MONTREAL — Max Domi flew out of the gate, stormed into the offensive zone, knocked Quinn Hughes over and generated the first scoring chance of a game his Montreal Canadiens eventually lost 4-3 in overtime to the Vancouver Canucks.
It was Domi who set up the game’s first goal for Paul Byron, Domi who set up the goal for Jordan Weal to put the Canadiens up 3-2 in the first minute of the third period, and yes, it was Domi who spent the last minute and thirty-five seconds of his 18:14 of ice-time trying to defend against the goal Tyler Toffoli scored to win the game for the Canucks.
We’re not glossing over that last part. Both Domi and Byron, and defenceman Jeff Petry, had chances to get the puck out of Montreal’s end and get themselves off the ice, but they failed and it cost the Canadiens yet another point in the standings. But the point (no pun intend) is Domi was a factor in every part of this game just like he was in a 3-0 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday and, to a slightly lesser degree, in a 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals late last week, and that’s important in the big picture.
Why, you may ask? Because these final 18 games of the season are proving ground for everyone, and Domi has much incentive — outside of his drive to perform for a new contract — to show that he can be every bit the player that scored 28 goals and 72 points in his first season with the team, and less so the player who’s struggled to be consistent this year.
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He started with 10 points in his first 10 games, followed it up with just one goal and two assists over his next 10, and then he went point-less in 10 of his next 13 games before rattling off points in nine straight. And coming into this game, Domi had scored four points in his last four games after he went five games without a point for a second time this season.
Last season, after Domi was traded to the Canadiens from the Arizona Coyotes for Alex Galchenyuk, the Winnipeg native was the model of consistency — never going more than three games without a point.
But it wasn’t just his scoring that was consistent, it was his engagement. And even if it was expected he’d dip in both departments after never producing more than 18 goals and 52 points in his three other seasons that preceded last year’s breakout, it wasn’t expected he’d drop to the level he has at points this year.
Now it’s crucial for Domi to continue on the path he’s currently on, because as Byron put it, “In seasons like this, where they don’t always go as planned, you want to be part of the solution going forward. You want to show that you can be part of the team and build on something.”
There’s also this point Byron made that really resonates: “If we can get our young guys to keep raising their level, keep growing, I think our team has a bright future.”
That was after he labeled Domi a young player.
Byron was right to do so, because Domi is just 24 and still on the upswing of his career. He was also right with what he was saying in general, because this team isn’t going to get to where it wants to go without players like Domi taking their game up a level and keeping it there. And it’s the games played at this time of the year, games against teams who appear destined for the playoffs, which provide the best opportunities for players to prove they can do that.
“The league tightens, penalties are called less, checking’s a little harder, each goal’s so important,” Byron said. “So I think it’s valuable experience for young guys to learn from and I think they’ve been doing a great job this year and I think they’re just going to continue to get better.”
That process for Domi, who has 15 goals and 42 points in 65 games, is vital.
It will be just as vital to the Canadiens, whether Domi stays with them or is used to acquire a piece through trade that addresses other needs they have.
The fact that there’s a spot for Domi at centre right now, with Jesperi Kotkaniemi plying his trade in the American Hockey League and Nate Thompson traded to the Philadelphia Flyers, can only help. With his skating being his best asset, the moves to wing for portions of the season have left him stagnant, which is not uncommon for natural centremen. Even ones who have played wing at various points throughout their careers.
“You’re just not getting as many puck touches (on the wing), and as a centreman you’re coming from behind the play and you can kind of see everything whereas as a winger you’ve got guys behind you,” said Weal, a converted winger who played his entire minor-league career and 503 junior and AHL games combined as a centre before breaking through to the NHL five seasons ago. “You’ve got guys in front of you, so you have to worry about both. As a centre, you’re coming from so low that you can see everything in front of you.”
It’s as a centre that Domi has proven to be at his most effective with Montreal, but his future there with this team is in doubt with Kotkaniemi developing, Nick Suzuki moving above him in the lineup and Phillip Danault being the most versatile Canadien at the position.
Domi can’t control any of that, but he can control how he approaches each game from here to the end of the season. And it’ll be a considerable development for both him and the Canadiens if he brings what he did for most of this game against the Canucks.
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.
