TORONTO — Pierre Engvall‘s video tribute didn’t exactly stir a deafening round of applause from Scotiabank Arena. But the winger Toronto traded away did an even better job of silencing the room by slamming home the game-winner with just a couple minutes left on the clock.
Asked following the New York Islanders‘ much-needed 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs if he had any money on the board for his return game, the game’s first star paused a beat, then flashed a smile as long as his neck. As long as his effortless stride. As long as he waited to hear his name get called by the Leafs in the 2014 draft (188th overall). As long as the seven-year extension Lou Lamoriello signed him to.
“Yeah,” Engvall said. “For the team.”
A frequent visitor of Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe’s doghouse, Engvall was also a solid penalty-killer, one-time 15-goal man, and member of the 2018 Marlies squad that captured the Calder Cup.
The middle-six speedster spent seven years in the organization before former GM Kyle Dubas flipped him to the Islanders in 2023 for a third-round pick, and turned that currency into the rental of Luke Schenn, who endeared himself much more to Leafs Nation.
Much like his Islanders, Engvall has endured a rather underwhelming winter.
They both needed a moment like this to build off, heading into the stretch run with shaky playoff aspirations.
“I’m sure he was a bit nervous for tonight’s game, but he played a really solid game tonight,” Isles coach Patrick Roy said. “We talk a lot about going to the net, and it’s exactly what he did. And he was rewarded for a nice play.”
Heading into his return game, Engvall hadn’t registered a point in more than a month.
And the Islanders hadn’t defeated any team in regulation in more than a month.
“Felt really good,” Engvall said. “It was a really tight and tough game, so to see the puck go in and then get the win, especially at the end, close in a tight game, I think it was really good for us.”
Both halves of New York’s top defence pair, Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock, logged more than 20 minutes and wowed Roy with how they controlled play against the offensively deadly Leafs.
“Great finish by Engvall at the end,” Pulock said, motioning across the visitors’ room to the handsome Swede. “I’m sure there’s a lot of emotion for him. So, really happy to see.
“He’s pretty quiet. But I think that celebration meant a lot more to him there with just everything — first game back, and then it being go-ahead goal with two minutes left. Pretty special. So, big goal for him. Big win for us.”
Big win for a refreshed Ilya Sorokin, the Islanders’ stud goaltender, who stopped 35 of 37 shots and stood tall as the Maple Leafs pressed 6-on-5 late.
Big win for Mathew Barzal, a man energized by the coaching switch and Roy’s passion for the game and desire to open up the offence. (Keefe noted that unless he went strength-on-strength and ran Auston Matthews‘ top line against Barzal, the ice was getting tilted.)
‘Feels really good’: Islanders’ Engvall happy to get much-needed win in return to Toronto
And a big win for late-bloomer Kyle MacLean, who took advantage of Toronto’s costliest gaffe of the evening.
Trailing 1-0 in the second period, rugged Leafs defenceman Simon Benoit threw a hit on Barzal that drew Bo Horvat into a fight plus an unsportsmanlike minor.
Mitch Marner tied the game at 4-on-4, then the Leafs had a golden chance against one of the league’s worst penalty kills to take the lead on the power play.
“A game-changing opportunity,” Keefe said.
But Toronto’s 5-on-4 unit lost track of the clock.
MacLean, who was serving Horvat’s minor, jumped out of the box and got sprung for a clean breakaway to restore the lead.
“This is the National Hockey League. That’s peewee stuff,” Keefe said. “You play on the power play in the National Hockey League, they should not get behind you coming out of the penalty box.”
‘That’s peewee stuff’: Keefe on MacLean getting behind Maple Leafs for breakaway goal
And while John Tavares tied the contest again on the Leafs’ second power play, Engvall circled the net, slipped out of reach from Morgan Rielly, then swiped in a Brock Nelson rebound backhanded.
Arms up. Crowd silenced. Revenge secured.
“I thought we played well enough to win,” Keefe said. “But we did just enough to lose.”
Fox’s Fast Five
• The undrafted MacLean scored his long-awaited first NHL goal — and it was a beauty.
After five full seasons with the Oshawa Generals and three-and-a-half years riding the bus in Bridgeport, the 24-year-old hopped out of the penalty box, caught a pass, and deked the smile off Samsonov’s face.
Even better?
MacLean’s dad, 1995 Stanley Cup champion and Islanders assistant coach John MacLean, had a front-row seat to the moment.
“Cool situation,” MacLean said. “So maybe after the game here, we’ll have a little bit of a moment. But it’s definitely special.”
Islanders’ MacLean jumps out of the box, dangles past Samsonov for first NHL goal
• Fan favourite Simon Benoit dropped the gloves with instigator Bo Horvat and already has a career-high three fights this season.
The entire Leafs bench stood up and bangd their sticks on the boards for Benoit as he finished serving his major.
The Islanders loved it, too.
“This is who he is,” Roy said of Horvat. “Leaders always take care of their teammates. I mean, in life you have a chance: You could be an eagle or a duck. He was an eagle there.”
Islanders’ Horvat steps up to fight Maple Leafs’ Benoit in response to hit on Barzal
• Max Domi was asked if he’ll be hitting up Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly for a piece of their $1-million prize for winning the All-Star Game.
“I’m always bugging those guys to buy dinner, so nothing changes,” Domi smiles.
• Yeah, John Tavares took his family somewhere warm and got a break from Toronto during the bye week. But he brought his hockey gear with him on vacation, of course.
“That’s what he likes to do — stay active,” Keefe smiled.
• Matthew Knies, 21, looked like he was shot out of a cannon. Surely, a few days of rest served the rookie well.
“Seemed to have a little extra energy in the third period,” Keefe noted.
Consider: Knies played 40 games total in 2022-23 for the University of Minnesota. He’s already at 46, with three (plus?) months to go.
Vancouver Canucks winger Dakota Joshua is set to make his season debut Thursday after missing time for cancer treatment.
Head coach Rick Tocchet says Joshua will slot into the lineup Thursday when Vancouver (8-3-3) hosts the New York Islanders.
The 28-year-old from Dearborn, Mich., was diagnosed with testicular cancer this summer and underwent surgery in early September.
He spoke earlier this month about his recovery, saying it had been “very hard to go through” and that he was thankful for support from his friends, family, teammates and fans.
“That was a scary time but I am very thankful and just happy to be in this position still and be able to go out there and play,,” Joshua said following Thursday’s morning skate.
The cancer diagnosis followed a career season where Joshua contributed 18 goals and 14 assists across 63 regular-season games, then added four goals and four assists in the playoffs.
Now, he’s ready to focus on contributing again.
“I expect to be good, I don’t expect a grace period. I’ve been putting the work in so I expect to come out there and make an impact as soon as possible,” he said.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be perfect right from the get-go, but it’s about putting your best foot forward and working your way to a point of perfection.”
The six-foot-three, 206-pound Joshua signed a four-year, US$13-million contract extension at the end of June.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.
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.
