Auston Matthews did not play for the Maple Leafs when they faced the Nashville Predators on Wednesday because of an undisclosed injury.
Matthews did not practice Tuesday but did participate in an optional morning skate.
“I would say he is just day to day,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. “He’s out there putting in lots of work and all that, so he’s clearly not too far away. So, he’s improving daily, we’ll see where he’s at for tomorrow (against the Detroit Red Wings).
Matthews last played Sunday, when he had a goal and four shots in 17:29 of ice time in a 6-2 win against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Keefe said the injury was not something that occurred against the Flyers but something that has been “lingering for a while.”
Matthews has a five-game point streak (three goals, four assists) and has 47 points (20 goals, 27 assists) in 41 games. It was the first game he’s missed this season.
William Nylander will move from right wing to center to replace Matthews on a line with left wing Michael Bunting and right wing Pierre Engvall against the Predators.
Forward Bobby McMann, who was recalled from Toronto of the American Hockey League on Tuesday, made his NHL debut on a line with left wing Alexander Kerfoot and center David Kampf. McMann has 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in 17 games with Toronto of the AHL this season. — Dave McCarthy
Chicago Blackhawks
Patrick Kane skated with coaches prior to practice Wednesday but is doubtful for the Blackhawks when they play the Colorado Avalanche at United Center on Thursday (8:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCH, ALT, ESPN+, SN NOW).
“I think we went this far, so our decision’s probably, why push it?” Chicago coach Luke Richardson said. “We took this long week for rest, and if he needs another day or two, just take it.
“For myself, I’m hopeful [Kane plays] Saturday (against the Seattle Kraken), probably doubtful tomorrow. It’s just day by day at this point. I don’t think it’s major. Just no point in playing him at 50 percent if he’s not feeling great.”
Kane was on the ice for at least 20 minutes prior to practice but left before it began Wednesday. He’s missed the past two games. It was the first time Kane has missed a game due to injury since he sustained a broken clavicle against the Florida Panthers on Feb. 24, 2015, and missed the rest of that regular season.
The forward said he sustained the lower-body injury after taking a hit from San Jose Sharks forward Evgeny Svechnikov in Chicago’s 5-2 loss Jan. 1.
He has 27 points (seven goals, 20 assists) in 37 games this season, second on the Blackhawks to forward Max Domi‘s 28 (12 goals, 16 assists) in 39 games.
Goalie Petr Mrazek will start for the Blackhawks against the Avalanche. Goalie Alex Stalock missed his second straight practice with a non COVID-related illness, and goalie Jaxson Stauber was recalled from Rockford of the American Hockey League. — Tracey Myers
New York Rangers
Chris Kreider will not play for the Rangers against the Dallas Stars on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MSG, BSSW, ESPN+, SN NOW) because of an upper-body injury.
The forward left in the third period of a 4-3 shootout win against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. He has 30 points (19 goals, 11 assists) in 42 games this season.
New York coach Gerard Gallant said he doesn’t believe the injury is long-term, and that Kreider will be reevaluated in a few days.
Alexis Lafreniere will take Kreider’s spot on the top line with Mika Zibanejad and Kaapo Kakko on Thursday.
The Rangers claimed Jake Leschyshyn off waivers Tuesday. The forward did not have a point in 22 games with the Vegas Golden Knights this season. Leschyshyn had six points (two goals, four assists) in 41 games as a rookie last season.
Dallas Stars
Roope Hintz will not play for the Stars against the Rangers on Thursday because of an upper-body injury.
The forward did not travel for a two-game trip, which began with a 2-1 shootout win against the New York Islanders on Tuesday.
“I’m not concerned about it being long-term, but [he’s] not with us,” Dallas coach Peter DeBoer said Tuesday.
Hintz sustained the injury late in the first period of a 5-1 win against the Panthers on Sunday. Hintz is second on the Stars with 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) this season.
To fill Hintz’s spot, Tyler Seguin began the game against the Islanders as the first-line center.
“Everybody’s dealing with injuries. It’s next man up and you know someone’s misfortune [is] someone’s other opportunity,” DeBoer said. “He’s not overwhelmed by the situation. You’re not sticking a young guy up there that hasn’t been there before.” — Denis P. Gorman
Colorado Avalanche
Denis Malgin is out week to week with an upper-body injury.
The forward left Colorado’s 4-2 loss at the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 5 with an upper body injury and did not play in a 3-2 overtime win against the Edmonton Oilers on Jan. 7.
Malgin, who was acquired in a trade with the Maple Leafs on Dec. 19, has one assist in seven games with the Avalanche. He has five points (two goals, three assists) in 30 games this season.
Colorado coach Jared Bednar said that Valeri Nichushkin, who was supposed to be with the team on the recent two-game road trip, was held back due to lingering issues with his ankle. The forward missed his seventh straight game when the Avalanche lost to the Panthers, 5-4 on Tuesday.
“We’re just letting that ankle heal,” Bednar said.
Defenseman Josh Manson (lower body) took to the ice prior to the morning skate Tuesday in a red non-contact jersey, and defenseman Bowen Byram (lower body) has started skating on his own. Neither has a timeline to return. — Ryan Boulding
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.
