It was Paul Maurice who put forward the theory that you’re never more than two weeks away from turning euphoria into a bout of public panic in the North Division.
You’d have trouble believing this was the same team that recently waltzed out of Edmonton with a nine-point division lead after watching it lose 4-3 to the Ottawa Senators on Sunday night — giving it a fifth loss in six games since reaching that high-water mark.
“We’ve lost more than we want in the past week,” said Zach Hyman. “We’ve had defensive breakdowns.”
They saw sloppy breakouts become goals against during back-to-back weekend losses but got goalie’d by Connor Hellebuyck earlier in the week and dropped two close games in Vancouver prior to that.
This is why Maurice’s theory holds water: Things don’t have to go all that bad for them to appear much worse in a schedule played entirely within the division, especially when sequences of nine games in 16 nights is considered normal.
That’s not to make excuses for the Leafs. It’s just the truth.
“I think that we’ve done enough to win, but in this league doing enough sometimes isn’t good enough,” said Hyman. “You have to go out there and you have to dominate and you have to win games because hockey is about bounces — sometimes you get ‘em, sometimes you don’t — but if you play really well like we did in that Edmonton series then you don’t have to worry about the bounces.”
The Leafs got exactly what they deserved at Canadian Tire Centre, where the rested Senators started stronger, took advantage of turnovers to build a 4-1 lead and survived a feverish final 10 minutes to get surprise starter Joey Daccord his first career NHL victory.
Toronto initially looked like it left its legs on the tarmac after taking the unusual step of flying to Ottawa on Sunday morning, rather than following Saturday’s 5-2 loss to Winnipeg at home. Sheldon Keefe indicated that it was a decision made in part because it gave players a break from the NHL’s stringent travel protocols while providing them another night in their own beds as the clocks changed for Daylight saving time.
You’d have to imagine the organization’s sports science department had some compelling data to support the plan as well.
But it was unique enough that T.J. Brodie said it was a first in his 694-game NHL career, and it didn’t meet unanimous approval inside the dressing room. Some time-worn routines were disrupted by the same-day travel.
“Felt fine. Felt really good actually,” said Mitch Marner, when asked for his thoughts. “I mean I think the group was kind of hot and cold about it.”
They were greeted by a cold shower when Brady Tkachuk turned a Travis Boyd back pass into a 1-0 lead and Ryan Dzingel made it 2-0 just seven seconds later. That spelled the end of Michael Hutchinson’s night as the backup was replaced by Frederik Andersen.
What stood out most when the Leafs swept the three games in Edmonton by a combined 13-1 score was how connected they played and how little quality they gave up. Some of the details have been dulled.
Drake Batherson’s goals 53 seconds apart were the product of some nice work from his linemates, especially a gorgeous Tim Stützle feed, but they also came after Jake Muzzin failed to clear the Leafs defensive zone on the penalty kill and Morgan Rielly couldn’t get it out at 5-on-5.
“The last couple games you noticed it,” said Brodie, referencing the sloppy exits. “It’s a matter of being patient. Sometimes when the frustration builds up you might try to do too much and that’s where it continues just to pile up.”
They still lead the North Division with 40 points, but the Winnipeg Jets are only four points back and are scheduled to play three times before Toronto’s next action against Calgary on Friday night.
The Leafs grip has slipped.
They were already framing this four-day break in the schedule as a positive because it comes with a rare opportunity to rest and practice. When last they had something like it at the beginning of February, they returned with a 7-1-1 stretch.
“We’ve been playing a lot of hockey lately,” said Auston Matthews. “I think it will just be nice to kind of reset and regroup as a team.”
“I think that we’re not worried about where we’re at,” added Hyman. “We know how good we can be and it’s just about regrouping this week and finding that again and pushing forward.”
They’ve certainly seen how quickly things can change.
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.
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.
