Sports
Game in 10: Sloppy mistakes, rough game from (a still sick) Ilya Samsonov results in a Patrick Kane hat trick as Maple Leafs fall 5-3 in Chicago


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Despite coming back from a 3-1 deficit to tie the game at 3-3, the Maple Leafs weren’t able to complete the comeback and dropped another game to a team at the bottom of the standings.
We’ve been through this song and dance with the Leafs several times this season against bottom-feeding teams (and the schedule situation — tired vs. rested — certainly didn’t help): They possessed the puck a lot, but they were guilty of some sloppy turnovers and decision-making that kept them behind the eight-ball and had them chasing the game for most of the night. Especially on the road in a tired situation, catch-up hockey is often losing hockey in the NHL, regardless of the opponent.
Your game in 10:
1. The game started a little sloppily for the Leafs. Unlike the electrifying opening moments on Saturday against Montreal, Toronto started the game on their heels and looked like the tired team (which they were), with the Hawks generating a few early chances.
After the opening five minutes, the Leafs started to pick up some steam, primarily as a result of Auston Matthews’ physical play along the boards and soft hands slicing through the neutral zone, allowing the top line to generate some offensive-zone time.
2. Despite the Leafs getting their legs back under them following a slow start, the Hawks struck first. Following a John Tavares OZ turnover, Chicago took off in transition. Patrick Kane cut to the middle of the ice and sent it across to Max Domi who was cutting up the middle. Domi dropped it back to Kane, who slowed down and let the play develop in front of him.
After Domi entered the zone with speed, Timothy Liljegren sagged off and afforded the time and space for Kane to patiently survey the ice and rip a shot through him and past Ilya Samsonov.
Patrick Kane beats Samsonov through Liljegren pic.twitter.com/dRkIRNc8VC
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 19, 2023
A bit of a weird goal for Samsonov, who might’ve been screened partially by his own defender, but Liljegren also could’ve played a tighter gap on Kane after he handed Domi off to Mark Giordano on the rush defense.
3. It didn’t take long for the Leafs to reply, and it all started with an incredible shift by Auston Matthews.
As the Hawks came in on the rush, Matthews sprawled to defend a cross-ice pass. After regaining his feet, he grabbed the puck and drew a penalty before dominating the shift with the delayed man advantage.
The Hawks eventually touched the puck and officially started the power play, where it took Toronto just nine seconds to convert. After the Hawks won the faceoff and rang the puck behind the net, Matthews raced to it and worked it back to William Nylander at the point. Nylander quickly swung the puck over to Morgan Rielly, who snapped a low shot on goal that was deflected in by Tavares in front.
JOHN TAVARES 🚨
Deflection on the man-advantage pic.twitter.com/RmORlfQkIY
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 19, 2023
With an assist on the play, Morgan Rielly logged his 400th career point. Rielly currently sits fifth in Leafs’ history for points by a defenseman, and by the end of the season, he should threaten to surpass Ian Turnbull’s rank in the history books (414 points).
4. The second period started off rather quietly; the Leafs were controlling the play a bit more, but there weren’t any significant chances generated on either side. That is until Kane’s second goal of the night restored Chicago’s lead.
Following another Leafs’ turnover — this time it was a defensive-zone giveaway as a Matthews pass evaded Justin Holl — Domi picked up the puck and found Kane heading downhill into the slot.
As Kane patiently glided into a dangerous area, this time Rielly played Kane a little loosely while Samsonov bit on a fake shot while sliding laterally. Kane waited for Samsonov to open up and slid the puck through the wickets for his second of the night.
can’t get control of the puck to clear it
Kane waits Samsonov out and opens the five-hole pic.twitter.com/9X6vmMd1CO
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 20, 2023
5. Kane wasn’t done tormenting the Leafs. Chicago entered the zone with a 4v3 rush, and the initial shot from Connor Murphy was stopped, but the rebound rattled around and bounced to Kane at the side of the goal. With Samsonov scrambling, Kane calmly skated below the goal line, where he kept his hips open to the middle of the ice, backed away behind the goal, and he saw an opening to bank the puck off of Samsonov.
At first, it wasn’t quite clear if the puck completely crossed the line, but after review, there was no question that Kane scored a hat trick goal and extended the Hawks’ lead to 3-1. A scrambly bit of goaltending from Samsonov on this one.
Patrick Kane completes the hat trick
banks it off Samsonov pic.twitter.com/p2CUzWErc7
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 20, 2023
6. Down by two, the Leafs were in need of a spark. Fortunately, they were able to get one from their depth pieces as one of their new acquisitions was the one to make a play.
