If our column’s word count for Game 2 of the Toronto Maple Leafs–Columbus Blue Jackets series could total six, John Tortorella’s post-game assessment would do the trick.
Send file. Lift feet. Crack beer.
The Blue Jackets head coach had zero interest in breaking down a lacklustre showing that suddenly has his bunch all knotted up at one game apiece with the Maple Leafs, convincing 3-0 winners Tuesday evening.
In a press conference that didn’t last much longer than his mid-game chew-out of top centre Pierre-Luc Dubois, Tortorella thrice said that his team “sucked” and that Toronto was “really good.”
Then he walked away in his tracksuit and began plotting for some Game 3 revenge.
One man’s burn-the-tape performance is another’s play-it-on-repeat masterpiece.
Sheldon Keefe’s first postseason victory as an NHL head coach was about as convincing as it gets.
A little right-wing flip in the top six and a little pressure to crack the fortress resulted in a flood of momentum.
“We were just focused,” Keefe said.
The big guns came to play and stayed patient through what could’ve been a frustrating goaltending performance by Joonas Korpisalo, reminding Leafs Nation that the twin engines of great teams run up the middle.
Does doubt crawl into a star player’s mind when everything they’ve thrown at the opponent’s net for nearly five periods gets kicked away, gloved down or ends in a ping?
“Certainly, those thoughts can creep in, but I think as a team when we’re playing like that, we have so much belief in each other that eventually it’s going to pay off. We’re gonna break through,” captain John Tavares said. “You’re just kinda staying in the moment, waiting for the next opportunity.”
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Auston Matthews, centring a new-look top line with Mitch Marner to his right, finally busted headstand artist Korpisalo’s shutout streak 56 saves and 96 minutes deep into the series by deftly tipping a Zach Hyman feed off the rush.
“Everything is tight out there, and goals are hard to come by,” said Matthews, who also threw a couple hits. “It was nice to get that one and kind of jump-start a nice push.”
Then Tavares capped off a stellar eight-shot effort by foiling Korpisalo on a breakaway.
In both instances, Columbus’s top defensive pairing took a minus and Zach Werenski got caught deep on a rush of his own, retreating behind the play with his face pointed at his own net, the red lamp alight by the time he got there.
This is Maple Leafs hockey at its best — speedy, space-creating, and executing on great looks.
Toronto dominated play 5-on-5, outshooting the Jackets 27-10, doubling up their foes in scoring chances 26-13, and tripling them up in high-danger opportunities 9-3 (per naturalstattrick.com).
The more wide open, the better for the boys in blue and white.
By storming in Matthews- and Tavares-led waves, the Leafs were able to gloss over a concerning 0-for-6 performance on the power-play in this series. And a lead gave Keefe the luxury of throwing out Kyle Clifford’s energy line more often than when he was chasing Game 1.
The vaunted Columbus forecheck never posed a threat because by the time the Jackets dumped the puck in, they were so tired, they needed to change.
“I just think we didn’t have it tonight. That’s really the difference,” Columbus captain Nick Foligno said. “You can dissect it any way you want, but it ultimately came down to we didn’t play a very good game. It’s unacceptable.”
Toronto, meanwhile, enjoyed a string of positive developments.
Rookie Nick Robertson drew a penalty and didn’t hesitate to let a few pucks rip on the second power-play unit. Frederik Andersen stopped all 21 shots he faced for a third career postseason shutout and improved his series save percentage to a sparkling .982. Morgan Rielly, William Nylander, and Alexander Kerfoot all got their names into the boxscore.
Most important: Toronto’s will matched its skill, and thus hinted at what’s possible when there is an urgency to churn legs, draw penalties and battle for second chances.
“Our guys brought it to another level tonight from a competitive standpoint,” said Keefe, who was closely monitoring the mood on the bench during the drought.
“The goalie was a big difference for them, but I really liked how our guys just took a drink of water and got ready for the next shift and stayed with it.”
Apply enough pressure, and the dam will break.
“There were certainly more people in front than the first game,” said Korpisalo, the best Blue Jacket on the ice.
The heart-in-your-throat scene of seeing Jake Muzzin being stretchered off and driven to a hospital after a frightening Dubois cross-check — and the status of the top shutdown defenceman’s health — will no doubt be the topic of greatest concern for this city’s hockey team as action rolls on.
Blue Jackets’ Zach Werenski: “First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with Jake Muzzin. … No hockey game is as important as someone’s health so we’re thinking of him right now.”
When these sides do meet again, for a third installment of run-and-gun and ground-and-pound, Toronto will try to replicate Game 2 and Columbus will attempt to throw it back to Game 1.
As Keefe notes, each game takes on a personality of its own.
This one was all Leafs — flash, dash and keep the puck in the fun zone.
“We expect them to make some adjustments,” Tavares said, “but I liked the way we were in sync and connected.”
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.
