Sports

Kyle Dubas’ Penguins down his ex-Maple Leafs in their first meeting

Published

10 months ago

November 26, 2023

Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry blocks a shot by Maple Leafs forward Calle Jarnkrok (centre) with Ryan Graves (right) defending during first period NHL action in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. Photo by Gene J. Puskar /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kyle Dubas built the modern Maple Leafs with 63 trades in five years as general manager.

Now, their self-destructing ways in this season’s first quarter are Brad Treliving’s problem.

Just when the new boss thinks he sees progress, the team coming back from Sweden on a four-game win streak, chances for points against two struggling teams slipped away on an American Thanksgiving weekend trip.

While they salvaged a single in overtime after blowing a 3-1 lead to Central Division bottom-dwelling Chicago on Friday, it was Dubas’s new club, the slow-starting Pittsburgh Penguins, who gradually unravelled Toronto 3-2 on Saturday.

Dubas’s best players got the drop on Toronto’s when it counted. Sidney Crosby had a first-period assist to quickly negate a Leaf lead and Erik Karlsson delivered a last-minute dagger in the second period, paving the way to a 3-2 win.

Toronto, which entered Steeltown with a road record of 5-1-3, including a pair of triumphs in the land of Tre Kronor, now has three straight home games to get its act together.

Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews are having trouble finishing and could get nothing going on the Leafs vaunted power play Saturday. William Nylander, despite playing 26:10, a career high, joined them in being held off the board a second straight contest, after his 17-game season-opening streak.

“We’re moving the puck well, but not scoring,” alternate captain Morgan Rielly said. “That plays a role in the outcome.”

Coach Sheldon Keefe pulled goalie Joseph Woll with more than two minutes remaining to attempt the equalizer, but the pressure from the big guns didn’t pay off.

One of Dubas’s deals last year in Toronto was for two-way forward Noel Acciari, whom he retained as a free agent in Pittsburgh. Acciari had the tying goal as part of his effective night, his line seeing a lot of the Matthews – Marner – Matthew Knies group.

“Playing from behind, things don’t go your way, you end up losing games,” Rielly said.

The Leafs came out of the middle period trailing by a goal despite killing off a 21-second 5-on-3 with some key shot blocks. TJ Brodie, who put them in that precarious spot by clearing the glass with room to dump it elsewhere, later had his pass picked off behind the net by Acciari and the ex-Leaf surprised Woll.

Pittsburgh brushed off the home crowd booing of its ailing power play to put the clamps on the Leafs in the dying seconds. They won two draws, Jeff Carter beating David Kampf and Karlsson blasting it through from the point.

“It was tight and that was a tough one to give up,” Matthews said. “We had good looks and it didn’t go in, but we had good process.

“It (his line with Marner) is hit and miss right now. Consistency is a big thing and it can be frustrating at times. It’s on us to figure it out and be more connected, all five guys on the ice.

“A lot of times it’s effort-based more than skill-based.”

Both teams were coming off one-goal losses on Friday and eagerness to atone was notable. Less than half a minute after Tyler Bertuzzi was set up by John Tavares for the first goal than another first overall, Crosby engineering a tap-in for Jake Guentzel when the Leafs messed up 3-on-3 coverage.

Karlsson passed up a great look in the slot that turned into Knies’s sixth of the year from a Calle Jarnkrok feed. Knies is one of draft gifts Dubas left his successor, 57th overall in 2021 with just three picks that year.

NO RELIEF FOR KEEFE

Saturday morning required some stickhandling by Keefe, with increased questions on Marner’s sluggish November (now just three assists in seven games) and relatively slow start to the season, though keeping a point-a-game pace.

“Just not executing at the level you’d expect from Mitch,” Keefe told reporters in Pittsburgh. “At times, he’s had it. I thought after being challenged after the second period (Friday in Chicago when the Leafs gave up the lead) that the line and Mitch in particular, had a better third and showed some positive signs.

“But no doubt, Mitch hasn’t found his groove here yet.”

With Dubas not doing any interviews leading up to the game, Keefe was the one quizzed on their long history. Dubas brought Keefe to the OHL Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, the Toronto Marlies and eventually the Leafs after Mike Babcock was fired.

“I clearly wouldn’t be here without the faith he put in me,” Keefe said. “I’d like to think I’ve helped him at the same time a little bit. It was a good relationship. We had to push and challenge one another. I’m forever grateful for all he has done.

