WINNIPEG – This was a classic case of actions speaking so much louder than words for the Winnipeg Jets.
At a time when the magnifying glass was firmly planted on this first-place showdown with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Jets showed a renewed commitment to defence and put an exclamation point on an exemplary road trip with a 5-2 triumph on Saturday night in the centre of the hockey universe.
And after that final buzzer had sounded, Mark Scheifele, Adam Lowry and Jets head coach Paul Maurice were singing from the same hymn book.
None of them were about to pound on their respective chests or waste any time patting themselves on the back for a job well done.
Despite taking five of six points against a Maple Leafs club that dismantled the last challenger to the throne to the tune of a 13-1 composite score in a three-game sweep, the Jets treated the endeavour as though it was just another day at the office.
This was the type of game they routinely want to play, whether it’s against the class of the North Division or the cellar-dwelling Ottawa Senators.
If members of the media or the outside world wants to call this a statement game or a measuring stick series, so be it.
The Jets call it another step in the process, another brick in the wall.
“Oh for sure, obviously we’re very, very happy with the way this series went. But every game is a measuring stick,” said Scheifele, who scored his 12th goal of the season and is sitting fifth in NHL scoring with 36 points in 27 games. “You can’t just rest on your laurels and think about just this game and this series. You’ve got to focus on continuing to get better.
“Those are the teams that have success in the playoffs, the teams that keep on ramping it up as the year goes on and we’ve got to use this great series and take it for the rest of the season and know when we’re at our best, what makes us the best team we can be and keep on working toward that.”
Keeping that perspective is essential for the Jets.
Sure, the success from the past three games is to be celebrated, but only one of those outings included something that resembles a template suitable for a sustained run of success.
This was a glimpse into the type of effort the Jets want to provide on a more consistent basis.
“I don’t know. You always want to play your best and get results,” Lowry said. “Good teams not only find ways to win games, but get it to overtime. In Game 1, they kind of turned it up on us in the third period. It’s important there’s a bit of a pushback. We know that as a team we could play a little tighter, a little better.
“But I think (Saturday) definitely was the best effort of the three games. I don’t know if we were necessarily looking to make a statement, we were just trying to finish the road trip on the right foot and I think we’re happy with how the road trip went.”
No matter how you slice it, you can be sure the Jets came away from this series with a serious jolt of confidence.
Not only from Saturday’s game, but from the way the Jets responded after getting shelled 7-1 by the Montreal Canadiens on March 6.
Jets captain Blake Wheeler was quick to proclaim that was nothing but an outlier – and his teammates spent the next three games backing up those words.
After leaning heavily on goalie Connor Hellebuyck during the first two games of the series, Maurice turned to backup Laurent Brossoit for the series finale in what was both a show of confidence and an opportunity to get his No. 1 guy a three-day block of rest in a month where the Jets play 17 games in 31 days.
As he’s done basically every time his number has been called this season, Brossoit delivered, even if there were some challenges to work through, including an early goal which was disallowed due to a hand pass after a video review was required and biting on a William Nylander fake that opened up just enough room for him to squeeze a shot through the pads.
Brossoit, who made 20 saves and won a fourth consecutive start, wasn’t overworked as the Jets neutralized the Maple Leafs’ potent attack in what was the most complete defensive effort put forth this season.
“We didn’t get ahead of ourselves in the defensive zone. We weren’t trying to get it to a next place,” Maurice said. “We just stayed in the battle and stayed in the fight. I thought we were a little ahead of the game in our first two. We were trying to get stuff going, right? We were trying to generate, and I thought we were really effective at being comfortable in our own end.
“They’re such a powerful, offensive team, and they have a unique way of controlling the puck that you’re going to spend some time in your end regardless of how well you play. I thought we were there as five and committed to it.”
That’s the thing.
After hearing ad nauseam about how the Maple Leafs had carried the bulk of the play and generated a lopsided amount of quality scoring chances this week, the Jets went out and did something about it.
They flat-out smothered their high-octane opponent, while showing off their own offensive chops in the process.
Despite giving up a shorthanded goal to Jake Muzzin in the second period, the Jets found a way to win the special-teams battle, delivering a pair of power play goals in the third from Nikolaj Ehlers that made it 4-2 and another from Scheifele that came on a two-man advantage.
The game-winner was courtesy of Lowry, who snapped a 19-game drought and finished with a two-point night after setting up Mason Appleton for the opening marker of the contest.
Just how good was the Jets’ third line, which includes Andrew Copp, on this evening?
“I wouldn’t number them three, that’s how good,” quipped Maurice. “They were true to identity, It’s not a line you put on the ice necessarily to hold water anymore. That’s the vision for that line. They’ll just generate it in a different way — net drive, with a battle behind the net, those close plays behind the net. They were really good.”
By wrapping up the five-game road trip with a record of 3-1-1, the Jets banked seven important points and pulled within four points of the Maple Leafs for top spot in the North – and they’ll hold three games in hand by the time the Jets play again.
As important as this stretch was for the Jets – and this development can’t be discounted – the next test is just around the corner, as the Canadiens serve as the opponent on Monday and will attempt to regroup after dropping consecutive games to the Calgary Flames under new bench boss Darryl Sutter.
So it goes in the North, where one day a team dreams of being in a battle for first and just a few days later, it’s only natural to be looking over your shoulder at a club or two with plans of passing you.
With the midway point of the season arriving on Monday for the Jets, one thing is certain: the hard work is just beginning, but that gap between them and the Maple Leafs might not be as wide as most observers thought it was.
The best news is that there are six more head-to-head games left on the docket to sort that out – and neither team will be lacking motivation when the next one arrives on March 31.
“Honestly it doesn’t mean that much,” said Scheifele when asked about the value this series could potentially have down the road. “We’re still going to play them a bunch more times this year and playoffs are a ways away. Both teams are going to be a lot different come playoff time, but they’re obviously fun to play against. They’re a fantastic team, a lot of really, really fun players to watch on their team and it’s always a fun battle against the Leafs.”
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.
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.
