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Canadiens Game Day: Carey Price will be in goal vs. Senators – Montreal Gazette

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Goalie has struggled this season with a 5-4-3 record, a 3.13 goals-against average and a .888 save percentage.

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While some Canadiens fans might have lost confidence in goalie Carey Price, interim head coach Dominique Ducharme hasn’t.

That’s why Price will be in goal for the Canadiens when they play the Ottawa Senators Tuesday night at the Bell Centre (7 p.m., TSN2, TSN5, RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM).

Price has struggled this season with a 5-4-3 record, a 3.13 goals-against average and a .888 save percentage. But Ducharme said after Tuesday’s morning skate that he’s confident Price will bounce back after working with goalie coach Stéphane Waite.

“He worked on a lot of things with Stéphane Waite,” Ducharme said. “I’m not going to go into detail about it. It’s very specific work that Stéphane does with our goaltenders. We feel that he’s ready, both physically and mentally. That’s why he’s in goal tonight. We aren’t worried. We know he’ll bounce back.”

In his last start, Price allowed five goals on 29 shots in a 6-3 loss to the Jets last Thursday night in Winnipeg (the sixth goal was into an empty net). It marked the fourth time in his 12 starts this season that Price has allowed five goals and he has given up 14 goals in his last three games while going 0-2-1. Price has a 1-4-1 record in his last six games.

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Going back to last season, Price has allowed at least four goals in nine of his last 17 regular-season games.

Backup goalie Jake Allen has a 4-2-2 record this season with a 2.12 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage. The Canadiens were shut out in both of Allen’s regulation-time losses.

The Canadiens are in fourth place in the North Division with a 9-6-5 record, are winless in their last five games (0-2-3) and have a 2-5-3 record in their last 10. The Canadiens have lost three of their first four games against the Senators this season, including one in overtime and one in a shootout.

Forward Paul Byron said the Canadiens still have a lot of confidence in Price.

“Everyone on this team still believes that he’s the best goaltender in the world,” Byron said. “I think we’re giving up too many good scoring chances when he’s in goal. We can’t allow those kinds of chances. We have to play smart. We have to be careful not to make costly mistakes. We have a lot of confidence in our team and in Carey.”

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The Senators are in last place in the North Division with a 8-15-1 record and did the Canadiens a favour Monday night when they beat the Calgary Flames 5-1 in Ottawa. The fifth-place Flames (10-11-2) are one point behind Montreal with the Canadiens holding three games in hand. The top four teams make the playoffs.

The Senators have a 4-1-0 record in their last five games.

“We took steps in the right direction last game,” Byron said about Saturday night’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Jets in Winnipeg with Allen in goal. “We played well. We were on the attack a lot and generated chances. We have to find a way to put pucks in the net tonight. We must stay disciplined. Good things are going to happen for our team. We know the Senators have a young team that is very good on the power play, so we must stay out of the box to avoid giving them confidence.”

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With the condensed 56-game NHL season, Ducharme was asked if he has thought about going with a merit-based system for his goaltenders and riding the hot hand.

“I have one thing that I think when we think about standings and stuff like that,” the coach said. “It’s not that we don’t look at it, but I’m a firm believer that we’re going to finish where we deserve to finish. It’s much more important to control the things that you can control and we’re confident with that. The way that we’re going to be handling ourselves, kind of the plan that we have, if we’re strong into that plan and that process and that way of thinking we’re going to be where we deserve to be.

“With the goaltenders, I think it’s too early to really go and say it’s going to be that way,” Ducharme added. “I think it’s a feel right now and we’ll take it day-by-day.”

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Joey Daccord will start in goal for the Senators. The 24-year-old has only played in one game this season, stopping all five shots he faced in one period of a 6-3 loss to the Flames on Feb. 27. The only other NHL game Daccord has ever played was during the 2018-19 season when he allowed five goals in a 5-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.

The Senators selected Daccord in the seventh round (199th overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft.

This Game Day notebook will be updated after Tuesday night’s game.

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The lines

Josh Anderson skated before his teammates took the ice Tuesday morning and will miss his second straight game with a lower-body injury.

Here’s how the forward lines and defence pairings looked at the morning skate:

Tatar – Danault – Gallagher
Drouin – Suzuki – Toffoli
Lehkonen – Kotkaniemi – Armia
Byron – Evans – Perry

Chiarot – Weber
Edmundson – Petry
Kulak – Romanov

Here’s how the two power-play units looked at the morning skate:

Armia
Drouin – Toffoli – Suzuki
Weber

Perry
Kotkaniemi – Gallagher – Tatar
Petry

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Building confidence

Apart from having to replace the injured Anderson, Ducharme will stick with the same lineup for his third game as an NHL head coach while still looking for his first win.

Ducharme has been trying to put in a new system since taking over from Claude Julien last Wednesday and has only had two full practices as the interim head coach — one last Friday in Winnipeg and one Monday in Brossard.

But Ducharme said he liked what he saw in Saturday night’s 2-1 OT loss in Winnipeg when the Canadiens outshot the Jets 41-21 and dominated most of the play five-on-five. The Jets’ goal in regulation time came on a power play. Ducharme said he wants to keep his lines together to help build confidence until the players have a full understanding of the system he wants to play.

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“We want to be so in sync at one point that we can move guys around and it wouldn’t change the way that we play,” the coach said. “The way that we know that the options are going to be there, there and there. And then, after that, once you create that one night then you can move a guy around because he’s got a better night or an off-night or you see a better chemistry you can start maybe trying out things and see different chemistry that maybe could be built.

“We’re working on that core of our game at creating those habits,” Ducharme added. “I don’t want us to react, I want us to act. But acting within those certain rules. So that’s the most important thing right now for me.”

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Problems in OT

The Canadiens have lost three games in overtime and two in shootouts this season and have yet to win a game that went beyond regulation time.

The Senators have won two games in overtime, won another in a shootout and have only lost one in OT.

Joel Armia, who was on the ice along with Phillip Danault and Jeff Petry when the Canadiens lost 2-1 in OT to the Jets last Saturday, was asked Tuesday morning why he thinks his team has struggled in OT.

“I don’t know,” he said.

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Working with Armia

Ducharme said last week that Armia has “world-class qualities” as a player and that he’s working with the 6-foot-3, 212-pound right-winger to make him more consistent.

Armia scored two goals in Ducharme’s first game as head coach when he was given a season-high 16:38 of ice time. Armia added an assist in Ducharme’s second game while logging 16:36 of ice time, his second-highest total of the season. Armia has also been given a spot on the first power-play unit.

“For me, just going out there every single shift, working hard, staying on the forecheck, staying on the puck,” Armia said about what Ducharme expects from him. “Kind of just doing my thing, so that’s it.

“I think he’s been really good help for me the past years (as an assistant coach) and I really like him as a coach,” Armia added.

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As for his role on the power play, Armia said: “Stay net front, kind of screen the goalie. If there’s any puck battles in the corner, I think that’s kind of my job to go in there and try to get those loose pucks back for the team.”


  1. Stu Cowan: Pressure is on new Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme


  2. Canadiens’ Jonathan Drouin has long history with team’s new head coach

What’s next?

The Canadiens have a practice scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard before facing the Winnipeg Jets Thursday night at the Bell Centre (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM). The Canadiens have a day off scheduled for Friday before facing the Jets again on Saturday night at the Bell Centre (7 p.m., SNE, SNW, CITY, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM).

The Canadiens will then fly to Vancouver on Sunday to start a six-game Western Canada road trip.

scowan@postmedia.com

twitter.com/StuCowan1

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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.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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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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