“But he’s on the other side now and I’ve enjoyed the process of working with (Treliving) here just the same.”

Dubas did watch the morning skate with his Toronto/Pittsburgh lieutenant Jason Spezza. Tavares’s assist tied him with Spezza at 995 points for 98th in NHL history.

LOOSE LEAFS

Winger Bobby McMann took the warm-up after being bumped for Ryan Reaves in Chicago, but Keefe threw a curveball and used Simon Benoit as a seventh defenceman, spotting forwards Kampf and Noah Gregor with Jarnkrok during the match … Dubas left town with the highest points percentage of any GM in Leafs history, .651 between 2018-23, but his teams won only one playoff series in six tries. Dubas (231) and Tampa Bay’s Julien BrisBois (248) have the most wins of any NHL GMs who’ve worked less than 400 games to date … Matthews played his 500th NHL game, going into the contest with a points-per-game average of 1.13. That’s a tie for third in franchise history with Reg Noble of the inaugural Toronto Arenas but behind Doug Gilmour (1.15) and 1920s star Babe Dye’s 1.24 … Max Domi played in his 600th game … Nylander faced brother Alex on the opening faceoff, the younger sibling now on his third team since Buffalo made him a first rounder in 2016 … The Marlies, who lost a 2-1 shootout in Cleveland on Friday despite a 21-save night from rookie Dennis Hildeby, take on the Monsters at home at 4 p.m. Sunday.

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Red Wings sign Raymond to 8-year, $64.6 million contract

Published

12 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Anne Joseph

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Red Wings signed forward Lucas Raymond to an eight-year, $64.6 million contract Monday, completing a deal with one of their best young players less than 72 hours before training camp begins.

Raymond will count $8.075 million against the salary cap through 2032. The 22-year-old was a restricted free agent without a contract for the upcoming NHL season and was coming off setting career highs with 31 goals, 41 assists and 72 points.

The Red Wings have another one of those in defenceman Moritz Seider, who won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 2021-22.

Detroit is looking to end an eight-year playoff drought dating to the Original Six franchise’s last appearance in 2016.

Raymond, a Swede who was the fourth pick in 2020, has 174 points in 238 games since breaking into the league.

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Cousins caps winning drive with TD pass to London as Falcons rally past Eagles 22-21

Published

12 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Anne Joseph

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kirk Cousins led a flawless last-minute drive for Atlanta and connected with Drake London for a 7-yard touchdown with 34 seconds left to give the Falcons a 22-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.

Saquon Barkley dropped a short pass that stopped the clock with 1:46 left and forced the Eagles to settle for a field goal instead of a game-sealing first down. That was plenty of time for Cousins — especially against an Eagles defense playing soft coverage with a nonexistent pass rush.

The 36-year-old veteran, playing his second game since tearing his Achilles tendon last Oct. 29 while playing for Minnesota, shook off an uneven effort and hit Darnell Mooney for 21 and 26 yards on consecutive plays during the decisive drive.

Cousins found London on a short pass to his right for the tying score, and Younghoe Koo put Atlanta (1-1) on top with a 48-yard extra point after London was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. The go-ahead drive took just 65 seconds.

Jalen Hurts had his final pass intercepted by Jessie Bates III to seal Atlanta’s win and set off a wild celebration on the sideline.

The Eagles (1-1) went ahead on Hurts’ 1-yard tush push score with 6:47 left. Barkley finished with 95 yards on 22 carries in his home debut for Philadelphia, but his drop provided the Falcons with some hope.

And then Cousins started playing like the QB Atlanta thought it was getting when it signed him to a four-year, $180 million contract.

Cousins finished 20 of 29 for 241 yards and two touchdowns. Atlanta’s first TD was a 41-yarder from Cousins to Mooney, who finished with three catches for 88 yards.

Hurts was 23 of 30 for 183 yards, including a touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith. With No. 1 receiver A.J. Brown out with a hamstring injury, Smith led the Eagles with seven catches for 76 yards and a score.

Jake Elliott kicked two field goals for the Eagles. His 28-yarder with 1:39 left made it 21-15.

Atlanta kept stalling in the red zone, getting three field goals from Koo, before Cousins fired over the middle to Mooney, who shook loose from C.J. Gardner-Johnson and left him on the turf before he somersaulted into the end zone with 1:21 left in the third quarter for a 15-10 lead. Cousins failed on the 2-point conversion pass.

