Sports
LEAFS TAKEAWAYS: Ilya Samsonov, Ryan O’Reilly, resilience add up to an unlikely Game 3 victory
Our takeaways from the win:
BETTER THAN ANDREI
Consider that in all situations the Lightning had 91 shot attempts and the Leafs had 52.
The Leafs couldn’t get much penetration offensively as Tampa smothered them and made passage through the neutral zone a challenge.
Yet, the Lightning couldn’t put the Leafs away.
None was bigger than a stop on a Nikita Kucherov backhand six minutes into overtime. As Kucherov got space and moved to his backhand across the front of the net, Samsonov tracked him and got a glove on the shot.
Early in the second with the game tied 2-2, Tampa had two terrific scoring chances. Had the Lightning scored on either — or both — the outcome probably would have been different.
Instead, as his teammates couldn’t get untracked, Samsonov stopped Tanner Jeannot on a breakaway. Moments later, Samsonov stretched to deny Victor Hedman, who otherwise thought he had much of the net to shoot at.
“Sammy was the biggest thing (in giving the Leafs a chance to win),” Ryan O’Reilly said. “Getting out of that second period, only down one, was huge. They dominated us and had some great chances.”
Neither goalie has been consistent through the first three games. Expect that to change.
THE FACTOR
O’Reilly comes by his nickname honestly.
When the Leafs acquired the 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy winner from the St. Louis Blues at this season’s trade deadline, the desire on their end was that O’Reilly, four years after leading the Blues to the Stanley Cup, would bring savvy to the dressing room, but most importantly, become a crucial cog on the ice.
Well, the bearded veteran has 16 points in 16 games with Toronto, totals that would have been higher had he not missed significant time with a broken finger.
After tying the game with one minute to play in the third (thanks to a fine play by William Nylander), O’Reilly beat Brayden Point on the faceoff in the offensive zone, feeding Rielly in OT. He also had an assist on the opening goal by Noel Acciari.
O’Reilly won 62% of his draws (8-for-13), had three hits and three blocks.
Big things, little things, O’Reilly did it all.
There was no player of O’Reilly’s stature that has been added by general manager Kyle Dubas in trade deadlines before this year. If the Leafs advance — and Tampa has to win three of four to stop that from happening — O’Reilly will be at the forefront.
“That’s just how he rolls,” Rielly said of O’Reilly’s composure. “Playing against him and now with him, you can tell he really likes those moments and those challenges. He’s not fazed by the pressure or anything like that when we’re down late in games.
“You really appreciate the way he plays. We’re very fortunate he came to play. His name is all over this game.”
ADJUSTMENTS COMING
When the puck drops in Game 4, provided the Lightning plays with the same kind of persistence it brought on Saturday, the Leafs are going to have to come up ways to combat Tampa’s speed and pressure.
The Leafs can take some solace that they won without an overly effective forecheck. In fact, that the Leafs persevered and came out on the other side with a victory says something about the way this resilient team has grown.
“Their pressure on the puck presented real problems for us,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “We did not have a lot of space or time to make plays. In the regular season, they were elite at a number of things, and one of them was time spent in the offensive zone.
“That’s because of how they play. Puck pressure, half-ice game, quick ups, and they got us in that trap and we couldn’t get through that consistently. Because they’ve got you on your heels, it’s hard to get on your toes and establish your own game. Not getting frustrated is critical. We’re one shot away and we’re standing right there.”
