In the first game of their series, the Columbus Blue Jackets put on a world class defensive performance that stifled the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs managed to find passing lanes through the Blue Jackets’ defence, connecting 17 times on passes to the slot in the Columbus zone at even strength, but their shooters were tightly checked and only managed to get eight shots on net from the slot.
Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets were able to dominate in the Leafs’ end from the high slot area. Both goaltenders gave their teams strong performances, and one mistake ended up deciding the game. Even with the result being so close, it was obvious that the Leafs were going to need to make some changes to gain an advantage.
In Game 2, it was obvious from the outset that Toronto had found what it needed to get the job done in the offensive zone, even if it took a while to get a goal on the board.
From Game 1 to Game 2, the Leafs’ more than doubled their expected goals total, while cutting the Blue Jackets’ expected goals in half. With numbers like this, it’s obvious the Leafs dominated the shot clock and the scoring chances, but what changed in their approach or performance that allowed this to happen aside from execution in the offensive zone?
In Game 1, the Leafs were dominated in the neutral zone by the ferocious checking of the Blue Jackets, who are not only excellent defensively, but also win puck battles at a higher rate on average. The Leafs were only able to win 41.3 per cent of the loose pucks in the neutral zone, giving the Blue Jackets the ability to dictate where the puck was going.
In Game 2, though, the Leafs flipped the script and controlled 60.8 per cent of the loose pucks in the neutral zone. Similarly, the Leafs went from removing possession from the Blue Jackets in the neutral zone just seven times in Game 1, to 23 times in Game 2, and doubled their neutral zone takeaways from nine to 18. That’s a huge upgrade in the Leafs’ neutral zone defence.
Toronto’s improved neutral zone defence cut down the controlled entries Columbus was able to generate from 17 in Game 1 to 12 in Game 2. This isn’t a huge drop, but the extra pucks the Leafs won improved their own controlled entries from 17 in Game 1 to 28 in Game 2, which allowed them to triple their chances generated off the rush from just two, to six.
From a puck management perspective, the Leafs also improved greatly from their Game 1 efforts. In the first game of the series, the Leafs were sloppy with the puck in their own zone, turning it over on 16.8 per cent of their attempted plays — in Game 2 that fell to just 8.3 per cent in a 3-0 victory.
While all their scoring was at even strength, the Leafs kept up the pressure on the power play as well, which they weren’t able to do in Game 1 when they generated just a single shot attempt from the slot on their one man advantage. In Game 2 the Leafs perforated the Blue Jackets on the power play with 13 shot attempts from the slot.
Toronto’s attention to detail on defence led the Blue Jackets to commit more infractions, and the Leafs kept the momentum going when they were afforded those power plays.
Then, of course, there were the singular players who stood up in Game 2, chief among them being John Tavares. In Game 1, Tavares managed a single shot attempt from the slot in a relatively underwhelming performance. In Game 2, though, he ripped three shot attempts at the net at even strength, and a whopping five on the power play, leading both teams with eight overall.
In all likelihood, the Blue Jackets will respond to the Leafs in the same way that the Leafs responded to them, so this series isn’t over by any means. The intensity and attention to detail that many have been wanting to see from the Leafs for a long time was finally present in Game 2. The question now is whether they can continue that approach consistently, and without Jake Muzzin.
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.
