TORONTO — Defenceman Martin Marincin picked the right time to hit the scoresheet.
After being the odd-man out on Toronto’s blueline more often than not this season, Marincin scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period as the Maple Leafs hung on to beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 on Saturday.
Marincin entered the night with four career goals in 223 games before potting just his second since 2016-17 to help Toronto go up five points on the Florida Panthers for third in the Atlantic Division.
“I was so, so happy. First goal this season, so I was excited for that,” said the 28-year-old playing in his 23rd game of the season. “It’s not my role (to score) but I like it. I can do it. I have to be more active.”
Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe, who also coached Marincin with the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies, wasn’t as surprised as many in the Scotiabank Arena to see him score.
“Got to love the initiative of Marty to finish it,” said Keefe. “He takes a lot of heat around here, up and down (to the minors) but when you call upon him he gives you everything he has and it’s all you can ask for.”
The Maple Leafs (35-23-8) won four-of-five contests to close out February.
The Canucks (34-24-6) entered six points behind the first-place Vegas Golden Knights in the Pacific and failed to create any space ahead of the teams chasing them in a tight Western Conference.
“We’re still good in standings but we got to win games, got to get points,” said Canucks star Elias Pettersson, who was held scoreless with no shots on net in 21 minutes of ice time.
“I’m not playing my best hockey right now.
“I want to be better. … We like to score goals. We just have to find a way to win.”
Both goalies had rough starts by combining to allow four goals on seven shots in the first 11 minutes of the game before settling in to turn away the following 48-of-49.
Frederik Andersen made his seventh straight start for Toronto and stopped 25 shots. Vancouver’s Thatcher Demko, in net for an injured Jacob Markstrom, finished with 26 saves.
“Just regroup and focus on what’s next,” Andersen said about the poor start. “Doesn’t matter what happened. It’s the next shot, all I can focus on.”
Frederik Gauthier opened the scoring less than three minutes into the game on Toronto’s first shot before Tyler Motte responded for Vancouver at 5:28 after a strong forecheck.
Auston Matthews restored the lead for the Leafs only 57 seconds later, but Tanner Pearson drew the Canucks even again with 8:58 to go in the first, and the teams went into first intermission tied 2-2.
Matthews now sits second behind Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak (47) in the race for the Rocket Richard Trophy as the league’s top goal scorer after producing his 45th of the campaign.
After a scoreless second period, Marincin produced the go-ahead goal only 18 seconds into the third when he grabbed his own rebound off the end boards and beat Demko glove side.
“It’s not every night you see a guy who’s six-foot-five who plays a shutdown role do something like that,” said Matthews.
“I’ve seen it before, yeah. You don’t see it often, but when he brings it out it’s usually a treat.”
Andersen made his biggest stop of the night with 4:50 to go in the game when he got a pad down on J.T. Miller off a rebound to keep his team ahead.
Canucks coach Travis Green felt his team deserved a better fate.
“We played a good road game, battled back,” said Green. “Bit of an unlucky goal, the third one. And it was a good response from our team coming into a tough building against a good team. Quite easily could have gone the other way.”
Hyman, with his career-high 21st goal of the season, followed soon after with an empty-netter to seal the win.
“They call him the Sidney Crosby of 6-on-5,” joked Matthews.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 29, 2020
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.