Hurts had some juice in his step during a second-quarter TD drive, running with abandon for big plays much like he did in the 2022 season. He spiked the ball in a rare, raw show of emotion on a 23-yard run, earning a delay-of-game penalty. He shrugged off the 5-yard setback and scrambled for 9 yards and 15 yards to move the Eagles to Atlanta’s 19.

With comedian Shane Gillis and actor Bradley Cooper among the fans cheering on the Eagles, Hurts connected with Smith in the back of the end zone for a 7-yard TD that made it 7-3.

Under new defensive coordinator Vince Fangio, the Eagles have established an early knack for allowing long drives that end with three points instead of seven. Koo kicked field goals of 39, 22 and 34 yards, the last one enough for a 9-7 lead in the third quarter. In their opener, the Eagles held the Packers to just three field goals when they drove inside the 20.

Questionable call

Rather than take a chip-shot field goal from Elliott, the Eagles’ fourth-and-4 gamble at Atlanta’s 9-yard line in the first quarter failed when Hurts threw an incomplete pass.

Elliott kicked a 29-yarder with 4:31 left in the third quarter for a 10-9 lead.

Running wild

Bijan Robinson ran for 97 yards for the Falcons. The Eagles stuffed him late on fourth-and-1 at the Atlanta 39.

Barkley was quiet until the go-ahead drive, a week after he rushed for 109 yards and scored three touchdowns against Green Bay. Eagles fans booed when the opening drive of the game ended without Barkley touching the ball. They went wild when he had consecutive 9-yard runs to open the second drive. Barkley had 40 yards rushing in the first half.

Foles honored

Former Eagles QB Nick Foles, who led the franchise to its only Super Bowl title, served as an honorary captain and led the crowd in a rendition of “Fly, Eagles, Fly.”

Injuries

The Falcons played without LB Nate Landman (calf, quad).

Up next

Atlanta hosts Super Bowl champion Kansas City on Sunday.

The Eagles play at New Orleans on Sunday.

___

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Fernandez and Dabrowski headline Canadian lineup for Billie Jean King Cup Finals

Published

1 day ago

September 16, 2024

Anne Joseph

TORONTO – Singles star Leylah Fernandez and doubles specialist Gabriela Dabrowski will anchor Canada’s five-player lineup when the team tries to defend its Billie Jean King Cup title in mid-November.

The 26th-ranked Fernandez, the 2021 U.S. Open finalist from Laval, Que., is the lone Canadian in the top 100 of the WTA Tour’s singles rankings.

Dabrowski, from Ottawa, is ranked fourth on the doubles list. The 2023 U.S. Open women’s doubles champion won mixed doubles bronze with Felix Auger-Aliassime at the recent Paris Olympics.

Marina Stakusic of Mississauga, Ont., returns after a breakout performance last year, capped by her singles win in Canada’s 2-0 victory over Italy in the final. Vancouver’s Rebecca Marino is also back and Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 U.S. Open champion from Mississauga, Ont., returns to the squad for the first time since 2022.

“Winning the Billie Jean King Cup in 2023 was a dream come true for us, and not only that, but I feel like we made a statement to the world about the strength of this nation when it comes to tennis,” Canada captain Heidi El Tabakh said Monday in a release. “Once again, we have a very strong team this year with Bianca joining Leylah, Gaby, Rebecca and Marina, making it an extremely powerful team that is more than capable of going all the way.

“At the end of the day, our goal is to make Canada proud, and we’ll do our best to bring the same level of effort and excitement that we had in last year’s finals.”

Fernandez, who beat Jasmine Paolini to clinch Canada’s first-ever title at the competition, is ranked No. 42 in doubles.

Canada, which received an automatic berth as defending champion, will play the winner of the first-round tie between Great Britain and Germany on Nov. 17 at Malaga’s Martin Carpena Arena.

Australia, Italy and wild-card entry Czechia also received first-round byes. The tournament, which continues through Nov. 20, also includes host Spain, Slovakia, the United States, Poland, Japan and Romania.

Stakusic is up 27 spots to No. 128 in the latest world singles rankings. Marino is at No. 134 and Andreescu, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, is ranked 167th.

Canada will look to become the first team since Czechia in 2016 to successfully defend its Billie Jean King Cup title.

Malaga will also host the Nov. 19-24 Davis Cup Final 8. The Canadian men qualified over the weekend with a 2-1 victory over Great Britain in Manchester.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2024.

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