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In the Habs' Room: Jesperi Kotkaniemi's fight lifts his team's spirits – Montreal Gazette

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5 years ago

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The 19-year-old earned player-of-the-game honours from his teammates after battling Flyers’ Robert Hagg following his hit on Ryan Poehling.

PHILADELPHIA — There was no shortage of heroes in the Canadiens’ 4-1 victory over the Flyers Thursday night.

Ilya Kovalchuk did what he does best, scoring two goals.

The team’s leading scorer, Tomas Tatar, had a three-point night with a goal and two assists.

And Carey Price continued his run of outstanding performances, making 40 saves.

But when it came time for the players to select the player of the game, the honour went to 19-year-old Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who spent most of the third period sitting in the penalty box after dropping his gloves and traded punches with Robert Hagg.

“That meant a lot to us and that’s why he was the player of the game,” Kovalchuk said.

“I don’t know where that came from,” said Kotkaniemi, who was upset because Hagg hit Ryan Poehling from behind. It was not only Kotkaniemi’s first NHL fight, it was his first fight ever.

“When guys step up and do those things, I think the  whole team appreciated it,” coach Claude Julien said. “When you look at how it happened, I don’t know how he winds up with an instigator and an extra 10 (for a misconduct). Both guys looked at each other and dropped the gloves. The poor guy had to sit in the penalty box for 17 minutes.”


Canadiens’ Jesperi Kotkaniemi lands a punch during his fight with Flyers defenceman Robert Hagg Thursday night in Philadelphia.

Eric Hartline /

USA TODAY Sports

Julien was asked if he was surprised the novice pugilist got the better of Hagg.

“I think everybody was surprised,” he replied. “We didn’t see that coming. Maybe hie missed his calling.”

The Canadiens took the lead early in the second period when Kovalchuk scored a power-play goal and Artturi Lehkonen scored 11 seconds later. But Julien said there were two earlier incidents that set up the go-ahead opportunity.

The first came late in the first period when the Flyers opened the scoring, but Tatar tied the game 18 seconds later.

“We needed a bounce-back from a tough loss last night,” Julien said. “There was no doubt those two goals really helped us  They sort of calmed things down. But also that first goal we scored after they took the lead. I think the quick response was as important as the next two goals.”

“Giving up that goal made a difference,” agreed Flyers coach Alain Vigneault. “If we go into the second period up 1-0, it might have  been different.”

The other key play was a stop Price made on a short-handed breakaway by Scott Laughton seconds before Kovalchuk scored his power-play goal.

“(Carey) was really good tonight that’s the Carey we know,” Julien said. “He made things look easy, but yet they were some tough saves he had to make. When he’s at the top of his game, he makes those things look easy. That breakaway, Laughton is pretty good, even in shootouts, and to handle it the way he did, good job.”

Kovalchuk now has seven points — three goals and four assists — in the seven games he has played with the Canadiens.

“Finally, we start scoring on the power play,” Kovalchuk said. “We’re shooting the puck and it went in. Phil (Danault) made a great play to get the puck to me, but we have to put the same effort in when we play at the Bell Centre. I don’t know what happens when we play at home, but we’re not the same team. We have one game before the break (Saturday against the Vegas Golden Knights) and we have to be ready for that.”

phickey@postmedia.com

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PWHL MVP Spooner set to miss start of season for Toronto Sceptres due to knee injury

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November 12, 2024

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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.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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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.

___

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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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