Montreal Canadiens fans have had precious little to cheer about this year. That changed on Thursday night at the Bell Centre, though it wasn’t actually an achievement by anyone on the home side that had the fans jumping.
Chants of “Fleury! Fleury!” went up during the final stages of Montreal’s 2-0 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, as Marc-Andre Fleury earned his 500th career victory right in his own backyard. Truthfully, Fleury — who joins Habs legend Patrick Roy (551) and Montreal-born Martin Brodeur (691) as the only goalies with 500 wins — didn’t have to work too hard to lock down this milestone ‘W.’
Natural Stat Trick credited the Canadiens with just two high-danger scoring chances in the entire game and put Montreal’s expected goals total at 0.94.
Have you ever heard of a team winning a game 0.94 to 0?
The punch-less offence was just one storyline for the Canadiens, who’ve lost five straight games and scored one or fewer goals 11 times in 28 outings this year. Here are some other takeaways from a contest that likely made Habs backers want to look away.
Young blue-liner blunders
Alexander Romanov has had some encouraging ups and some predictable downs during his sophomore year. His play against Chicago, though, was pretty rough. Romanov had a defensive-zone giveaway in the first period that did not lead to a goal, but he wasn’t so fortunate in the third. With the Hawks up 1-0, Romanov made a weak backhand feed right through the slot that was intended to find his partner, Ben Chiarot. The pass was soft and off-target, so all Chiarot could do was lunge for it. It ticked off Chiarot’s blade and went right to Henrik Borgstrom, who wired it home from the slot.
Another defenceman, Kale Clague, also had some shaky D-zone plays one game after he had a brutal giveaway that led to a goal against in his Habs debut on Tuesday.
Given this has become a development year for the Canadiens, the club should be prepared to live with mistakes from young players. Romanov plays with speed and spirit, while Clague has always glimpsed some offensive potential. They deserve a long leash.
That said, both players have to know every NHL coach — including Montreal’s Dominique Ducharme — is allergic to the kind of flimsy plays that lead to Grade A chances, no matter what the big-picture circumstances are.
Turning Pale
The best chance for Montreal came very early in the second period when the game was still 0-0. Artturi Lehkonen did what he does best, getting in fast on the forecheck and taking advantage of a Chicago turnover. Lehkonen wheeled around the net and sent a pass through the crease right on the tape of Ryan Poehling. Instead of burying a gimmie, though, Poehling misfired off the side of the net.
On balance, Poehling has shown pretty well for the Canadiens this year and he actually skated a season-high 17:25 on Thursday. Still, those are the types of plays you have to cash if you want to keep a prominent spot in the lineup.
A Jake Take
While Fleury was making history at one end of the rink, Jake Allen was once again doing all he can to help an offence-challenged team grind one out. He made a second-period save on Alex DeBrincat — lunging to his left to deny the sniper — that was one of the highlights of the game. Allen’s numbers aren’t sparkling this season, but anyone who’s watched the Habs all season knows he’s been the least of their problems and, more often than not, the only reason they’re in as many games as they are.
On Thursday, Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek listed Fleury alongside Habs Chiarot, Brendan Gallagher and Tyler Toffoli as guys he thought could be on the move at some point this season. So I ask you, what about Allen? With a cap hit of $2.875 million through next season, he brings great value for a goalie you would feel comfortable giving 35 starts to. The Canadiens, presumably, won’t do anything with their crease until there’s more clarity around Carey Price’s return. And, who knows, maybe Allen is the kind of guy they want to hang on to because he paired perfectly with Price and could also serve as a mentor to Cayden Primeau should Price himself move on at some point.
It’s just that, if this becomes a serious rip-it-up situation for Montreal, everything will be on the table and you’d have no problem drumming up some interest in Allen.
Seriously Smiling
Just a quick stick tap to Jonathan Toews, who scored the game-winner versus Montreal for his first regular-season tally since March 5, 2020. Toews missed all of last year with chronic immune response syndrome and it had to be weighing on the captain to be 25 games deep this year without finding the net. Cheers to “Captain Serious” for getting back on the scoresheet.
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.
