TORONTO — The team with all the Toronto Maple Leafs won not one but two elimination games on home ice, putting a tidy bow on their storybook all-star weekend.
Team Matthews trumped Team McDavid 7-4 Saturday in what was a highly entertaining and more competitive-than-expected 3-on-3 tournament.
“Good for them. They needed some wins,” quipped Team McDavid’s David Pastrnak, with a smile. “They got one.”
The home fans left happy. Team Matthews left $1 million richer. And Auston himself scooped up the game’s MVP award for a two-goal, three-point effort in the finale that included the winning goal.
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“We were talking in the locker room. I don’t think there was much messing around. I think everybody was pretty much on the same page — to try to go out there, put in a pretty good effort, and try to come up with a good result,” Matthews said.
“The team just seemed to gel really well, and guys put in some really good efforts out there. Just a lot of fun on the bench and a lot of chatter, a lot of encouragement, a lot of chirping. And I think that’s what this weekend is all about. It’s supposed to be fun.”
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The fun came from celebrity coaches like Canucks stan Michael Bublé, who may or may not have been macro-dosing mushrooms for three days.
From Will Arnett, whom co-coach Peter Laviolette credited with delivering one of the best pregame pep talks he’s ever heard.
And from Team Matthews co-coach Justin Bieber, who wore a ridiculous red-and-pink polka-dot fur coat that made the pop star easy to spot from the 600 level.
“We we’re loving it,” Matthews smiled. “We were saying Monty should chuck in on for the second period.”
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Monty, of course, is Bruins-coached Jim Montgomery, who ironically found himself in charge of four Leafs — Matthews, Morgan Rielly, Mitch Marner and William Nylander — and giddily wrapped an arm around Bieber when his group clinched the title.
“He was great to be around. He was so into it, you know? And he had real emotion,” said Montgomery, who used his time on the bench to pick the musical brain of his assistant.
“Who do you listen to, like, when you’re just relaxing at home?” Montgomery asked The Biebs.
“He said right now he’s listening to some new band from Austin, Texas, I’ve never heard of. I wrote ’em down though, so I’m going to check ’em out.”
Montgomery was in it to win it, though. And didn’t hesitate to make an adjustment to a winning lineup.
So, after Team Matthews survived its tight semifinal against Team Hughes, edging the Canucks-loaded squad 6-5 in a shootout, Montgomery split up Matthews and Marner.
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“Well, one line was minus-3 in the first game,” Montgomery reasoned. “Third line was great. I talked to Auston about it, and Auston agreed.”
Matthews and good friend Clayton Keller got defensive support from Rielly in the deciding game, while Marner and Nylander were paired with responsible two-way pivot Vincent Trocheck.
That small tweak balanced the lines, and every member of Matthews finished the speedy championship game a plus-1.
Indeed, the chirps and laughs continued well past the final buzzer.
But sprinkled in the centre of the good times had by all involved this weekend in the centre of the hockey universe were some genuine moments of reflection and gratitude.
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“The only thing that surprised me at all was nerves,” said Rielly, a first-time all-star after 11 seasons in the league.
“I didn’t expect to get nervous or anything like that before the game, and I think when you’re in that environment, around all those unique players, I think I was a little nervous.”
Marner wasn’t nervous, but he was appreciative for the weekend.
“Amazing,” Marner said. “I’ve dreamt of being in all-star games my whole life. I’ve watched all-star games from my couch, on my carpet with my parents. You know, just watching Sid, Spezza, Hossa, Owen Nolan, and the list goes on and on.
“You always dream of being a part of one. And to have it in this city, it’s pretty remarkable. And to be able to enjoy it with the ones that got me to where I am, it’s even better.”
‘We wanted to win in front of our home fans’: Maple Leafs’ Marner on what it means to win ASG
“Is Team Russia going? I want to go. I think everybody wants to go. Definitely means a lot for the country. Ever since I was a kid, I was watching Olympics and dreaming to be part of it one day — and sucks to not participate in one. But, hopefully, my fingers crossed, that we’re gonna be in the Olympics, that Team Russia gonna is be on the Olympics, and it’s gonna be a real best-versus-best. Because when Team Russia is not out there, it’s not the same.”
The IIHF has not yet decided on Russia’s eligibility for 2026, but with Belarus eager to participate in Olympic qualifying games this August, the governing body is under pressure to make a call.
• The catch with 2025 4 Nations Face-Off? Some decent talent from countries such as Czechia, Russia, Denmark, Germany, Slovakia, and Latvia will be left out in the cold.
“I’m glad they don’t call it best of the best because it’s only four nations. A lot of good players are sitting that out,” says David Pastrnak, a proud Czech.
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“I just found out it’s gonna be in Boston. That stings. That one hurts a little bit. But I understand they didn’t have much time to come up with the format, so I’m definitely gonna watch it.”
• All players ruled ineligible to play for Team Canada due to the 2018 world juniors investigation, such as the disappointed Cale Makar, are appealing their case with the IIHF.
Participation in 2025’s 4 Nations Face-Off won’t be an issue because that is an NHL-run event.
• Favourite head-to-head matchup, by far: Crosby-MacKinnon-Makar line versus Draisaitl-McDavid-Pastrnak line.
• Justin Bieber got to live out a little fantasy camp, participating in the game’s warm-ups and posing for a photo at centre ice with any all-star that asked.
