Sports

Canucks’ Game 1 win over Edmonton Oilers raises uncomfortable question

Published

5 months ago

May 9, 2024

Arturs Silovs #31 of the Vancouver Canucks makes a save against Dylan Holloway #55 of the Edmonton Oilers during the third period in Game One of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Arena on May 8, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Photo by Derek Cain /Getty Images

Maybe it’s nothing serious.

Then again, maybe it’s the beginning of the end.

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The picture is all kinds of blurry right now in the wake of Vancouver’s rousing 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their much-anticipated playoff series.

The Oilers said over and over again before this showdown started that their 0-4 regular season record against the Canucks didn’t mean a thing — that they are a very different team than the one Vancouver rag-dolled in October and November — and spent the first 35 minutes of Game 1 proving it.

Their power play was clicking, their offence was cooking, they needed less than half a game to expose Vancouver’s rookie goalie and they had a commanding 4-1 lead on the road.The universe was unfolding as it should.

Now, after a staggering four-goal collapse that had everyone who’s been watching the Oilers down the stretch and in the playoffs shaking their head in bewilderment, some unnerving thoughts are creeping into the discussion.

oilers canucks nhl playoffs — Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers saves a shot on goal by Brock Boeser #6 of the Vancouver Canucks during the second period in Game One of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Arena on May 08, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Photo by Derek Cain /Getty Images

The Canucks, whose only hope was supposed to be a suffocating defensive posture, just beat the Oilers in a nine-goal game. They dominated play when it mattered most, they showed more composure, they got better goaltending, they scored the timely goals and they closed out the lead.

Consider that when it was 4-1 Edmonton with 6:49 to go in the second period, the Oilers had 14 shots on net. When it was 5-4 Vancouver with five minutes left in the game, the Oilers still had 14 shots.

In the most crucial times, with the game on the line, Vancouver was in charge. Just like they were in the regular season. And, suddenly, those four regular season victories are back on the table.

Suddenly it’s fair to ask if maybe the Canucks didn’t post those early wins because the Oilers were in a funk during the first 11 games of the season, but maybe the Oilers were in a funk during the first 11 games of the season because they kept playing the Canucks.

That isn’t something the Oilers faithful even want to think about right now, much less believe, but at 5-0 this year the Canucks can fully argue that they have Edmonton’s number. Combine that with fact that teams winning Game 1 end up winning the series 68 per cent of the time and it gets spooky in a hurry.

And, if that wasn’t enough, the Canucks are starting to look like a team of destiny. They’re down to a third-string rookie goalie who closed out the last series with a shutout, they won a game with 12 shots on net, they won another one when they were losing 3-1 with 2:49 to play and now they turn 1-4 into 5-4 against the favoured Oilers in 17 wild minutes.

If you’re cheering for Edmonton, this is a lot to worry about.

Now, the Oilers were losing Game 1 of a playoff series when the Canucks were crossing their fingers at the draft lottery, so falling behind 1-0 to Vancouver isn’t going to rattle them.

But, make no mistake about it, they are one game away from being rattled. If the Canucks give them more of the same in Game 2 and go 6-0 on the year and 2-0 in the series, it going to be a very serious problem.

Right now, this is the part where the Oilers are supposed to keep their calm and do what they did after Los Angles gave them a similar slap in Game 2 of round one. Edmonton lost that game 5-4, Stuart Skinner wasn’t good (three goals on seven first period shots) and the team needed a response.

They got it. And this team’s overall body of work (45-15-5 down the heart of their stretch drive and a complete and convincing five-game win over Los Angeles) suggests they’ll get it again.

Skinner still has some playoff demons to exorcise, but the way he fought back after losing Game 2 to the Kings has you believing Wednesday night is the exception to who he is in the post-season now, not the rule.

And they will almost certainly get a better game from their captain. Connor McDavid couldn’t get much of anything done in Game 1. He was limited to one secondary assist, zero shots on net and went 28 per cent in the faceoff circle.

And they will all be saying a silent prayer that whatever it was that kept Leon Draisaitl out for half of the second period and slowed him in the third won’t be a problem in Game 2.

One way or another, the picture comes a little more into focus Friday night.

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Sports

Montreal police make arrest in Presidents Cup golf apparel theft

Published

11 hours ago

September 27, 2024

Anne Joseph

Montreal police say they’ve arrested a man in connection with the theft of tens of thousands of dollars in golf merchandise tied to the Presidents Cup PGA Tour being held this week in the city.

Police say that on Sept. 20 and Sept. 21 a person entered a downtown Montreal hotel and stole numerous official items and clothing “from a major golf tournament.”

The tournament is taking place at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in the city’s L’Île-Bizard–Ste-Geneviève’s borough through Sunday.