Noel Acciari scored his first as a Leaf on a play that came thanks in large part to the work of David Kämpf. After Alex Kerfoot threw a shot on goal from the side boards that Acciari deflected up high over the traffic in front, Kämpf reached up, grabbed it out of the air, and dropped it on the ice in front of him, before immediately swatting the puck back toward the slot. The puck crawled out front right to Acciari in front, where he made no mistake swatting it into the net.
NOEL ACCIARI 🚨
FIRST AS A LEAF! pic.twitter.com/DwwXwG1mcX
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 20, 2023
7. Even outside of the goal to bring the Leafs back within one, I thought new Leaf Noel Acciari had a very nice game for the second night in a row. Whether it’s defending the cycle, pressing on the forecheck, or killing penalties, Acciari is a fierce competitor who has a high win percentage in his puck battles in the trenches. It translates into an ability to force his way into the hard areas of the ice to score goals as well.
11 goals and 19 points in 56 games this season, all of which have been recorded at even strength or shorthanded, is nothing to shake a stick at. A sorely needed addition to the team’s bottom-six mix, the value of Acciari’s consistent work ethic and simple but effective game shined through in this game on a team that was showing the effects of a tired situation.
The fourth line with Acciari, ZAR, and Kerfoot posted a 93% xGF and outshot the opposition 7-1 at five-on-five.
8. It didn’t feel like the Leafs opened the final stanza with a tremendous sense of urgency. Sure, they were pushing a little bit for offense, but there wasn’t an abundance of energy on display. The effects of playing on the second half of a back-to-back with travel seemed to be weighing on them. Enter a perfectly-executed set play by two of the Leafs’ offensive leaders.
Mitch Marner hit the red line and turned on the gas, heading full steam ahead toward the Chicago zone. Rielly identified the set-play opportunity in motion and fired the puck all the way down the ice for a bank pass off the end boards. Marner picked it up in the right circle and cut across the net for a beauty finish to even things up.
one of the best Leafs goals of the season
Mitch Marner from Morgan Rielly pic.twitter.com/VaYdLjSV0L
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 20, 2023
9. Mitch Marner nearly scored a second goal just moments later, ripping a one-timer off the post as a Hawks defender barely got a stick in the way to disrupt the shot slightly. Toronto continued to generate chances, and while they couldn’t get another shot past Jaxson Stauber, it felt like if they stuck with it, they were going to find their way through in this game.
However, they perhaps pushed a little too hard and forced it in search of a game-winner as a four-man rush attempt came back to haunt them for the game-losing goal.
After a cross-ice pass went right through the lower slot, the puck bounced off the corner and onto the stick of Cole Guttman, who took off in transition with three Leaf forwards and TJ Brodie caught deep. With Conor Timmins caught a little bit in between when defending the 2v1, Guttman took his opportunity and ripped it home past Samsonov for his first career NHL goal.
Gole Guttman scores his first NHL goal against the Leafs pic.twitter.com/tQLncAXTmI
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 20, 2023
10. The Leafs pressed for an equalizer to no avail as the Hawks added an empty-netter to ice the game and win by a score of 5-3. The inability to win the season series over either Columbus (1-1) or Chicago (1-1) has been a little frustrating this month as the Leafs have collected just four of the eight points on offer. That said, Toronto didn’t look entirely lifeless like they did in the final 40 minutes against the Blue Jackets a week ago.
Samsonov — coming off or still battling an illness, mind you — didn’t have a great game, and the Leafs needed a save on at least one of the goals he allowed. Stauber put together a pretty nice game for the Hawks at the other end, saving 1.46 goals above expected in this one.
The Rasmus Sandin minor injury forcing TJ Brodie over to the left with Conor Timmins on a makeshift pairing — and Morgan Rielly to pair off with Justin Holl — didn’t help matters, but another area to keep an eye on was the team’s third line of David Kampf, Pierre Engvall, and Calle Jarnkrok getting outshot 7-1 and outscored 1-0 at five-on-five after a good night for this line against Montreal.
While none of these teams are world-beaters, the likes of the Sabres, Kraken, and Wild do present more quality depth than any of the Habs, Blackhawks, or Blue Jackets teams we’ve seen recently. We’ll keep an eye on whether Ryan O’Reilly is given a look at third-line center with John Tavares back in the middle at some point.
Heatmap: 5v5 Shot Attempts
Game Flow: 5v5 Shot Attempts




Sports
Bianca Andreescu says she's waiting on test results after injuring leg during Miami Open – The Globe and Mail


Canadian tennis player Bianca Andreescu provided an injury update of sorts on Tuesday, saying she’s still waiting on official test results after injuring her lower left leg at the Miami Open.
