Sports

Canucks squander big opportunity in deflating loss to Golden Knights

Published

4 years ago

August 31, 2020

EDMONTON – You work and sacrifice, suffer physically, battle and crawl and build yourself a one-goal lead to try to save your season. And then the Vegas Golden Knights arrive like a landslide in the third period, pump in three goals and win 5-3.

And if you’re the Vancouver Canucks, you have to wonder if Sunday was your last best chance to make this a series.

After playing well for two periods on Sunday, the Canucks were buried by three goals in six-and-a-half minutes in the third and lost for the second time in 25 hours to the Knights, who took a 3-1 lead in this second-round Stanley Cup Playoffs clash.

Yes, the Golden Knights are loud and obnoxious. Who needs fans in the building when you have Ryan Reaves and the rest of the Vegas bench? But they seem capable of backing up everything they say.

Vegas won Game 3 with defence and won Game 4 with offence, scoring off the rush, scoring off the cycle and scoring on the power play. The Canucks, Canada’s last-standing team — not counting all the American ones in the bubble — are a Tuesday loss away from leaving the Stanley Cup tournament.

“It’s unchartered territory for a lot of players, obviously,” veteran Canucks forward J.T. Miller said late Sunday. “A lot of young guys on the team. We’ve just got to worry about next game. We’ve proven we can play with (the Golden Knights) for a long stretch of the first four games. We’re going to come out and try to have a good start to the next game and go from there. It’s the only thing we can focus on at this point.

“We put ourselves in a helluva spot to win a hockey game (tonight) and get right back in the series. And we need to do a better job… I mean, it’s not the third period we wanted. That’s a dream spot to be in in the playoffs, (trying) to tie a series 2-2 and be up one going into the third. And they had too many good looks.”

Starting with Nate Schmidt’s equalizer at 2:52, a 50-foot slapshot that beat goalie Jacob Markstrom between his arm and torso after a shift of sustained pressure, the Golden Knights surged back in the first half of the final period, scoring three times on Canucks mistakes and a couple of bounces.

Max Pacioretty reached behind him for the puck as he was being checked to somehow finish a three-on-two rush from Schmidt’s pass to put Vegas ahead 4-3 at 7:02. And from the remnants of another outnumbered rush, William Karlsson tapped in Pacioretty’s centring pass 87 seconds later as both Markstrom and defenceman Tyler Myers, just back after missing seven games with a shoulder injury, reacted slowly.

Markstrom made some terrific saves during the game but looked tired in the third trying to play both halves of the playoff back-to-back. Vegas coach Peter DeBoer had the luxury of dividing the weekend workload between his two “No. 1” goalies, starting Marc-Andre Fleury Sunday after Robin Lehner shut out the Canucks 3-0 on Saturday.

“I felt great,” Markstrom said defiantly after the game. “There was about five (goals) I would like to have back.”

“There’s no quit in this team,” Canucks centre Elias Pettersson said. “We’ve been working all season for this and we’re not going to back down without a battle. Of course, it’s frustrating now, but we’ve just got to focus on next game.”

They’d better focus solely on Tuesday because the idea right now of winning three straight against the Golden Knights is a little overwhelming.

The biggest game of the series was also the best as the Canucks and Golden Knights traded four goals through 25 minutes Sunday before Tyler Toffoli’s power-play marker gave Vancouver its first lead at 11:26 of the second period.

Quinn Hughes, hellaciously hit earlier in the game by Reaves to initiate a Vegas goal, surprised the Golden Knights by continuing forward on a power-play break in rather than drop the puck in the neutral zone. Hughes passed to Toffoli, who fired from close range high and in off Fleury’s shoulder.

The Canucks had tied the game seven minutes earlier when Fleury spilled a deflection from Miller, leaving captain Bo Horvat a tap-in that made it 2-2 at 4:07.

Vancouver’s push was impressive, as Vegas built a 2-1 lead in the first period but could have led by more based on the scoring chances.

Pacioretty made it 1-0 for the Golden Knights at 9:28, punishing the Canucks for a too-man-men penalty by shooting through Markstrom’s pads from the high slot.

Pettersson tied it 1-1 at 11:15, lethally measuring his shot and picking his spot glove-side on Fleury during Vancouver’s first power play.

But Vegas re-took the lead just 2:04 later when fourth-line centre Chandler Stephenson finished a three-on-two rush from Shea Theodore’s pass. The prerequisite to the goal was the 240-pound Reaves running over Hughes when the Canucks’ five-foot-10 rookie tried to reverse with the puck in the offensive zone, making himself a hugely inviting target. It was like a bear running over a rabbit.

As the Knights counter-attacked with Hughes caught and the Vancouver bench screaming for a penalty, Toffoli turned to confront Reaves, leaving lots of time and space for Vegas to execute its outnumbered rush.

After the goal, Reaves and other Golden Knights could be heard mocking Hughes, and the trash-talking soon involved Canucks coach Travis Green.

Reaves could have been called for boarding, but it would have been marginal. And the Canucks really had no complaints because in the second period Jonathan Marchessault was called for a high-stick on Troy Stecher when the offending twig actually belonged to Vancouver defenceman Alex Edler.

If the Canucks really want to shut up the Golden Knights, all they have to do is win.

“You’re not going to win the series next game,” Miller said. “You’ve got to worry about (only) next game. We’re not worried about… whatever can happen after that.”

Source: – Sportsnet.ca

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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.

___

AP cricket:

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Sports

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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Sports

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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