What more legitimate litmus test of the Edmonton Oilers 16-game winning streak could there possibly be than the defending Stanley Cup Champion (the club that vanquished the Oilers last season) Vegas Golden Knights?
And in the end, the 17-game record set by the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins remained intact despite an entertaining, hard-fought affair in the desert.
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The Oilers out-shot and out-chanced (83-50) the Golden Knights. But Aiden Hill was terrific at the other end. Make the final 3-1 (EN).
Excellent hockey game. Here is the tale of the tape…
STUART SKINNER. 6. Managed a difficult shot from Hague from the point later in the 1st. Made the first save on the 1-1 goal but could not contain the rebound. Reacted as if he picked up the puck a shade late through a screen on the 2-1. 3rd goal was an empty netter. Stopped 21 of 23. In the end, Aiden Hill was one save better than Stuart Skinner.
CONNOR McDAVID. 7. Finished off a 2-on-0 with Leon Draisaitl by 1-timing Leon’s perfect pass home low glove for the 1-0, short-handed. Hard back check disrupted a Vegas sortie after a Bouchard shot was blocked at the point. Circled the net then fed Leon who was robbed by Hill’s diving stop. Bouchard hammered one of his passes off the post. Ticked one off the post later in the 1st. A sprint up the middle of the ice early in the 3rd chased by a wrister that Hill just got a piece of. Charged back to strip the puck then turned it back and fed Draisaitl for a 1-timer but Hill denied him.
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RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 6. Sneaky pass led to a hard Hyman jam later in the first. Highly effective with the puck creating in the Vegas zone. A fantastic 23-10, 70% CF 5v5.
ZACH HYMAN. 6. A hard jam in the latter stages of the 1st. The flow of play was strongly in Edmonton’s favor with him on the ice. Had 3 shots. But could not find net.
DARNELL NURSE. 8. Played a terrific game. A strong defensive play on Paul Cotter on what appeared to be a slow developing odd-man situation for Vegas late in the 1st. Elite speed on display as he tracked down a loose Kolesar on a partial break in the 2nd. Great up-ice feed to McDavid for a chance. Not able to corral the puck on the 2-1. HDSC’s 6-3 5v5.
CODY CECI. 6. Blocked shot on a 1st Period PK. Partial screen on the 2-1. 3 shots on net. But High Dangers were 6-2 with him on the ice and against strong competition.
LEON DRAISAITL. 7. Strong 2-way effort. Sifted a perfect little pass into the slot for McDavid to fire home for the 1-0. A couple shifts later, just missed by inches a 1-timer off a pass from Foegele. Swallowed some stick early in the 2nd but alas there was no call. Robbed by Hill’s arm in a cross-the-crease dive. An interception and then neat pass in front to Kane for an early 3rd period chance. Hard 3rd Period back-check. Stoned on a 1-timer off a McDavid feed. Then another back-check forced a Vegas chance wide.
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EVANDER KANE. 6. Good defensive stick in the 1st helped disrupt a Vegas play in the O-zone. Hard back check bailed out Foegele after a sloppy turnover. Solid play continued into the 2nd with a feed to Ceci for a shot, a shot of his own, then a net drive which drew a power play. Just missed a chance in front immediately before the eventual winner was scored down at the other end. Was physical, 3 hits.
WARREN FOEGELE. 4. Fought it tonight. Good feed across to Draisaitl for a 1-timer in the 1st. bad neutral zone turnover but bailed out by a hard back check by Evander Kane. Whistled for a 2nd Period hold. Poor positioning on the 2-1. Was back but part of the confusion on the 2-1. Busted his ass to save an empty net goal late.
MATTIAS EKHOLM. 6. Could not box out his man on the 1-1. Perfect timing to break up a developing Vegas off-man rush in the 2nd. But High Dangers were just 7-2 5v5 on his watch.
EVAN BOUCHARD. 5. Shot blocked at the blueline and turned the other way, but a McDavid back check helped erase it. Executed a tricky walk along the offensive blueline, leading to a good chance by Hyman in front. Had two shots at knocking his man off the puck on the 1-1 sequence and failed to, and then did not take a man in front with the rebound rattling around. A turnover late in the 1st. Hammered one off the post off a McDavid feed in the 2nd. He looked off too many shot attempts.
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RYAN McLEOD. 7. This line’s speed (71 & 55) and tenacity (90) disrupted the Vegas zone all night. McLeod and Holloway kept Vegas pinned deep with a rolling cycle in the 1st. A 3-way play between him, Perry and Holloway created a dangerous chance early in the 2nd, but the puck deflected high and wide. The trio struck again part way through the 3rd. Highly effectively line all night long. Just did not score.
DYLAN HOLLOWAY. 7. Part of a highly effective cycle with McLeod in the 1st. Another series by this line resulted in a chance. Hard 2nd Period back check. Chips a back over to McLeod whose shot deflects wide. Then created a good chance for Perry in deep. Yet another chance was created part-way through the 3rd. Led the Oilers in 5v5 CF at 14-3, 82%. Sure looks like be belongs here.
COREY PERRY. 6. Head’s up pass led to a McLeod chance. Got a chance in tight off a hard by play by Holloway. Could not finish a 3rd period chance created by this line as well. Looks good with the two kids so far.
BRETT KULAK. 7. Excellent performance. Darted in from the point with a hard shot in the 1st. A fine defensive play in the 2nd neutralized a Vegas off-man rush. An equally impressive play against Marchessault negated a chance.
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VINCENT DESHARNAIS. 7. Strong play at his own blueline helped quickly turn the play in the other direction, ending in the McDavid 1-0. A well-earned assist for him. A fine 2nd Period feed sent Kane in alone and helped draw a PP.
DEREK RYAN. 5. Gritty. 1st period blocked shot. Smart pass to Kulak for an excellent chance in the 1st. 67% on draws.
MATTIAS JANMARK. 5. Two 1st period hits. Could not jam home an industrious opportunity from Connor Brown.
CONNOR BROWN. 5. Smart clear up the wall in his own zone. Steal in the 2nd. Engineered a chance on net for Janmark in the 3rd. Was much better than his fancy stats suggested.
Edmonton’s record now sits at 29-16-1, 59 points. They remain 3rd in the Pacific Division. Anaheim is next.
Find me on Threads @kleavins, on Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey, Mastodon at KurtLeavins@mstdn.social, and X @KurtLeavins.
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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:
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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.
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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