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I Watched This Game: Facing the Bruins, Canucks find a way to win for a change – Vancouver Is Awesome

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The Vancouver Canucks are undefeated under Bruce Boudreau.

Sure, it’s just two games, but when it’s just the third time all season they’ve won two games in a row, that’s noteworthy. 

The most impressive part is that they won the game with Oliver Ekman-Larsson out of the lineup, giving them a defence that was horrifyingly bad on paper. With the team’s right-side defence being one of their biggest issues, the Canucks dressed five right-side defencemen, with two of them playing on their off side.

On top of that, Travis Hamonic left the game late in the second period, so the Canucks had to play the entire third period with just five defencemen. 

Earlier in the season, the Canucks would have found a way to lose this game. On Wednesday night, they found a way to win.

Sure, it was just barely, by the skin of their teeth — which is just the grossest phrase if you think about it for even a second — but every win counts, especially for a new coach that is trying to get his players to buy in.

“When you’re trying to sell something, and if it doesn’t go right, that message goes out the window pretty quickly,” said Boudreau after the game. “My goals are to win the week and so you get one out of the next two and you’ve won the week and it’s a positive week and then you start over again.”

The Canucks are well on their way to winning the week.

They had some help getting the win from an unlikely source: the Boston Bruins. High-danger chances were 7-to-1 at 5-on-5 for the Bruins and 12-to-2 in all situations but the Bruins either couldn’t beat Thatcher Demko or shot themselves in the foot.

The Bruins hit two crossbars on golden opportunities; Taylor Hall whiffed on a wide open net on a 2-on-1; David Pastrnak put the puck back through the crease on a backdoor pass on the power play; Erik Haula scored a breakaway goal that was called back after an offside challenge. This game could have gone very differently.

But it didn’t.

For this Canucks team, that feels massive. This was only a 2-1 shootout win but, for the players, this has to feel like confirmation of their fervently held belief that they are good enough, smart enough, and doggone it, people like them.

And, no matter what, it always feels good to beat the Bruins. I doggone liked it when I watched this game.

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  • The highlight of this game, shockingly, was the Canucks’ penalty kill. We haven’t had much of a chance to see how new assistant coach Scott Walker’s penalty kill looks at in-zone defence because their aggressive attack in the offensive zone and neutral zone never lets the puck get there. 
     
  • The Canucks’ second period penalty kill was magical to watch, as they swarmed the Bruins power play and created multiple turnovers and several dangerous shorthanded chances. The only problem was they issued the net every time.
     
  • “How many almost breakaways did we have in that first short handed thing and I don’t think we hit the net one time,” said Boudreau, who said that many of his players are “trying to pick so cute a corner sometimes instead of just shooting the puck at the net.”
     
  • What jumps out the most about the penalty kill is how many players are taking regular shorthanded shifts. Eight forwards, including Elias Pettersson and Vasily Podkolzin, played on the penalty kill, as did five defencemen. Most noteworthy: the odd man out on defence wasn’t Quinn Hughes — it was Kyle Burroughs. Hughes played 1:21 on the penalty kill and didn’t give up a single shot attempt.
     
  • Right after their fantastic second period penalty kill, the Canucks nearly threw all their momentum away when Erik Haula snuck behind Tucker Poolman for a breakaway. Haula made a fantastic move to the backhand to roof the puck over Demko; less fantastic was his move at the blueline when he skated over the line before the puck got to him, allowing the Canucks to successfully challenge for offside.
     
  • It’s time for the picking on Tucker Poolman section of the IWTG. Poolman was part of the Canucks’ excellent penalty kill and didn’t have a bad game overall, but this is one of the worst icings I have ever seen and I’ve seen a lot of The Great British Baking Show when they try to ice a hot cake. Under minimal pressure, Poolman fires a puck that rings around the glass at about elbow height, impossible for anyone to tip.
  • Conor Garland has let it be known that he does not like the “Angry Little Elf” nickname, which is fair enough. Besides, judging from him expertly goading Nick Foligno into a penalty in the first period, he’s not an elf — he’s a troll.
  • Hamonic left the game after taking a hit from Brad Marchand, who got an interference penalty on the play. The injury didn’t seem to come from the impact of the hit, however, but rather how Hamonic landed on the ice after jumping to absorb the hit. Hamonic wasn’t putting any weight on his right leg as he struggled to the bench and went straight to the room. 
  • Boudreau had no update on Hamonic after the game.
     
  • The Canucks opened the scoring on the Marchand penalty. J.T. Miller sent a hard pass through Derek Forbort’s legs to Brock Boeser’s blade and he sent the puck ramping up into the top corner, which is worth 100 points in Skee-Ball. It’s his second goal in as many games under Boudreau.
     
  • “I don’t actually remember too much from college,” said Boeser after the game. It wasn’t a non sequitur, he was asked about playing in the bumper position on the power play for the University of Minnesota. Still funny, though. 
     
  • Boeser’s goal was nice but his blind, backhand pass between the legs that set up a 2-on-0 for Miller and Podkolzin was sublime. Miller set up Podkolzin but the pass was a little too far ahead of him and Podkolzin couldn’t quite deke to his backhand to tuck it in. Would have been glorious.
  • You can file this under “Things You Love To See”: a good, old-fashioned reverse hit by Elias Pettersson. This is a good sign for Pettersson, who always seems to play better when he gets involved physically. 
  • Pettersson’s line with Garland and Podkolzin had some strong shifts in the offensive zone but I’m honestly not sure it’s the best fit for Pettersson long-term: both Garland and Podkolzin love to have their puck on their stick and work along the boards; Pettersson loves to have the puck on his stick and work in open ice. I like Garland and Podkolzin together but their style of game might not bring out the best in Pettersson.
     
  • Miller can be such a frustrating player at times. He’s passionate, driven, and tremendously talented but he can also be prone to taking too many risks in the defensive zone, trying to do too much with the puck, and some boneheaded decisions. His undisciplined goaltender interference penalty that put the Bruins on a 5-on-3 could have cost the Canucks the game.  
     
  • The Bruins made short work of the two-man advantage. Bo Horvat, who is a great faceoff man but not a great penalty killer, lost the faceoff to Patrice Bergeron and then could only watch as Bergeron tipped in a perfectly-placed slap pass from Pastrnak. 
     
  • The Canucks should have been given a chance to win the game on the power play with seven minutes left in the third period. Directly in front of a referee and away from the puck, Foligno crosschecked Pettersson from behind, sending him flying into the boards. I have no idea how this isn’t a crosscheck or interference or both. It’s an absolutely baffling non-call.
  • The Canucks got some quality chances in overtime, with Hughes and Tanner Pearson robbed by Swayman, who is a real player for the Bruins, I’ve discovered, and not the instructions that a hippy on a California beach gave me when I needed to relax: “Just sway, man.”
     
  • I apologize for that last joke. Those responsible have been sacked. 
     
  • Miller and Bo Horvat were both brilliant in the shootout to secure the win. Both skated wide to the left, but finished in very different ways: Miller went with the deke, cutting back to the forehand to tuck the puck in on a helpless Swayman before screaming his way back to the bench. Like Tim Thomas’s tires in 2011, Miller was pumped up.
     
  • Horvat went with the shot, putting the puck top corner with what appeared to be no release whatsoever. One moment the puck was on his stick, the next it was in the net. Swayman didn’t even move. It was like a magic trick or, as Gob Bluth would say, an illusion. 

 

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Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

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November 8, 2024

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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.

___

AP cricket:

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Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

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November 8, 2024

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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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Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

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November 8, 2024

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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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