Canucks’ commitment and resiliency shine in comeback win over Maple Leafs - Sportsnet.ca | Canada News Media
Connect with us

Sports

Canucks’ commitment and resiliency shine in comeback win over Maple Leafs – Sportsnet.ca

Published

3 years ago

 on


The Vancouver Canucks have a wardrobe malfunction. They’re short on belts.

Winger Alex Chiasson was awarded Saturday the gaudy wrestling belt coach Bruce Boudreau has introduced for his in-house player of the game. But they needed a whole rack of belts after the Canucks, whose playoff fantasy is becoming a little less improbable by the game, rallied in the third period on the road to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-4 on Hockey Night in Canada. Again.

Three weeks ago, it was a sublime 51-save goaltending performance by Thatcher Demko that stole the Canucks a 3-2 win against the Leafs in Vancouver. Demko was brilliant again in the third period Saturday, but the workload for the win was spread throughout the lineup, making the accomplishment far more meaningful.

Bumped down a line last game because Boudreau said Chiasson was unable to finish the chances he was getting playing with Elias Pettersson, the 31-year-old whacked in the winning goal at 6:55 of the third period.

Tanner Pearson, another reliable veteran who generally gets attention only when fans are unhappy with him, tied the game 4-4 on a deflection that squeezed through leaky Toronto goalie Jack Campbell at 1:03 of the third period, and Tyler Motte added an empty-netter on a pass by Pettersson.

The Canucks had six different goal scorers. But they also had huge defensive plays, like Conor Garland’s backcheck and Pearson’s dive late in the third period to deflect a pass headed to Auston Matthews. And, of course, they had Demko, who made 16 of his 34 saves in the final frame and stuffed Matthews, Mitch Marner and John Tavares in the last two minutes.

“Played about as well in the third period as we could have played there in this building and being down a goal,” J.T. Miller, whose goal and assist moved him into 10th in NHL scoring, told reporters. “What it does is give us that much more belief.

“That’s one of the games you’re going to remember.”

“That’s the best offensive team we’ve played that we’ve come from behind on,” Boudreau said. “And you had it in their building. You have to tip your hat off to the guys for their resiliency. You know what? The best thing I liked was the bench and how happy they were and everybody jumping up. I mean, they were committed tonight, and that’s a great feeling when they do that.”

After a 3-1 road trip, and eight wins in their last 10 games, bookended by beating the Leafs, the Canucks are three points out of a playoff spot.

BRUCE, HERE IT IS

Saturday was the three-month anniversary of the Canucks replacing head coach Travis Green with Boudreau, and the team is 20-8-4 since then. Vancouver has gone from seven games under .500, to five games over .500. And, starting Wednesday, the Canucks have a season-long, seven-game homestand that includes contests against four teams firmly out of the playoff race.

Can the Canucks’ see that final playoff spot? They better not, because after so many recent, big wins, the last thing this team needs to do is look ahead or think that the hardest part of their miracle comeback is now over. The biggest issue the Canucks have had the last three weeks is consistency. They’ve been downright awful in their few losses.

It was only last Monday when Boudreau found the Canucks’ start “shocking” in a 7-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils. Players, including Miller, Pettersson and captain Bo Horvat, have all pledged greater consistency and more acute focus. Now is the time for the Canucks to show that.

“We get the next seven games at home,” Boudreau said. “I’ve used the phrase, ‘You’ve got to make hay when the sun shines.’ This is the time.”

TRIUMPH IN TORONTO

The Canucks’ last win in Toronto was Dec. 17, 2011. They had lost 12 straight road games to the Maple Leafs since then. Horvat has played 564 NHL games for the Canucks and been with them since 2014, but had never won in his home province.

“It has been a long time coming,” Horvat, who is from London, said. “(The Leafs) usually have my number since I’ve been here. I got some friends and family in the crowd tonight and to get a big win in front of them definitely feels great.

“We beat a lot of good hockey teams on this road trip. Obviously, it’s a successful road trip for us, and we’re heading back playing seven in a row. It should give us confidence, knowing we can beat some of the best teams in the league. But we can’t get too high on ourselves. We’ve just got to keep it going.”

QUOTEBOOK

Boudreau was so good when asked Saturday about Miller and Pearson, especially the latter’s defensive dive to deprive Matthews of what would have been an open look late in the third period, we figured we’d just let the coach have his say.

On Miller: “He’s a leader. He’s our leader offensively, and he’s our leader as a spokesperson. And I think a lot of the guys, you know, they follow him. I mean, he’s our real star. Every team has one, and I would say he’s our offensive star.”

On Pearson: “Well, he’s won two Cups (in Los Angeles). And there’s reasons that players play on winning teams. He’s been scoring key goals. And that play that you talked about was, to me, the play of the game. Coming back, that whole side was open and he tipped it out Matthews’s way.”

BUT DON’T MENTION THE 2011 BRUINS

Asked about the depth of scoring – 13 players had goals — during the Canucks’ four road games, Boudreau veered into a soliloquy about the balance of the Stanley Cup-winning Boston Bruins in 2011 and how if he could ever build a team, they would be his template. It’s probably better to avoid effusively praising the Bruins to a Vancouver audience. No reason, just saying.

Adblock test (Why?)



Source link

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Sports

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

Published

1 day ago

 on

November 8, 2024

By

 

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:

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

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

Published

1 day ago

 on

November 8, 2024

By

 

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.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day ago

 on

November 8, 2024

By

 

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).

—

Follow @NeilMDavidson on X platform

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

Source link

Continue Reading

Trending

Exit mobile version