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Matthews comes up clutch again as Maple Leafs outscore their problems vs. Kraken – Sportsnet.ca

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TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs have 99 problems and Auston Matthews might just outscore each one.

Somehow, the team looked at the easiest stretch of their schedule and decided to make it hard.

In the middle of a seven-game run exclusively against opponents outside of the playoff picture, the Cup-dreaming, deadline-buying Maple Leafs have barely kept their heads above water.

Home losses to Buffalo and Vancouver were partially redeemed by Monday’s nail-biting victory in Columbus.

And things appeared to be on track again Tuesday, as the local heroes pounced on the power-play to seize a 3-1 lead over the expansion Seattle Kraken.

Cue the inevitable comeback.

Yes, for the third straight outing and eighth time in 2022, the Maple Leafs — whose issues are a Venn diagram of two intersecting circles labelled “defence” and “goaltending” — let a multi-goal lead disintegrate.

The Kraken rallied with three unanswered goals to swipe a third-period lead.

But Toronto’s superstar saved the day in clutch time, punching back to secure a 6-4 victory.

Still, Toronto has been outgunned to the tune of 19-16 through these four games against non-contenders. (Arizona, Buffalo and Dallas are still on deck.) Its top line is glossing over some serious flaws.

Jack Campbell has promised to be better, and on this night he was good enough to outduel Philipp Grubauer.

One had to wonder, however, what was running through the goaltender’s mind as the pucks zipped past. Or what solutions Leafs peak performance coach Greg Harden, taking in the action from the press box on this night, might have.

Toronto built its early lead on the strength of power-play goals from stars Auston Matthews and William Nylander, while John Tavares notched his first even-strength goal in 17 games.

Carson Soucy, Alexander Wennberg, Colin Blackwell (shorthanded) and Jaden Schwartz responded for Seattle.

Matthews struck back to tie the affair midway through the third, Mitch Marner ripped a power-play winner just 40 seconds later, and Matthews completed a hat trick into an empty net just for kicks.

That is the power they wield.

As they hung on for two dramatic points, it was another evening that reinforced the infuriating/exhilarating juxtaposition that is the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2022.

Able to score and get scored on in bunches, they’re either slamming the gas or fishtailing near the ditch.

Cursed in their own end. But blessed with game-breakers.

Next goal wins.

Fox’s Fast 5

• How might a five-year, $25-million contract extension change former Leaf Jared McCann’s life?

He’s been a renter throughout his seven-year, four-franchise NHL career. Now he’s ready to be a homeowner.

See, millennials? It’s not that hard.

• Asked Dave Hakstol, who was on the Maple Leafs bench for their postseason losses in 2020 and 2021, for his theory on why Toronto has yet to get over the hump.

“I watch it from a different viewpoint now. There’s no easy way to get there,” replied Hakstol, hesitant to get specific.

“I believe that group will just continue to grow, learn from the different challenges and successes and failures. And that’s how you do it. Because there’s no easy way to the end. You can look back on any team that’s been able to do it. So, it’s a character group. It’s a skilled group. It’s a good group of people.”

• Jake Muzzin (concussion) hit the ice for about 40 minutes Tuesday morning. Keefe doesn’t see that as a surprise because “he’s been feeling good for a little while now.”

The Maple Leafs remain cautious and patient and will not put a definitive timeline on Muzzin’s return, but the blueline misses him. It’s difficult to believe he’ll be kept out of action until the playoffs begin in May.

Wayne Simmonds was honoured for his 1,000th game with silver stick and a Tiffany crystal in a blue-carpet ceremony. His young daughters, Kori and Kapri, were gifted with silver mini sticks, and teammates past (Drew Doughty, Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier) and present (Tavares, Michael Bunting, Jason Spezza), plus Willie O’Ree recorded messages for a congratulatory video:

Ondrej Kase (upper body) returned after missing four games, subbing out Spezza and forming a new-look fourth line with Simmonds and Alexander Kerfoot.

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Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

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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.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

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.

___

AP cricket:

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Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

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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.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

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Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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