THEY SAID IT
“Not in the NHL. Fair share of practice scuffles and stuff like that, but not really.” — Auston Matthews on whether he had fought in hockey before he scrapped with Steven Stamkos in the third period
THE LAST WORDS
Rielly became the seventh Leafs defenceman in franchise history to score in overtime in the playoffs, joining Tomas Kaberle (2003), Cory Cross (2001), Todd Gill (1994), Rick Lanz (1987), Bob Baun (1964) and Bill Barilko (1951) … Captain John Tavares was minus-3 and had one shot on goal. Almost all of his other games with the Leafs have been better … Veteran TJ Brodie struggled on the blue line. When he was on the ice at five-on-five, the Leafs were outshot 12-4 … Just three Leafs — Matthews, Mitch Marner and Calle Jarnkrok — finished above 50% in possession at five-on-five … Matthew Knies lost Darren Raddysh along the boards when the latter scored Tampa’s third goal, but otherwise the 20-year-old rookie continued to prove he belonged. Knies played 19 minutes 15 seconds in total and got a regular shift in overtime, proof that Keefe already has trust in him. Knies had his first playoff point on Acciari’s goal and was on the ice for the winner … After missing Game 2 with an undisclosed injury, Hedman played 32 minutes 35 seconds. He’s the definition of playoff warrior, not that further evidence was required … The Leafs finished with a 62-60 edge in hits, led by Acciari’s nine. Jeannot had a team-high 11 for Tampa … Nylander had seven of the Leafs’ 28 shots on goal. Point led the Lightning with seven … As previously announced by the NHL, Game 5 in Toronto on Thursday will be a 7 p.m. start.
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DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Red Wings made another investment this week in a young standout, signing Moritz Seider to a seven-year contract worth nearly $60 million.
The Red Wings announced the move with the 23-year-old German defenseman on Thursday, three days after keeping 22-year-old forward Lucas Raymond with a $64.6 million, eight-year deal.
Detroit drafted Seider with the No. 6 pick overall eight years ago and he has proven to be a great pick. He has 134 career points, the most by a defenseman drafted in 2019.
He was the NHL’s only player to have at least 200 hits and block 200-plus shots last season, when he scored a career-high nine goals and had 42 points for the second straight year.
Seider won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie in 2022 after he had a career-high 50 points.
Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is banking on Seider, whose contract will count $8.55 million annually against the cap, and Raymond to turn a rebuilding team into a winner.
Detroit has failed to make the playoffs in eight straight seasons, the longest postseason drought in franchise history.
The Red Wings, who won four Stanley Cups from 1997 to 2008, have been reeling since their run of 25 straight postseasons ended in 2016.
Detroit was 41-32-9 last season and finished with a winning record for the first time since its last playoff appearance.
Yzerman re-signed Patrick Kane last summer and signed some free agents, including Vladimir Tarasenko to a two-year contract worth $9.5 million after he helped the Florida Panthers hoist the Cup.
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The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Veterans Tyson Beukeboom and Karen Paquin will lead Canada at the WXV 1 women’s rugby tournament starting later this month in the Vancouver area.
WXV 1 includes the top three teams from the Women’s Six Nations (England, France and Ireland) and the top three teams from the Pacific Four Series (Canada, New Zealand, and the United States).
Third-ranked Canada faces No. 4 France, No. 7 Ireland and No. 1 England in the elite division of the three-tiered WXV tournament that runs Sept. 29 to Oct. 12 in Vancouver and Langley, B.C. No. 2 New Zealand and the eighth-ranked U.S. make up the six-team WVX 1 field.
“Our preparation time was short but efficient. This will be a strong team,” Canada coach Kevin Rouet said in a statement. “All the players have worked very hard for the last couple of weeks to prepare for WXV and we are excited for these next three matches and for the chance to play on home soil here in Vancouver against the best rugby teams in the world.
“France, Ireland and England will each challenge us in different ways but it’s another opportunity to test ourselves and another step in our journey to the Rugby World Cup next year.”
Beukeboom serves as captain in the injury absence of Sophie de Goede. The 33-year-old from Uxbridge, Ont., earned her Canadian-record 68th international cap in Canada’s first-ever victory over New Zealand in May at the Pacific Four Series.
Twenty three of the 30 Canadian players selected for WXV 1 were part of that Pacific Four Series squad.
Rouet’s roster includes the uncapped Asia Hogan-Rochester, Caroline Crossley and Rori Wood.
Hogan-Rochester and Crossley were part of the Canadian team that won rugby sevens silver at the Paris Olympics, along with WXV teammates Fancy Bermudez, Olivia Apps, Alysha Corrigan and Taylor Perry. Wood is a veteran of five seasons at UBC.
