The most recent time the Maple Leafs were in Amalie Arena for the NHL playoffs, they were less than 11 minutes from ending their string of first-round failures.
Sports
Maple Leafs are bracing for a rough reception in Tampa
“I think (last year’s close call at Amalie) helps,” said coach Sheldon Keefe as the club headed for the airport on Friday. “But each season is a different experience. We’re going into this in a different spot. Last time (Game 3 in May of 2022) we were coming off a loss on home ice, so these are the different emotions you are managing.”
“We have to continue to get better, knowing it will get harder,” Keefe said. “We’re in a best-of-five series now and we don’t have home ice. You’re just hoping your group continues to rise.”
The anticipated hostile environment in Amalie, without their customary travelling support group of fans, shouldn’t overwhelm the Leafs. There, and in Washington and Boston (where Toronto could go next if it gets through this series) the Leafs’ record is 4-8 in the Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner post-season era.
Three of those defeats were in extra time.
“Our guys have dealt with the road a lot,” Aston-Reese said, recounting video he saw of John Tavares’ highly charged return to Long Island in 2019. The current captain was burned in effigy by New York zealots who felt snubbed by his decision to leave.
“That was crazy. But these guys are professional about (not being intimidated),” Aston-Reese said. “You’ve got to expect their building will be rockin’. We got smacked in Game 1 and they come out and do the same thing. You’ve got to expect they’ll respond.”
The Lightning, meanwhile, hopes to have injured defencemen Victor Hedman and Erik Cernak returning for Saturday or Monday after both missed Game 2 with injuries.
Kucherov, Point and Paul are all still very much part of a team that has been to three straight Stanley Cup finals.
“You look at last year’s (first two games), a bit of a roller-coaster,” said Matthews. “It was a great response from our group last night. Now the hardest part is going out there and doing it again.”
The Leafs scored two power-play goals in Game 2, giving them four in the series to match last year’s entire seven-game output. Just as noteworthy, they cashed a 6-on-5 delayed penalty which Matthews acknowledged was tricky to organize in the midst of a line change, recovering the initial shot that went wide with Ilya Samsonov rushing to the bench.
“That was a big goal, something we’ve tried to worked on and capitalize,” said Matthews of adapting to an odd-man situation without a faceoff. “It’s a chess match, taking what’s given to you.”
LOOSE LEAFS
The Leafs, who are also attempting to take their first series since 2004, have lost the first game in six of those eight matchups … After Thursday’s result, Toronto’s combined record following a loss this season is 25-5-3, outscoring opponents 126-73 … Who had money on rookie Matthew Knies getting more penalty minutes in his first Leafs/NHL playoff game than rogues Tiger Williams, Wendel Clark, Bob McGill or Tie Domi? Knies was called for two minor penalties — a hook and a slash.
Continue Reading
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.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Sports
Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere
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.
___
AP cricket:
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
News5 hours ago
Bad traffic, changed plans: Toronto braces for uncertainty of its Taylor Swift Era
News7 hours ago
‘It’s literally incredible’: Swifties line up for merch ahead of Toronto concerts
News7 hours ago
Via Rail seeks judicial review on CN’s speed restrictions
Investment5 years ago
dynaCERT Inc. Invites You to Join Us at the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference | INN – Investing News Network
Sports5 years ago
AP source: Bears acquiring quarterback Nick Foles from Jaguars – Sportsnet.ca
Media1 year ago
12 Bizarre Things People Did Just To Make Social Media Content
-
News24 hours agoChrystia Freeland says carbon rebate for small businesses will be tax-free
-
News23 hours agoFACT FOCUS: Election officials knock down Starlink vote rigging conspiracy theories
-
News23 hours agoNova Scotia election promise tracker: What has been promised by three main parties?
-
News23 hours agoFormer B.C. premier John Horgan, who connected with people, dies at 65
-
News23 hours agoSuncor Energy earnings rise to $2.02 billion in third quarter
-
News24 hours agoSwearing-in ceremonies at B.C. legislature mark start of new political season
-
News23 hours agoNew Brunswick premier confirms her Liberal government will draft carbon pricing plan
-
News23 hours agoB.C. teen with bird flu is in critical care, infection source unknown: health officer
