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Canucks’ mediocre power play hindering potential turnaround – Sportsnet.ca

Published

4 years ago

February 17, 2021

VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Canucks were so poor defensively in the first three weeks of the season that their power play didn’t matter.

Eight of their first nine losses were by three or more goals, so besides adding some momentum within those games, another goal on special teams probably wasn’t going to change the outcome.

But now that the Canucks have rediscovered their game, outshooting and out-chancing opponents the last four games but winning only once, the power play suddenly matters a lot. And through the first 19 games of 2021, Vancouver’s man-advantage units are operating at roughly two-thirds the output and efficiency they did last season.

Even with a 2-for-6 night in Monday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames – one power-play goal was scored5-on-3, the other in the final second of a penalty – the Canucks rank 20th in the NHL with a power-play conversion rate of 17.4 per cent. They’ve scored 12 times at extra strength.

Through the first 19 games last season, which the Canucks’ power play finished at No. 4, Vancouver had generated 19 goals and was humming along at 25 per cent.

What makes the downgrade this season more curious is that the Canucks are using the same five players on their top unit: Quinn Hughes at the point, Bo Horvat in the bumper, Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller on the flanks and Brock Boeser down low.

Coach Travis Green was critical of the unit after Monday’s game, saying: “I didn’t think they were very good tonight. I just didn’t think they were sharp. Passing wasn’t sharp, they were on the outside.”

“Yesterday, I think we were a bit sloppy,” Pettersson said after Tuesday’s practice for the four-game series finale Wednesday against the Flames. “We weren’t making the plays. We weren’t breaking in the puck like we normally do. I think we just have to keep high standards. This year, the power play hasn’t been as good as we want to want it to be, but we’re talking about it before every game and practice, working on it every chance we get.”

Pettersson had 24 power-play points in 69 games last season, one behind Miller and Hughes. So far this year, he has just four.

“We definitely have the talent to get back to where we were last year, and that’s what we’re trying to do,” Hughes said. “(But) it’s also harder this year. . . playing a team four times in a row. They’re going to make adjustments and we’re just going to have to do that, too.”

A huge factor for the Canucks has been the disappearance of the second power-play unit, which produced 19 of the team’s 57 extra-strength goals last season. Tanner Pearson’s deflection of Hughes’ point shot on Monday – the goal was initially listed as even-strength but was changed to a power-play goal as a Calgary penalty expired – was the first power-play marker this season outside of the top unit.

MILLER’S TIME AND DEPLOYMENT

The Canucks made a slight change to their No. 1 power play in practice, moving Miller down to the net and Boeser up to the left-wing circle. Those were their positions when Boeser wristed in the tying goal Monday with 30.2 seconds remaining in regulation time and goalie Thatcher Demko on the bench for an extra skater.

Miller is more adept at jamming the front of the net than Boeser, who will pivot out of the goalie’s way to try and deflect shots. Using Boeser, a right shot, on the left side opens another one-timer option although the left-shooting Miller has been effective collecting the puck from Hughes just inside the blue line and attacking “downhill” to the net. But that position includes a lot of playmaking and Miller has had a frustrating number of turnovers while trying to force passes.

Miller’s ice time has been redistributed this season due to his introduction to the Canucks’ penalty-killing unit, which has phased out Loui Eriksson and lost Tyler Motte to an ankle injury. With 10 power plays and nearly 17 minutes of special-teams play on Monday, Miller logged 24:52 of ice time – easily the most by a Vancouver forward this season.

“I did call Millsy in today and talked about his minutes,” Green said Tuesday. “I don’t like them creeping up that much. On the other hand, I did tell him that I liked his penalty killing. You’re lucky if you can find a guy who’s very skilled and can kill penalties, and is hard enough to do it and brave enough. I think he’s a good penalty killer and has done a good job since we added him. I’ll probably keep him on the penalty kill and I might have to cut his ice in other areas once in a while.”

PETTERSSON’S BACK

After a perplexing start to his third NHL season, former Calder Trophy winner Pettersson has 11 points in his last 11 games and again looks fully engaged.

The 22-year-old’s skill has always sparkled, but what helped him become a star at such a young age was his drive without the puck: how relentlessly he worked to retrieve it, how willing he was to battle defensively. That part of Pettersson’s game was noticeably absent for most of January.

“I’ve been trying to skate faster,” he said Tuesday. “I’ve been trying to challenge the opponents harder. I think the first couple of games, I didn’t really do that stuff. I was being too stationary. I was trying to make plays while I’m while standing still and (I was) an easy target to play against. So yeah, I’ve been thinking about that lately, and been feeling a lot better.”

So is Green.

“Any top player in the league, you notice them skating,” the coach said. “You notice them moving their feet, wanting the puck, commanding the puck. I don’t think he had his legs under him to start the season. I think he’d probably admit that, that he wasn’t on top of his game. But he does seem to be getting to the level that he played at before.”

INJURY REPORT

Former Flame Travis Hamonic travelled with the Canucks to Calgary for Wednesday’s single road game, an indication he is close to playing after suffering an upper-body injury on Jan. 20. Signed by Vancouver to play with Hughes as the replacement for Chris Tanev, who has had an excellent start with the Flames, Hamonic may have a difficult time dislodging Jordie Benn from the lineup.

After a disappointing first season in Vancouver when he became a regular healthy scratch, Benn has had a stabilizing effect on Hughes and is playing his best hockey as a Canuck. His expected-goals-for percentage of 49.6 is second among Canucks defencemen, and Benn has improved the penalty kill, which has allowed only one goal in 30:22 of short-handed time with the 34-year-old on the ice.

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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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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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