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Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs game recap: This Is Me Trying – Habs Eyes on the Prize

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After several long months, the NHL has finally come back to a screen near you, and even without fans in attendance, it’s good to see its return.

The Montreal Canadiens entered the Tuesday night showdown with the Toronto Maple Leafs as the last team to squeak into the qualifying round. The game gave Claude Julien a chance to see where his team stands after two weeks of training camp, and begin to fill in his lines for the impending series with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

With the NHL allowing the teams extra skaters for the exhibition game, the Canadiens opted to use Alex Belzile as an extra forward while slotting in Cale Fleury as the seventh defender. Max Domi stayed between Dale Weise and Jordan Weal on the fourth line, while all eyes were on the rejuvenated Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who anchored the third line between Paul Byron and Artturi Lehkonen. The only real change on defence was Victor Mete sliding to the right side next to Xavier Ouellet on the third pairing. To no surprise it was Carey Price between the pipes.

After all the excitement, it took just 33 seconds for Toronto to take advantage of an ill-advised Ben Chiarot pinch, and John Tavares to feed Ilya Mikheyev for the game’s opening goal.

After a spell of disjointed play from both sides, Weal lost body position against Jake Muzzin, and in the process was called for slashing the Toronto defender, sending Montreal to an early penalty kill. Even with Ouellet losing his stick, the Habs’ kill stood tall, especially Joel Armia who created his own breakaway, blowing by Mitch Marner but unable to tuck his chance by Frederik Andersen at the other end. Despite the early goal surrendered, Price was sharp as the first period wore on as well

Nick Robertson made his first impression by holding back Mete, leading to an offensive-zone penalty, and the Canadiens first man advantage of the night. Proving that some things never change, the power play generated little attack besides Travis Dermott deflecting a puck on his own net.

What looked like a great stick play by Jeff Petry at the end of the first period was whistled as a hook, sending Toronto to a power play to start the second. The Canadiens’ penalty-killers, sans Petry, kept the Leafs off the board, and after taking off down-ice generated their first real attack of the period.

Belzile chipped a few shots on Andersen before Jake Muzzin threw him into the end boards and left him shaken up. It was unfortunately the last action for the forward, as he was taken out of the game and did not return.

On the next shift, Brendan Gallagher caught Mitch Marner with a high stick, putting Montreal down a man once again. The penalty-killers made it three-for-three on the night, then the speed of Paul Byron drew a call on Cody Ceci, allowing the Habs a chance to even the score.

The power play finally saw a goal scored, just not for Montreal as Alexander Kerfoot cleaned up a Kasperi Kapanen short-handed rebound to make it a two-goal Toronto lead. They used that goal to put the pressure on, keeping Montreal trapped in their own end and scrambling to find any sort of footing offensively.

When that chance finally came it fell to the stick of Weise, who had a yawning cage staring back at him, but he pushed it wide, dropping a loud expletive as he exited the ice.

Some slick moves by Nick Suzuki sent Montreal back to the power play, with hopes it would go better than the last time. The man advantage didn’t get the goal, but the Canadiens finally managed to get on the board thanks to Suzuki’s good work once more. The rookie centre used his deceptiveness to fool the Leafs’ defence into thinking he was shooting, then he slid a pass across for a wide-open Tomas Tatar to tap into the open net.

The momentum didn’t last long as the Leafs got a goal back in the final minute of the period when Kerfoot got a stick on Morgan Rielly’s shot to restore the two-goal lead heading into the final period.

A good shift from the Habs’ fourth line started things off, with Max Domi sliding a perfect pass across the Toronto crease, but again Weise wasn’t able to get his stick on it.

A strong shift from Kotkaniemi to keep the puck in the offensive zone led to the Habs’ second goal of the night. He created a chipped pass to Ben Chiarot, whose big shot created a rebound, which Byron kicked to his stick and then fired to the back of the net.

With momentum back on their side, the Canadiens earned another power play, but another lacklustre effort from the man advantage led to a second short-handed goal for Toronto. Figuring out the opponent’s critical flaw, they took another penalty not long after, putting Montreal back on the power play with time slipping away. While the man advantage resembled something vaguely representing an attack, the Canadiens couldn’t convert

Of course they failed to score on another man advantage that immediately followed that one up, and Toronto easily coasted out the remaining minute or so, securing the win in the exhibition contest.

Now the Canadiens will need to reassess their plan of attack ahead of their qualifying-round game against the Penguins on Saturday night.

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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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November 8, 2024

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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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November 8, 2024

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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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November 8, 2024

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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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