Sports

Canadiens vs. Oilers game recap: The Hateful Eight – Habs Eyes on the Prize

Published

5 years ago

January 10, 2020

Seven losses in a row, no home wins in nearly a month, and piling up injuries like they were going out of style, it’s a rough time for the Montreal Canadiens. The team was within a goal in each of those losses, remaining competitive while missing many key parts of their forward core. They got a huge piece back against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night with Brendan Gallagher returning from his concussion after four games out. His return bumped the suddenly resurgent Ilya Kovalchuk down to a line with Max Domi and Nick Suzuki.

His return also coincided with the loss of Ben Chiarot, who was injured against the Detroit Red Wings earlier in the week. That allowed Brett Kulak to slide back to the left, and brought Cale Fleury into the lineup again. Carey Price took the net, facing the ever bewildering Mike Smith for the Oilers.

Montreal was given a chance on the man advantage just over two minutes in with Alex Chiasson being called for holding the stick. The power play failed to establish itself, and the only real scoring chance to come out of that series of events was Chiasson exiting the box and opting to not pass to Connor McDavid on the ensuing two-on-one rush.

The Oilers had a chance of their own when Jeff Petry was sent to the box for hooking, but an aggressive Artturi Lehkonen helped to fend off the formidable attack and keep the game scoreless.

The top line came to life with under half the period to play, Petry collected the puck after Kulak blew a tire in the neutral zone. Petry fed a pass to Tomas Tatar who laid it off for Phillip Danault, Danault fired a shot that Smith kicked right back to him, and Danault had no problem roofing the rebound to make it 1-0.

Montreal continued to own the flow of play, with the Oilers’ offensive time being extremely limited. In that short window McDavid nearly set up a goal for James Neal, but Neal botched the shot, pushing it harmlessly through the crease.

Ryan Poehling pulled off a slick bit of trickery, attempting a between-the-legs shot in front of the Oilers’ net, yet he didn’t get enough to lift it over Smith, who came up with the stop. Smith had to be sharp one last time in the period as Gallgher burst in off the wing, leaving Ethan Bear behind and nearly tucking his shot through the five-hole. All in all, a good opening 20 minutes for Montreal ended with them up by a goal.

The strong play carried over to start the second period as the Canadiens doubled their lead just over two minutes in. Lehkonen continued to be a nuisance for the Oilers as he corralled a Kulak stretch pass. The forward then picked out Jesperi Kotkaniemi in the slot, and the 19-year-old his sixth goal of the year by Smith for a 2-0 Montreal lead.

The Oilers found their legs a bit following the Kotkaniemi goal, and some quick passing by their fourth line freed up Riley Sheahan in the slot. Sheahan turned and ripped his wrist shot high and past Price to cut the Montreal lead in half.

That was the last of any really threatening attack from the Oilers in the period, but the Canadiens nearly increased their lead twice before the intermission. First, Jordan Weal went in on a breakaway, but a strong defensive effort from Bear kept him from getting a shot off on Smith. Then just before the end of the period, Gallagher fought through three defenders, then launched a feed onto the stick of Nate Thompson. Thompson broke in alone, dangled around Smith, and caught only the post with his backhand attempt, keeping Montreal’s lead at just one at the end of 40 minutes.

A hooking penalty on Danault put the Oilers on an early power play in the third as the centreman held up McDavid coming through the neutral zone. It didn’t take long for McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to spread out the Canadiens’ penalty-killers and open up Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to slam home a goal as he was left open in the slot, tying the game at two goals apiece.

The Canadiens never seemed to get their legs back after the goal as the Oilers continued to dominate possession at even strength, and any Montreal attack was one-and-done in the Oilers’ zone. So, it was only a matter of time before the inevitable third Edmonton goal happened, and a slick redirection by Chiasson made it so, putting the Oilers up just before the midway point of the period.

Kulak drew a call on Sheahan to give Montreal a chance to tie with just over nine minutes remaining after brutal start to the third period. The power play again failed to make much of an impact, leaving the Canadiens with around six minutes left to avoid an eighth straight loss.

As is the current tradition, there was no miraculous tying goal, or even any semblance of urgency as Josh Archibald hit the empty net. The 4-2 loss marked the second losing streak of eight games this year for the Canadiens, and more or less dealt the final blow to any playoff aspirations.

The team plays Ottawa on Saturday night, when they will try to prevent this run from reaching nine.

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Sports

Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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.

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AP cricket:

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Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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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