The Maple Leafs jumped out to an early lead thanks to a power-play one-timer from William Nylander, but they were otherwise dreadful in the opening frame. Dallas led 2-1 heading into the first intermission, and the Stars held Toronto to just four shots. Just two of those four shots came at five-on-five, so Dallas definitely didn’t look like the team that gave up 48 shots to the Buffalo Sabres the night before.
The second period started just like the first, as the Leafs took advantage of an early power-play opportunity. Nylander was involved once again, as he found John Tavares in the bumper spot for yet another one-timer goal. As the game wore on, Toronto’s penalty kill suddenly looked excellent, and the Leafs took the lead with their third power-play goal just past the halfway point.
Evgenii Dadonov tied the game on a penalty shot in the third, but Mitch Marner and Nylander each scored less than a minute later to seal the victory for the Leafs. While it wasn’t always pretty, Sheldon Keefe’s team came away with a 5-4 win.
Three stars
1. Mitch Marner
Marner didn’t pick up a point on Nylander’s opening goal, but he deserves his fair share of credit for providing an excellent screen. He was dangerous on the penalty kill, as he sent Matthew Knies on a breakaway, then later made an excellent pass to set up Auston Matthews. He made another great play to set up Matthews in the second, but he didn’t have a point to show for it yet.
His hard work was finally rewarded on the scoresheet halfway through the third. Less than a minute after Dadonov tied the game on a penalty shot, Marner responded with a massive goal:
It’s easy to remember a time when Nylander wasn’t on the top power-play unit, or when he spent most of his time in the net-front role. He’s been firing a ton of shots on the power play this season, and he showed off his Alex Ovechkin impression six minutes in:
Like most of his teammates, he was quiet in the first before impressing in the second. He and Marner teamed up for some excellent short-handed chances, but he did his damage on the power play. While this goal was quite lucky, his ability to win the puck back is what led to the chance in the first place:
Matthews set up Marner for an excellent chance in the third, but Scott Wedgewood was up to the challenge. However, he set up Marner yet again moments later, and his longtime linemate made no mistake the second time around. Tavares was worthy of being one of the three stars as well, but there were four major standouts for just three spots.
The Core 4 take over
Nylander opened the scoring, followed by Tavares, Matthews and Marner. Nylander then scored again for the eventual game-winner. Three of the four set up a goal as well, and while Marner didn’t, he definitely deserved an assist or two. The Leafs are built around having four high-end forwards who can take over games, and this was a good reminder of what they’re capable of. I barely noticed Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz, so Toronto’s stars clearly outplayed Dallas’ top forwards.
The Leafs sure are relying on the core forwards a lot this season. This total will now increase:
Four players have scored 60 percent of the goals for the Leafs this season — tops in the league and more top-heavy than usual.
Toronto’s 5-on-5 offence finally shows up in the third
Here’s a quick look at how Toronto’s forwards had produced at five-on-five over the previous 10 games:
The power play was absolutely buzzing, but the Leafs didn’t have an excuse for the lack of five-on-five scoring chances in the first two periods. Despite an awfully slow start at even strength, the immediate response from Marner once Dallas tied the game was excellent to see. However, the insurance goal from the second line seconds later might be the bigger story. Tavares made an excellent play to set up Nylander, and given all of his power-play success as of late, he’s finally starting to look like his former self again.
Improving defensively could help the team spend more time in the offensive zone, and Elliotte Friedman reported in tonight’s 32 Thoughts Column that the Leafs are looking for another centre. The big move will likely come on defence, but one player who I’d keep an eye on is Nic Dowd of the Washington Capitals. Dowd is not a pure rental, as he offers plenty of surplus value with a $1.3 million cap hit through next season.
An unspectacular performance from Samsonov
Ilya Samsonov made his fifth straight start, and the Stars hit the post a few minutes in. The Leafs were able to kill off Dallas’ first power play, but the Stars scored immediately on their second opportunity:
You never like to see a goaltender get beat five-hole, but he did bounce back nicely in the second by stopping all 12 shots he faced. Dadonov beat him once again in the third, this time on a penalty shot:
Entering play, Samsonov boasted a .943 save percentage in four starts since returning to the lineup. I wouldn’t call this his best game, though. He was largely fine, but unspectacular.
Game score
Final grade: B
The Leafs deserved an “F” in the first, as having just two five-on-five shots in a period was completely unacceptable. However, they were the better team in the second, and their power play deserved an “A+” for scoring three goals on their first three attempts. Pontus Holmberg and Ryan Reaves both played well, and the officials missed a potential major penalty when Mason Marchment laid a blindside hit on Jake McCabe. Keefe’s team deserves credit for maintaining their composure, responding to Dallas’ game-tying goal and scoring five times against a tough opponent.
What’s next for the Leafs?
Heading to Ottawa to take on the Senators on Saturday at 7 p.m. on Hockey Night in Canada.
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.