The 37-year-old Paquin, who has 38 caps for Canada including the 2014 Rugby World Cup, returns to the team for the first time since the 2021 World Cup.
Canada opens the tournament Sept. 29 against France at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver before facing Ireland on Oct. 5 at Willoughby Stadium at Langley Events Centre, and England on Oct. 12 at B.C. Place.
The second-tier WXV 2 and third-tier WXV 3 are slated to run Sept. 27 to Oct. 12, in South Africa and Dubai, respectively.
WXV 2 features Australia, Italy, Japan, Scotland, South Africa and Wales while WXV 3 is made up of Fiji, Hong Kong, Madagascar, the Netherlands, Samoa and Spain.
The tournament has 2025 World Cup qualification implications, although Canada, New Zealand and France, like host England, had already qualified by reaching the semifinals of the last tournament.
Ireland, South Africa, the U.S., Japan, Fiji and Brazil have also booked their ticket, with the final six berths going to the highest-finishing WXV teams who have not yet qualified through regional tournaments.
Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team WXV 1 Squad
Forwards
Alexandria Ellis, Ottawa, Stade Français Paris (France); Brittany Kassil, Guelph, Ont., Guelph Goats; Caroline Crossley, Victoria, Castaway Wanderers; Courtney Holtkamp, Rimbey, Alta., Red Deer Titans Rugby; DaLeaka Menin, Vulcan, Alta., Exeter Chiefs (England); Emily Tuttosi, Souris, Man., Exeter Chiefs (England); Fabiola Forteza, Quebec City, Stade Bordelais (France); Gabrielle Senft, Regina, Saracens (England); Gillian Boag, Calgary, Gloucester-Hartpury (England); Julia Omokhuale, Calgary, Leicester Tigers (England); Karen Paquin, Quebec City, Club de rugby de Quebec; Laetitia Royer, Loretteville, Que., ASM Romagnat (France); McKinley Hunt, King City, Ont., Saracens (England); Pamphinette Buisa, Gatineau, Que., Ottawa Irish; Rori Wood, Sooke, B.C., College Rifles RFC; Sara Cline, Edmonton, Leprechaun Tigers; Tyson Beukeboom, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England);
Backs
Alexandra Tessier, Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, Que., Exeter Chiefs (England); Alysha Corrigan, Charlottetown, P.E.I., CRFC; Asia Hogan-Rochester, Toronto, Toronto Nomads; Claire Gallagher, Caledon, Ont., Leicester Tigers (England); Fancy Bermudez, Edmonton, Saracens (England); Julia Schell, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England); Justine Pelletier, Rivière-du-Loup, Que, Stade Bordelais (France); Mahalia Robinson, Fulford, Que., Town of Mount Royal RFC; Olivia Apps, Lindsay, Ont., Lindsay RFC; Paige Farries, Red Deer, Alta., Saracens (England); Sara Kaljuvee, Ajax, Ont., Westshore RFC; Shoshanah Seumanutafa, White Rock, B.C., Counties Manukau (New Zealand); Taylor Perry, Oakville, Ont., Exeter Chiefs (England).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2024.
PENTICTON, B.C. – Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko says he’s been working his way back from a rare lower-body muscle injury since being sidelined in last season’s playoffs.
The 28-year-old all star says the rehabilitation process has been frustrating, but he has made good progress in recent weeks and is confident he’ll be able to return to playing.
He says he and his medical team have spent the last few months talking to specialists around the world, and have not found a single other hockey player who has dealt with the same injury.
Demko missed several weeks of the last season with a knee ailment and played just one game in Vancouver’s playoff run last spring before going down with the current injury.
He was not on the ice with his teammates as the Canucks started training camp in Penticton, B.C., on Thursday, but skated on his own before the sessions began.
Demko posted a 35-14-2 record with a .918 percentage, a 2.45 goals-against average and five shutouts for Vancouver last season.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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