Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs recap: Kovalchuk secures a critical victory - Habs Eyes on the Prize | Canada News Media
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Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs recap: Kovalchuk secures a critical victory – Habs Eyes on the Prize

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5 years ago

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If you happened to miss the game last night between the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs, you missed a great finish, but you also avoided a plodding start through two periods for both sides. For all intents and purposes, the match really began in the third period, and it didn’t kick off in the way Montreal had hoped.

Leading on the shot counter through two periods, you could say the Maple Leafs deserved the first goal they scored just over a minute into the third. After netting two the previous night versus the Anaheim Ducks, including the winner in overtime, John Tavares opened the scoring.

That proved to be the only shot the Leafs had the rest of the period. They decided to turn to the tactic employed by many NHL teams that carry a lead in the final frame: abandon everything that made you successful through more than two periods and hope the other team doesn’t score.

It nearly worked. Interim starting goaltender Jack Campbell held strong as the Canadiens turned what was a 22-12 shot disadvantage at the time of the Tavares goal into a 27-22 lead by the end of the period. The 26th came off the stick of Marco Scandella, and resulted in the defenceman’s first goal with his hometown team.

As the Maple Leafs collapsed into a defensive box, a half-hearted block attempt by Alex Kerfoot provided a partial screen for Campbell, while another defender was planted directly in front of the goalie. The puck made its way through all three players in blue and white to breach the wall the Canadiens had been hammering all period long.

The Habs had one more shot after the goal, and another chance right before the horn as Ilya Kovalchuk loaded up for a last-gasp attempt but missed the net with a fraction of a second remaining.

In overtime, Toronto finally added to their shot count, but Carey Price turned their only chance aside. Instead, it was the combination of the youngest player on the Canadiens’ roster and the oldest that completed the comeback in style.

Nick Suzuki collected the puck for a breakaway, but just as he was deking across the top of the crease to go to his backhand, the puck was knocked off his stick by a perfect pokecheck from Campbell. Kovalchuk was following up his rookie linemate, and caught the puck on a bounce between two Leafs skaters to fire it to the back of the net, and lead a raucous celebration at the Bell Centre.

In the same week that he shushed the crowd in New Jersey with a shootout decider, last night’s goal was Kovalchuk’s third game-winner since joining the team, and he now leads the Canadiens in that department despite playing just 15 games. This one was the most critical of the three, not only ensuring the Habs got the second point in the game, but also snatching it away from the Leafs to move Montreal one point closer to the third seed in the Atlantic Division. The Habs have now claimed the season series with Toronto, and have that tiebreaker in their back pocket should it be tight enough to need it at the conclusion of the 82-game schedule.

Such clutch performances will be needed all through the next week. Montreal has four games over a six-day span before getting a two-day break. It all starts with the freefalling Arizona Coyotes on Monday.

Thoughts

  • There were some noteworthy things in the opening two frames. Artturi Lehkonen blocked a shot with his hand on the penalty kill, and was clutching it the rest of the shift before skating directly to the dressing room. He came back to play the rest of the game, so hopefully that means there’s nothing too concerning there.
  • Nate Thompson had an excellent PK shift himself in the second. He took on four Maple Leafs players in their own zone, and battled even after getting stripped to kill off some more time. On the same penalty, Jake Evans was sent over the boards, getting some trust from the coach in his second NHL game. Making sure he didn’t mess his impression up, he was only out for about 20 seconds before sprinting back to the bench.
  • Jonathan Drouin made his return to the lineup. He wasn’t very noticeable in limited duty, as you’d expect for a player being dropped directly into a tightly contested battle. He’ll likely be feeling, and therefore looking, a lot more comfortable on Monday.
  • That’s pretty much it. They really were rough periods.

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

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2 days ago

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November 12, 2024

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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.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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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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6 days ago

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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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6 days ago

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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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