Hey, Morgan Rielly, do you wonder what in the world you and the Maple Leafs must do to win an elimination game?
Sports
Maple Leafs heading back to Tampa after Game 5 loss ‘with a mission,’ Morgan Rielly says
The Justin Holl-Mark Giordano pairing was on for three even-strength Lightning goals, with Mikey Eyssimont skirting past Holl and fooling Ilya Samsonov for a soul damaging go-ahead marker.
Had Mitch Marner buried his third-period breakaway, the game would’ve been tied before Nick Paul made it 3-1. But that save underlined Andrei Vasilevskiy showing critics that his .856 save percentage heading into Game 5 was an aberration, standing his ground for a blocker save.
Three-time Stanley Cup finalist Tampa goes home with renewed life while replanting the seed of doubt in Leafs Nation.
“We didn’t expect them to roll over and now it’s important for our group to go on the road with a mission.”
After 19 years of hearing about their opening-round futility, 11 in all going back to 2013, two more days of negativity won’t matter. But now they’ll have to address that at Amalie, where they already tested the hockey gods with overtime comebacks in Games 3 and 4.
It’s also rare for a team in any sport to grab three road games en route to winning a playoff series. For the Leafs, that hasn’t happened since 1951 in the semifinals against Boston.
CASTING A PAUL
Thursday was eerily similar to Game 7 last year, after Toronto had let a one-goal lead slip away in Game 6, came home and fell 2-1. Rielly also scored in that game, the Leafs failed to capitalize and third-liner Paul had a pair, including the winner.
“He lives 20 minutes down the road (in Mississauga) so he must feel at home here,” said coach Jon Cooper. “It was documented Paulie hadn’t scored in a while, him and Alex Killorn. So in the last couple of games (for both to get on the board), it’s depth scoring and both teams have that in this series.”
Eyssimont, with a goal and assist, replaced tough lug Tanner Jeannot after the former missed three games following Jake McCabe’s staggering hit.
“You don’t go through a playoff series using just 20 guys,” Cooper said.
OLD GUARD HANGS IN
Cooper’s faith in Vasilevskiy and indeed all his Cup veterans was rewarded.
“I said at the beginning of the series, don’t ever bet against the guys, not that group. We’ve won one game (Thursday) and have so far to go. But to come into this phenomenal environment (almost 20,000 towel waving fans and the surrounding area a sea of blue) and play the way we did … we’re going back and that’s exciting for us.
“They dug their heels in tonight and who really did it for us was the goalie. His name has come up for various reasons the last couple of days.”
SUNSHINE SAMMY
Samsonov faced the cameras for the first time in a few days after the Leafs hid him, but he gave the same candid commentary as he has all this season and wasn’t sullen about where the team finds itself after missing another chance to clinch.
“It’s OK so far, but we’ll see the next game, try and forget about today. Every game is tight. Emotions are up and down, that’s why everyone loves playoffs, yes?”
He ended by thanking the media mob and gave a cheery: “See you in Tampa.”
GAME ON
Marner, Rielly and Matthews all said they didn’t get a good look at Pat Maroon’s second-period buzzer-beater belt into the glass on Giordano. He was down and out until coming back in the first few minutes in the third. But the Leafs did little with the roughing minor power play that followed … Also making a comeback from sick bay was Matthew Knies after a Darren Raddysh drive caught him on an exposed part of the knee. He’d assisted on Rielly’s goal … Noel Acciari led the Leafs with nine hits, but McCabe sent a couple of Bolts to the ice with shoulder checks … Ryan O’Reilly was the only Leaf without a hit … Rielly blocked six shots … After his well-placed overtime tip goal in Game 4, Kerfoot fired the puck over the glass with nobody near him in the second period, but Toronto survived the Tampa power play … Matthews had the third Leafs 6-on-5 goal through five games, compared to three in all other series. He also broke a tie with Lanny McDonald and Dave Andreychuk for 12th place in franchise playoff goals with 21.
MARLIES WIN
Joseph Blandisi’s overtime goal gave the Toronto Marlies a 6-5 win over Utica in Game 1 of their best-of-five AHL second-round playoff series Thursday at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
Logan Shaw scored two, Pontus Holmberg, Topi Niemela and Semyon Der-Arguchintsev one each. With Erik Kallgren helping the Leafs’ practice squad, Keith Petruzzelli made 40 saves for the win.
QUOTABLE
“Another great third period. We just have to make sure we start like that. We don’t quit in here.” — Marner on what’s to come in Game 6.
“It’s the year of the road team.” — Cooper on the Leafs and Bolts following the league trend of success away from home.
“We let him see pucks. It’s a step in the right direction.” — Lightning defenceman Victor Hedman on Vasilevskiy’s play.
Sports
Red Wings sign Moritz Seider to 7-year deal worth nearly $60M
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.
___
AP NHL:
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Sports
Veterans Tyson Beukeboom, Karen Paquin lead Canada’s team at WXV rugby tournament
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).
—
Follow @NeilMDavidson on X platform, formerly known as Twitter
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2024.
Sports
Vancouver Canucks star goalie Thatcher Demko working through rare muscle injury
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.
-
Politics11 hours ago
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs expected to call provincial election today
-
Media11 hours ago
Sutherland House Experts Book Publishing Launches To Empower Quiet Experts
-
Sports6 hours ago
Arch Manning to get first start for No. 1 Texas as Ewers continues recovery from abdomen strain
-
News22 hours ago
Alberta Premier Smith aims to help fund private school construction
-
Investment10 hours ago
Canada’s Probate Laws: What You Need to Know about Estate Planning in 2024
-
Sports6 hours ago
Former Canada captain Atiba Hutchinson tells his story in ‘The Beautiful Dream”
-
Politics10 hours ago
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs kicks off provincial election campaign
-
Politics6 hours ago
New Brunswick election profile: Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs