After a monstrous start to the week that saw the Oilers demolish the Nashville Predators and steal a win from the Dallas Stars, the boys will be looking to extend their winning streak to four games tonight when they face off against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Over the past three games, the most impressive thing, for me, has to be the number of ways that the Oilers have been able to close out wins. Whether it was getting two points via their special teams as they did against the Jets, beating the opponent into the ground as we saw in Nashville, or having the goalie steal one as Koskinen did against the Stars, the Oilers are doing what it takes to get the job done when it counts the most and that’s exactly what they need to keep doing down the stretch. Against the Blackhawks, the Oilers will, once again, be facing an opponent that’s below them in the standings but one that is also riding into tonight’s contest on a three-game winning streak. Over those three wins, the Blackhawks have put 14 goals up on the board while also getting stellar goaltending from Corey Crawford, and it’s going to be a challenge for the Oilers to squash that trend at both ends of rink regardless of where Chicago sits in the standings.
Sticking with the standings, the Oilers have a chance to catch the Vegas Golden Knights for first place in the Pacific Division if they can beat the Blackhawks tonight, and I’m thinking this should be more than enough motivation to get the boys firing on all cylinders. Vegas is idle tonight and the Oilers have a major opportunity to use their game in hand to catch up to the division leader. I’d love to see that happen to not only maintain pace but also to put space between themselves and the teams chasing behind. Standings aside, the Oilers need to keep winning to save our sanity and lower the pressure building on our collective hearts that’s caused by scoreboard watching. Last night, I was out having a drink and was overcome with rage as I looked up at the TV and saw that the Flames came back to beat the Blue Jackets even though they’re still three points behind with an extra game played. Again, the best way to solve this issue is for our boys to keep winning and I believe they will do so against Chicago. Just keep winning, baby!
One of the biggest questions I had leading up to tonight’s game was who Dave Tippett was going to start in net. Both guys have had statement games during this winning streak and it felt like a coin flip for whoever deserved the crease against Chicago. That’s a good problem to have, friends. According to Bob Stauffer, Smith will be getting the start tonight but we’ll have to see if that changes as Mr. Smith left practice this morning after taking a shot under the blocker. That said, he did return to practice and Tippett expects him to play so we’ll have to wait and see what happens.
After being sellers at the NHL trade deadline, the last thing anyone in Chicago predicted was a winning streak. Yet, after three great games from Corey Crawford — in peak form with a 3.39 goals-saved above expected and .949 save percentage — and the offense regaining composure, that’s where the Blackhawks stand.
The Blackhawks have had encouraging puck possession metrics during their streak with a 50.2-percent Corsi-For and a 52.4-percent expected goal share at even strength. Both figures are significantly above their season averages, and their push is a result of those numbers becoming better.
The best line in this run has been the combination of Dylan Strome, Patrick Kane and Alex Nylander. A surprising development, particularly for that last member of the trio, but the Blackhawks are getting success from unconventional lines.
Photoshop: Tom Kostiuk
Game Day Prediction: I’m liking the Oilers extending their win streak tonight with a big 4-2 win. Deep dish pizza party for the boys!
Obvious Game Day Prediction: Drake Caggiula will score a goal against his former team while Brandon Manning will enjoy a BLT that he made all by himself.
Not-So-Obvious Game Day Prediction: Kanye West decides to watch tonight’s game out of pure coincidence and after seeing McDrai’s dominance pledges allegiance to the Oilers despite being from Chicago.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
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.”
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.
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.