Police say a 46-year-old man was arrested in downtown Montreal on Thursday and was arraigned Friday on a number of charges including theft.

The accused remains detained until his next court appearance.

Police say the investigation is ongoing to locate the stolen golf items and apparel, adding that anyone with information is invited to come forward.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2024.

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Sports

Toronto Raptors expected to confirm plans to retire Vince Carter’s No. 15

Published

20 hours ago

September 27, 2024

Anne Joseph

TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors are expected to confirm today that Vince Carter’s No. 15 will be the first number to be retired by the NBA franchise.

Carter will attend an MLSE Foundation event this afternoon at the renovated Vince Carter Court at a park in the city’s northwest end.

Raptors president and vice-chairman Masai Ujiri will also be on hand along with some current players and city officials.

Reports this week said that Canada’s lone NBA team would honour Carter on Nov. 2 when Toronto plays the Sacramento Kings at Scotiabank Arena.

Carter, an eight-time all-star, played parts of seven seasons with the Raptors. He was named NBA rookie of the year in 1999 and won the Slam Dunk Contest in 2000.

He was the Raptors’ first superstar and is credited for raising the profile of the team and igniting enthusiasm for basketball across Canada.

Carter guided the Raptors to the Eastern Conference semifinal in 2001. Toronto had a chance to beat the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 but Carter’s shot at the buzzer hit the rim and bounced out.

He asked for a trade in 2004 and was dealt to New Jersey in a mid-season deal that saw the Raptors receive little in return. The Nets, who are now based in Brooklyn, plan to retire Carter’s number in January.

Carter played 22 seasons in the NBA before retiring after the 2019-20 season. He’ll be enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame next month.

The Raptors are celebrating their 30th anniversary this season.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2024.

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Sports

Yankees wrap up AL East with 10-1 win over Orioles, with Judge hitting 58th homer

Published

1 day ago

September 26, 2024

Anne Joseph

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge hit his major league-leading 58th home run, going deep for the fifth straight game to help the New York Yankees wrap up their second AL East title in three years with a 10-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night.

Giancarlo Stanton had four RBIs that included his 27th homer, Alex Verdugo also homered and Gerrit Cole outpitched Corbin Burnes in a possible postseason preview. Judge and Stanton homered in the same game for the 14th time this year, tying Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris in 1961 for the most in Yankees history.

New York assured itself a first-round bye and home-field advantage in a best-of-five AL Division Series starting Oct. 5.

Baltimore, which clinched a postseason berth by winning Tuesday night’s opener of the three-game series, will be in a best-of-three Wild Card Series starting Tuesday.

Stanton homered in the second to put the Yankees ahead and hit a three-run double in a six-run sixth.

Judge hit a two-run homer in the seventh against Bryan Baker and has 144 RBIs, the most in the major leagues since Ryan Howard’s 146 in 2008. Judge matched his career best by homering in five consecutive games.

Making his last start before the playoffs, Cole (8-5) allowed two hits in 6 2/3 innings, struck out five and walked one, lowering his ERA to 3.41. He struck out Anthony Santander with a 98.1 mph fastball that ended the eighth after plate umpire David Rackley called a ball on the previous pitch, a knuckle-curve that appeared to be just above the strike zone. Cole glared as the umpire as the pitcher walked back to the dugout.

Cole was given a standing ovation when he walked to the dugout with two outs in the seventh and tipped his cap to the crowd of 42,022.

Burnes (15-9) allowed two hits in five innings, one walk and nine strikeouts — including eight on cutters. Burnes came out after 69 pitches and is likely to start the Orioles’ postseason opener on Tuesday. He had a 1.20 ERA in five September starts.

Stanton lofted a slider at the bottom of the strike zone into the left-field seats after missing badly at a slider on the prior pitch.

Austin Wells, in a 4-for-42 slide, forced in a run when he walked with the bases loaded against Cionel Pérez. Stanton drove the next pitch on one hop to the wall in right-center for a 5-1 lead. Stanton has 72 RBIs after hitting 6 for 18 with two doubles, two homers and eight RBIs in his last five games.

Anthony Rizzo added a two-run single against Baker.

Emmanuel Rivera hit a ninth-inning sacrifice fly for the Orioles.

UP NEXT

Orioles: LHP Cade Povich (2-9, 5.59) starts a series opener at Minnesota on Friday, when LHP Pablo López (15-9, 4.11) will be on the mound for the Twins.

Yankees: LHP Carlos Rodón (16-9, 3.98), 7-2 with a 2.87 ERA since the All-Star break. starts Friday’s series opener against Pirates RHP Jared Jones (6-8, 4.14).

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AP MLB:

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