Sports

Injuries force Lightning roster shuffle for Gm. 2 vs. Leafs

Published

2 years ago

April 19, 2023

TORONTO — Victor Hedman will be a game-time decision for the Tampa Bay Lightning when they take on the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 2 of their first-round NHL playoff series Thursday.

“We’ll hope,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “We’ll see what kind of roster we can [tee up].”

That was one of a few injury-related updates from Tampa Bay during Wednesday’s media session after the Lightning’s 7-3 blowout win over Toronto in Game 1 the night before. Forward Tanner Jeannot is also a possibility to rejoin the lineup for Game 2, but defenseman Erik Cernak and forward Michael Eyssimont have been ruled out.

Hedman exited Tuesday’s opener after the first period with an undisclosed issue, leaving Tampa Bay down one top-pairing defenseman. Cooper said afterward that Hedman’s ailment was “a little bit surprising” but that the Lightning were “hoping he should be OK.”

Cernak was helped off in the second period Tuesday after taking an elbow to the head from Leafs’ forward Michael Bunting. The veteran stayed down on the ice for several minutes before trainers took him back to the room. Bunting was subsequently assessed a match penalty for an illegal check to the head. He was suspended three games by the NHL’s Player Safety Department on Wednesday.

The Lightning were forced into a four-man rotation on the back end — one that included rookie Darren Raddysh in his postseason debut — for nearly 25 minutes of Game 1 once Hedman and Cernak were gone. Cooper recalled on Wednesday how Tampa Bay had survived with four defenders in previous years and was encouraged by his group handling that adversity.

“It’s tough, especially playing a team like the Leafs,” Cooper said. “But everybody kept it simple. I thought our forwards did a heck of a job helping them out. It helped that we had a lead; it was way better than [if] the game was tied. They did a heck of a job.”

Eyssimont also went out of Game 1, off a rattling hit from Toronto defenseman Jake McCabe. Tampa Bay has potential forward reinforcement coming in the form of Jeannot, though. The Lightning acquired Jeannot from the Nashville Predators ahead of March’s trade deadline; he appeared in 20 regular-season games before suffering a right leg injury against the New York Islanders earlier this month.

Initially, Tampa Bay thought Jeannot could be weeks out from a return, but he was recently upgraded to day-to-day. The winger said Wednesday that he was “feeling good,” with an eye on playing in Game 2.

“There’s a great training staff, and we’re working hard at getting back as quick as possible,” Jeannot said . “That’s what we’re always trying to do. All I could do is everything I could do to get back as quickly as I could, and that’s what I did. We’ll see about tomorrow.”

Forward Ian Cole, who was absent from Tampa Bay’s practice Wednesday along with Hedman, Cernak and Eyssimont, is expected to be available for Game 2.

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Sports

Sports betting roundup: NFL and college football were all about the favourites

Published

19 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Anne Joseph

The past weekend of football was all about the favourites.

The favoured teams went 13-1 straight up and 10-4 against the spread in the NFL. In college football, the three most teams bet at the BetMGM Sportsbook in terms of number of bets and money all won and covered. All three were favourites.

Trends of the Week

The three most bet college teams that won and covered on Saturday were Ohio State (-3.5) vs. Penn State, Indiana (-7.5) at Michigan State and Oregon (-14.5) at Michigan. Penn State has now lost seven straight home games as underdogs. The Nittany Lions were up 10-0 in the first quarter and were 3.5-point favourites at the time. The Buckeyes won 17-10.

In the NFL, the three most bet teams in terms of number of bets and money were the Washington Commanders (-4) at the New York Giants, the Detroit Lions (-2.5) at the Green Bay Packers and the Buffalo Bills (-6) vs. the Miami Dolphins. All three teams won, but only two of the three covered the spread as Buffalo beat Miami 30-27.

When it came to the players with the most bets to score a touchdown on Sunday, only two of the five reached the end zone — Chase Brown (-125) and Taysom Hill (+185). David Montgomery (-140), Brian Robinson Jr. (+110) and AJ Barner (+500) did not score.

Upsets of the Week

The biggest upset in the NFL was the Carolina Panthers coming from behind to beat the New Orleans Saints 23-22. New Orleans closed as a 7-point favourite and took in 76% of the bets and 79% of the money in against-the-spread betting. The Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen following the loss. They have now lost seven straight games after starting the year 2-0.

Arguably the biggest upset in college football was South Carolina beating No. 10 Texas A&M 44-20 at home. Texas A&M closed as a 2.5-point favourite and took in 59% of the bets and 58% of the money.

Coming up

Right after the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees to win the World Series, odds for the 2025 World Series were released.

The Dodgers have the best odds at +400, while the Atlanta Braves and Yankees are next at +800.

The Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies round out the top five, both at +1100.

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This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online sportsbook.

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AP sports:

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Sports

Longtime rivals Ovechkin, Crosby join Necas as NHL’s three stars of the week

Published

19 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Anne Joseph

NEW YORK – Washington Capitals left-wing Alex Ovechkin, Carolina Hurricanes centre Martin Necas and Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby have been named the NHL’s three stars of the week.

Ovechkin had a league-leading five goals and nine points in four games.

The 39-year-old Capitals captain has 14 points in 11 games this season, and his 860 career goals are just 34 shy of Wayne Gretzky’s record.

Necas shared the league lead with nine points (three goals, six assists) in three games.

Crosby factored on seven of the Penguins’ eight total goals scoring four goals and adding three assists in three appearances. The 37-year-old Penguins captain leads his team with 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 13 games this season.

Crosby and Ovechkin, longtime rivals since entering the league together in 2005-06, will meet for the 70th time in the regular season and 95th time overall when Pittsburgh visits Washington on Friday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2024.

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Oliveira, Mitchell named as finalists for CFL outstanding player award

Published

5 days ago

October 31, 2024

Anne Joseph

TORONTO – Running back Brady Oliveira of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell are the finalists for the CFL’s outstanding player award.

Oliveira led the CFL in rushing this season with 1,353 yards while Mitchell was the league leader in passing yards (5,451) and touchdowns (32).

Oliveira is also the West Division finalist for the CFL’s top Canadian award, the second straight year he’s been nominated for both.

Oliveira was the CFL’s outstanding Canadian in 2023 and the runner-up to Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for outstanding player.

Defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund of the Montreal Alouettes is the East Division’s top Canadian nominee.

Voting for the awards is conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and the nine CFL head coaches.

The other award finalists include: defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal linebacker Tyrice Beverette (outstanding defensive player); Saskatchewan’s Logan Ferland and Toronto’s Ryan Hunter (outstanding lineman); B.C. Lions kicker Sean Whyte and Toronto returner Janarion Grant (special teams); and Edmonton Elks linebacker Nick Anderson and Hamilton receiver Shemar Bridges (outstanding rookie).

The coach of the year finalists are Saskatchewan’s Corey Mace and Montreal’s Jason Maas.

The CFL will honour its top individual performers Nov. 14 in Vancouver.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31.

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