (322), Mike Bossy (349), Eric Lindros (352), Jari Kurri (356) and Bryan Trottier (362) also sit ahead of No. 97. And so will Crosby if McDavid is held off the scoresheet Wednesday.

Wayne Gretzky  Oilers 234 194 306 500
Mario Lemieux Penguins 287 208 295 503
Peter Stastny Nordiques 322 184 317 501
Mike Bossy Islanders 349 275 226 501
Eric Lindros Flyers 352 219 281 500
Jari Kurri Oilers 356 227 316 501
Bryan Trottier Islanders 362 185 316 501
Connor McDavid Oilers 368 171 328  499
Sidney Crosby Penguins 369 181 320 501
Kent Nilsson Flames 372 203 298 501
Alex Ovechkin Capitals 373 257 243 500

What are the odds of him picking up a point against Winnipeg? Well, he has 26 points (four goals, 22 assists) in his past 15 games against the Jets. This season, he has seven points in three matchups and 23 points in the Oilers’ past 11 games.

McDavid has recorded at least eight points against every team in the league and his 31 against the Vancouver Canucks top the list. His 16 goals against the Calgary Flames are the most against any team.

Another thing about McDavid that the opposition might find scary? He keeps getting better. McDavid currently has a personal best 1.76 points per game this year, a figure that he’s increased in each of his six NHL seasons.

Think of it this way: McDavid finished his impressive rookie season averaging 0.36 goals and 0.71 assists per game. Now, he’s averaging 0.53 goals and 1.24 assists a night. And he’s still only 24.

Viewers in the Jets region can watch McDavid gun for 500 LIVE at 8 p.m. CT on TSN3.​

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Vancouver Canucks winger Joshua set for season debut after cancer treatment

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Vancouver Canucks winger Dakota Joshua is set to make his season debut Thursday after missing time for cancer treatment.

Head coach Rick Tocchet says Joshua will slot into the lineup Thursday when Vancouver (8-3-3) hosts the New York Islanders.

The 28-year-old from Dearborn, Mich., was diagnosed with testicular cancer this summer and underwent surgery in early September.

He spoke earlier this month about his recovery, saying it had been “very hard to go through” and that he was thankful for support from his friends, family, teammates and fans.

“That was a scary time but I am very thankful and just happy to be in this position still and be able to go out there and play,,” Joshua said following Thursday’s morning skate.

The cancer diagnosis followed a career season where Joshua contributed 18 goals and 14 assists across 63 regular-season games, then added four goals and four assists in the playoffs.

Now, he’s ready to focus on contributing again.

“I expect to be good, I don’t expect a grace period. I’ve been putting the work in so I expect to come out there and make an impact as soon as possible,” he said.

“I don’t know if it’s going to be perfect right from the get-go, but it’s about putting your best foot forward and working your way to a point of perfection.”

The six-foot-three, 206-pound Joshua signed a four-year, US$13-million contract extension at the end of June.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.

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PWHL MVP Spooner set to miss start of season for Toronto Sceptres due to knee injury

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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.

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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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