“You could tell he was just having a fun time,” says Kyle Connor, after sharing a dressing room with The Biebs.
“He loves the game more than anybody. I’m sure this is an awesome experience for him. To hang out and talk to a guy like that, who’s so humble as well, it’s pretty cool.”
The French league’s legal commission has ordered Paris Saint-Germain to pay Kylian Mbappé the 55 million euros ($61 million) in unpaid wages that he claims he’s entitled to, the league said Thursday.
The league confirmed the decision to The Associated Press without more details, a day after the France superstar rejected a mediation offer by the commission in his dispute with his former club.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former football star Reggie Bush was at his Encino home Tuesday night when three male suspects attempted to break in, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.
“Everyone is safe,” Bush said in a text message to the newspaper.
The Los Angeles Police Dept. told the Times that a resident of the house reported hearing a window break and broken glass was found outside. Police said nothing was stolen and that three male suspects dressed in black were seen leaving the scene.
Bush starred at Southern California and in the NFL. The former running back was reinstated as the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner this year. He forfeited it in 2010 after USC was hit with sanctions partly related to Bush’s dealings with two aspiring sports marketers.
VANCOUVER – A fresh face has been gracing the B.C. Lions‘ highlight reels in recent weeks.
Midway through his second CFL campaign, wide receiver Ayden Eberhardt has contributed touchdowns in two consecutive games.
The 26-year-old wide receiver from Loveland, Colo., was the lone B.C. player to reel in a passing major in his team’s 37-23 victory over the league-leading Montreal Alouettes last Friday. The week before, he notched his first CFL touchdown in the Lions’ win over the Ottawa Redblacks.
“It’s been awesome. It’s been really good,” Eberhardt said of his recent play. “At the end of the day, the biggest stat to me is if we win. But who doesn’t love scoring?”
He’ll look to add to the tally Friday when the Leos (7-6) host the Toronto Argonauts.
Eberhardt signed with B.C. as a free agent in January 2023 and spent much of last season on the practice squad before cementing a role on the roster this year.
The six-foot-two, 195-pound University of Wyoming product has earned more opportunities in his second season, said Lions’ head coach and co-general manager Rick Campbell.
“He’s a super hard worker and very smart. He understands, has high football IQ, as we call it,” Campbell said.
The fact that Eberhardt can play virtually every receiving position helps.
“He could literally go into a game and we could throw him into a spot and he’d know exactly what he’s doing,” the coach said. “That allows him to play fast and earn the quarterback’s trust. And you see him making plays.”
Eberhardt credited his teammates, coaches and the rest of the Lions’ staff with helping him prepare for any situation he might face. They’ve all spent time teaching him the ins and outs of the Canadian game, or go over the playbook and run routes after practice, he said.
“I’ve played every single position on our offence in a game in the last two years, which is kind of crazy. But I love playing football,” he said. “I want to play any position that the team needs me to play.”
While B.C.’s lineup is studded with stars like running back William Stanback — who has a CFL-high 938 rushing yards — and wide receiver Justin McInnis — who leads the league in both receiving yards (1,074) and receiving TDs (seven) — versatility has been a critical part of the team’s back-to-back wins.
“I think we’ve got a lot of talented guys who deserve to get the ball and make big plays when they have the ball in their hands. So it’s really my job to get them the ball as much as possible,” said quarterback Nathan Rourke.
“I think that makes it easy when you can lean on those guys and, really, we’re in a situation where anyone can have a big game. And I think that’s a good place to be.”
Even with a talented lineup, the Lions face a tough test against an eager Argos side.
Toronto lost its second straight game Saturday when it dropped a 41-27 decision to Ottawa.
“We’ll have our hands full,” Rourke said. “We’ll have to adjust on the fly to whatever their game plan is. And no doubt, they’ll be ready to go so we’ll have to be as well.”
The two sides have already met once this season when the Argos handed the Lions a 35-27 loss in Toronto back on June 9.
A win on Friday would vault B.C. to the top of the West Division standings, over the 7-6 Winnipeg Blue Bombers who are on a bye week.
Collecting that victory isn’t assured, though, even with Toronto coming in on a two-game skid, Campbell said.
“They’ve hit a little bit of a rut, but they’re a really good team,” he said. “They’re very athletic. And you can really see (quarterback Chad Kelly’s) got zip on the ball. When you see him in there, he can make all the throws. So we’re expecting their best shot.”
TORONTO ARGONAUTS (6-6) AT B.C. LIONS (7-6)
Friday, B.C. Place
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: The Lions boast a 4-1 home record this season, including a 38-12 victory over the Redblacks at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria, B.C., on Aug. 31. The Argos have struggled outside of BMO Field and hold a 1-5 away record. Trips to the West Coast haven’t been easy for Toronto in recent years — since 2003, the club is 4-14 in road games against B.C.
CENTURION: B.C. defensive back Garry Peters is set to appear in his 100th consecutive game. The 32-year-old from Conyers, Ga., is a two-time CFL all-star who has amassed 381 defensive tackles, 19 special teams tackles and 16 interceptions over seven seasons. “Just being on the field with the guys every day, running around, talking trash back and forth, it keeps me young,” Peters said. “It makes me feel good, and my body doesn’t really feel it. I’ve been blessed to be able to play 100 straight.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