Andreescu, from Mississauga, Ont., was hurt Monday night in the second set of her fourth-round match against Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova.
The 22-year-old was moving across the baseline when she fell to the hardcourt and clutched her lower leg in pain. She was wheeled off the court a short time later.
Andreescu provided an update on Tuesday via social media.
“Woke up with a brace on my foot anyone know what happened? On a serious note tho that was the worst pain I’ve ever felt praying for nothing serious. Still waiting on official results. Thank you everyone for your thoughts and kind words, doesn’t go unnoticed,” she said in a Twitter post, complete with a pray emoji.
Andreescu, who won the U.S. Open in 2019, holds the No. 31 position in the world rankings.
Her agent, Charlotte Lawler, said via e-mail that Andreescu met with her doctor Tuesday afternoon. Lawler said a statement would be released once injury specifics were available.
Sports
Famous Blackjack Players: Their Stories and Winning Strategies


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Blаckjack is оne of the most popular cаrd gаmes in which yоu cоmpete against the dеaler. Aсes are worth one or elеven, whіle queens, jаcks, and kіngs are worth 10. Lеarning to plаy blаckjack is eаsy if yоu read and understаnd the bаsics of the gаme.
Throughout the history of the gаme of blackjack online, there have been mаny plаyers whо have mastered the gаme, hоning their talents to a prоfessional level. You can also try your luck at the best blackjack online real money in the USA and Canada. Play online blackjack in Canada if you believe you have what it takes to become a new member of the blackjаck hall of fame.
1. Don Johnson
Don Johnson is well known for winning over $15 million in six months at three Atlantic City casinos.
He once bet $100,000 and got two eights which he split. He split аgain when the next two cards were two eights. The cаsino dealer dealt three and two twice. It doubled on each hand. The dealer drew a 10 with twо cаrds for a total of 15. Johnson won $800,000 in one hand.
It was the beginning of a six-mоnth winning streak. The cаsino discovered that he had not counted the cаrds. The events took a toll on the casino. Caesars, for example, banned him from all of its cаsinos аround the world.
2. Bryce Carlson
Bryce Carlson, the author of Blаckjack for Bloоd, started playing this game in the 1970s. He became a blаckjack pro by discussing strategies with оther top players. Some of his abilities included cаrd strategy, team play, and stealth.
Although Cаrlson is a prоfessional blackjack plаyer, he hаs published a detаiled bоok on the game to hеlp others lеаrn his fаvorite gаme. Online blackjack for money became pоpulаr in the late 1990s. Cаrlson аnd оther experienced players from around the world met at an оnline cаsino to compеte.
In аn interview, he noted that he always wanted to beat the cаsino at their own game. He lоst 47 hours. It took him 141 hours to get it back. His fаvorite mеmory is a $200 hаnd at Excalibur in Lаs Vegas.
This outstanding blаckjack player cаme up with the Оmega II Blаckjack Machine to help him analyze the gаme for its effectiveness. He later created a sоftware cоmparable to Omеga II Blаckjack Cаsino.
3. Henry Tamburin
Henry Tamburin wrote the book Blаckjack: Tаke the Money and Run. Tаmburin’s first gаme of blаckjack wаs in grаduate schоol befоre he becаme an аuthor. He wаs determined to learn the gаme and mаke up fоr it after losing lаrge sums of mоney.
He hаd a mаthematical bаckground, which mаde it eаsy for him tо understand cаrd counting and thе bаsic techniques оf playing blаckjack. He attended gаming conventions tо hоne his skills аnd shаre tips with оther professional gаmers.
Tamburin participated іn CBS’s Ultimate Blаckjack Tоur blаckjack competition. Hе is currently the editor аnd publisher оf the Blаckjack Insider Nеwsletter. His Smаrt Gaming website insists on improving the оdds for plауers аnd educating the public on how to plаy smart.
4. Stanford Wong
John Ferguson, a gаmbling author known for his bоok Professional Blackjаck, goes by the pen name Stanford Wong. He is a professional blаckjack player who started gambling as a source of money while in graduate school. While still a student at Stanford University, he published his first book in 1975.
Wong alsо invented Blаckjack Anаlyzer, a software that analyzes blаckjack odds. The term “Wonging” rеfers to one оf the methods prеsented in his first bоok. During the gаme of shоes, the participant оf the method jumps оver the tаbles.
They оrganized a team to play blackjack and other gambling competitions in 1985. The six-player team won eight events with a total of more than $200,000 in prize money. In addition to his successful professional blаckjack game, Wong has produced around 15 gambling guides.
5. Russ Hamilton
Russ Hamіlton is a professional blackjack player from the USA. He used to be fоnd of poker, but аfter a trip tо Las Vegаs, he became mоre intеrested in blackjаck. Thеre he socialized with other blаckjack players, оften competing in tournaments.
He turned to poker when the tоurnaments were cancelled. Hе later returned to blаckjack, fоunding the Elіmination Blаckjack tournament. The tоurnament evolved into thе Ultimate Blаckjack Tоur, which aired for two seаsons.
As a well-known gambling expert, organizations such as Ultimate Bet turn to him for advice on gаming-related matters. However, Hamilton wаs lаter embroiled in a $22 mіllion cоntroversy while wоrking for Ultimate Bеt.
Thе evidence estаblished that he wаs responsible for the fraud еpisodes at Ultimate Bet. The cаrporation wаs obliged tо compensate dеfrauded plaуers. Hаmilton’s reputation was damаged by the dеception.
6. Lawrence Revere
Before becoming a professional blаckjack player, Lawrence Revere worked as a cаsino employee. Griffith C. Owens wаs his stage name, although he also used aliases such as Paul Mаnn and Leonard “Spex” Pаrson. Lawrence plаyed his first blаckjack gаme at the аge of 13.
He attended the University of Nebrаska and mаjored in mаthematics. His mаthematical skills helped him develop blaсkjack strategies. In his bоok, Playing Blackjаck Like a Businеss Fan, he exаmines the cаrd counting strаtegies nаmed after him. His bоok has influenced many established plаyers as well as bеginners.
Later, Lawrеnce created an оutline of thе basic black jack casino strategy. He caused disаgreеments іn the plаying space. Hе oftеn gave advice to the dealers durіng thе deal and tо the plаyers during the gаme. He died оf cаncer in April 1977.
Conclusion
The mentioned blаckjack plаyers demonstrated one thing: you can beat the casino. These famous players perfected techniques that changed the way the game was played through time and dеdication.
Thеy shаred their wisdom аnd even hеlped newbies fіnd their fоoting. Everyone has access to online blackjack books, newsletters, and websites. They serve as rоle models for professional players who want to improve their blаckjack skіlls and increase their chances оf winning with еvery hаnd. Play online blackjack! You wіll find many interesting thеngs on оur website Blackjackonline21ca.
Sports
Emotional Bianca Andreescu leaves court in wheelchair after injury at Miami Open
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Canadian tennis star Bianca Andreescu was forced to leave the court in a wheelchair after suffering an injury during Monday’s match against Ekaterina Alexandrova in the Round of 16 at the Miami Open.
Andreescu officially retired at 6-7, 2-0, winning 75 percent of her points on first serve. With tears in her eyes, she left the court to a standing ovation. Alexandrova, who will face Petra Kvitova in the next round, came over to console a devastated Andreescu as her team prepared for her exit.
“I’ve never felt this kind of pain before,” Andreescu said in agony while the medical team approached.
The 22-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., suffered the injury during the third game of the second set while tracking down a shot.
Andreescu was off to an excellent start to the tournament, defeating Emma Raducanu 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 in the Round of 128, before proceeding to knock off No. 7 Maria Sakkari 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, then defeating Sofia Kenin in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.
This is a potentially devastating injury for Andreescu, who was rounding into form with the summer schedule on the horizon. Andreescu had previously advanced to the Round of 32 in the Indian Wells Masters before losing in straight sets to No. 1 Iga Swiatek in a tightly contested match.
Andreescu has a lengthy history with long-term injuries, suffering a torn meniscus in October 2019, shortly after winning the U.S. Open against childhood hero Serena Williams. Andreescu did not play the entire 2020 season in large part due to the complications from the COVID-19 pandemic, then struggled through the 2021 season. Andreescu missed the opening three months of the 2022 season and struggled with a back injury towards the end of the year.
Andreescu said in a recent interview that she actually contemplated retiring from tennis in 2021.
“That was, honestly, about me wanting to figure out if I really wanted to continue playing tennis,” Andreescu told reporters on Sunday, per The Telegraph. “I was literally about to drop my rackets and say, ‘Screw this.’ I wasn’t happy at all and I wasn’t happy basically for the full year of 2021. I thought, if I continue like this, it’s just going to get worse.”
Those hardships from the past few years have helped Andreescu grow as both a player and a person.
“I’ve definitely learned a lot,” Andreescu told Sportsnet’s Vivek Jacob earlier this month. “I feel like I’ve learned a lot even in the past two months about myself, which is such a great thing about life, you’re constantly growing, you’re constantly learning. The main thing is I want to be able to feel good in my own skin whether I win a match or lose a match.”




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