Sports

JONES: Edmonton Oilers get 48-hour stay of execution with Game 6 victory over Kings – Edmonton Sun

Published

2 years ago

May 13, 2022

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 12: Evander Kane #91 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates his empty net goal behind referee Frederick L’Ecuyer #17 during the third period in a 4-2 Oilers win in Game Six of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Harry How /Getty Images

The Edmonton Oilers knew what the storyline would be. They knew the way they’d be branded going forward if they didn’t win Game 6:Three straight seasons in the playoffs. Three consecutive years eliminated in the First Round.

Celebrate their Game 6 win all you want. That’ll still be the storyline. It will still be how they’ll be branded if they don’t win Game 7.That’s the reality.

What happened Thursday in L.A. was wonderful. But there is no trophy for winning Game 6. All the win amounts to is getting a 48-hour stay of execution.

The gallows will now be relocated 3,317 kilometres north. The electric chair will be plugged in at Rogers Place in Edmonton instead of the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Yes, the Oilers have given owner Daryl Katz another $3 million gate. Yes, they’ve given Edmonton’s fans the fourth occasion this season to create the most exceptional environment existing anywhere in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

But just because the Oilers dug down deep and found the will to win Game 6 doesn’t mean that they’ll be able to use the scene their fans create for all it’s worth to actually win a series. They haven’t really used it yet.

This is a team that scored the first goal of the game to win three series games and didn’t show up for the first period of the other three.

This is a team that won Game 2 by a score of 6-0 and won Game 3 by a count of 8-2 and came out as if they figured the series had been won and allowed a team with 11 players that had never performed in a Stanley Cup playoff series before to outshoot them by a combined count of 36-15 in the first period of the next two games.

How can the Oilers claim home ice advantage? They’ve lost two of three in Rogers Place. And for the record, you should know that Los Angeles is 7-4 in Game 7 and have won four straight while the Oilers are 6-4 and haven’t won a Game 7 since 1990.

Yes, the win was a ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card for Darnell Nurse who allowed himself to take a head butt penalty in Game 5 and get suspended for Game 6.

Yes, it allowed coach Jay Woodcroft to get a do-over for his decision to pair a never-played together before combination of Brett Kulak and Duncan Keith for the ill-fated first shift of the overtime loss in Game 5.

Yes, it gave future Hall of Famer Keith an additional chance to prove, after he’d played so poorly, that he could give the Oilers what general manager Ken Holland believed he could bring to this group in the playoffs like he did in playing so well in Game 6.

And, yes, it extended the opportunity to prove to a couple of other players that their careers could continue here next year that probably wouldn’t have been the case if the Oilers hadn’t given themselves the opportunity to play in Game 7 and win the series.

Got all that?

OK then.

Now think about what it might mean if the Oilers returned home and duplicated that performance and won Game 7.

Now imagine what it would mean for Edmonton as a city that played host to 81 Stanley Cup playoff games in the Hub City bubble and won only one game and then was eliminated in a four-game sweep in empty arenas in Edmonton and Winnipeg.

Nobody said ‘Gee, I hope the Oilers gas the next two games so we can play a Game 7’ after the Oilers won 6-0 and 8-2.

The Oilers should have been home resting up the Dynamic Duo. Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid should have watched this spectacular bounce-back year of first round Stanley Cup playoff games instead of getting battered and bruised attempting superhuman feats. Instead, they’re involved in a trio of Game 7s Saturday on Hockey Night In Canada.

It doesn’t take away from what this could mean for the fans of Edmonton who suffered through the Decade of Darkness with 11 years out of the playoffs should the Oilers repeat the feat.

Imagine what it might mean in terms of the future and keeping this team together if they do?

Connor McDavid scored a wrap-around goal on his first shift and drove the bus. He now has an NHL-leading 12 playoff points in six games. He’s been awesome all over the ice.

And Leon Draisaitl has five goals and eight points and has been an absolute warrior while now clearly playing hurt.

What if Evander Kane can have another game Saturday like the two-goal game he had in Game 6? It resulted in a special scene of the controversial serial offender the Oilers gambled on at mid-season. Kane held up seven fingers after he scored the empty-netter to put it away and had to explain it represented Game 7. You could tell he hadn’t even thought of seven goals. He’s been building a relationship he’s never had before.

All of that could be super-significant if the Oilers can do it again.

But if they don’t win, sorry. It won’t mean much.

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Sports

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

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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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AP cricket:

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Sports

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

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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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Sports

Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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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