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NHL Buzz: Senators have eight players in COVID-19 protocol – NHL.com

Published

3 years ago

November 11, 2021

Welcome to the NHL Buzz. Throughout the 2021-22 season, NHL.com will have you covered with the latest news

Ottawa Senators

Matt Murray and Alex Formenton were the seventh and eighth players placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol by the Senators on Thursday.

Murray, a goalie, and Formenton, a forward, join defenseman Josh Brown, Victor Mete and Nick Holden, and forwards Austin Watson, Connor Brown and Dylan Gambrell.

The Senators host the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; TSN5, RDS2, BSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).

“All you can do is just keep playing,” Senators coach D.J. Smith said. “We want to get a win to get everyone feeling good. It’s not the ideal situation, but no one feels bad for you in this League. We’re privileged to play and be in the NHL and we’re going to go out there and give it all we’ve got.”

Ottawa, which lost to the Boston Bruins 3-2 on Tuesday, did not practice Wednesday for precautionary reasons. The Senators also canceled practice Monday.

Forward Andrew Agozzino and defensemen Dillon Heatherington and Lassi Thompson were recalled from Belleville of the American Hockey League on Thursday.

Forwards Scott Sabourin and Egor Sokolov were recalled from Belleville on Monday; Sokolov made his NHL debut against the Bruins. Defenseman Erik Brannstrom was recalled from Belleville on Sunday.

“We just want to get through this as a group and get back to playing hockey every day with a full lineup and a healthy group,” Smith said. “I think everyone’s stressed. You want to win hockey games, you want to be healthy, you’re worrying about a lot of things, but like everything else, it’ll pass and we’ll be better for it.” — Calum Fraser

New Jersey Devils

Dougie Hamilton could return to the lineup against the New York Islanders on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MSG, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).

The defenseman has missed the past three games since sustaining a lower-body injury in a 4-0 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Nov. 2.

“Dougie has been day to day, and he had a good morning [skate],” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. “I’m going to say I anticipate him playing. We want Dougie back in the lineup and we’re at the point where we thought he may play the other night (a 7-3 win against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday) and he wasn’t quite ready; tonight looks like it could be the night.”

Hamilton has scored six points (two goals, four assists) in eight games this season. — Mike G. Morreale

Edmonton Oilers

Mike Smith had a setback in his return from a lower-body injury and was sent back to Edmonton on Wednesday.

The goalie has not played since allowing four goals on 15 shots in a 6-5 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Oct. 19.

“He had a setback in practice, so he’s gone back to get some further evaluation in Edmonton,” Oilers coach Dave Tippett said Thursday. “It’ll be (Mikko) Koskinen and (Stuart) Skinner for the time being.”

The Oilers, who visit the Boston Bruins on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; SN1, SNE, SNO, NESN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE), were hoping Smith would return last week.

“It’s a concern [that he’s been out this long] for sure because he looks like he takes some steps ahead, then goes out, works a little bit and has taken another step back,” Tippett said. “It’s certainly a concern. He went through the last couple days and near the end of practice, kind of tweaked something. So he decided he wanted to go back. I think they’re going to do some more imaging of it today, and we’ll get a better read on it at home.” — Patrick Donnelly

San Jose Sharks

Coach Bob Bougner and seven Sharks players who were in NHL COVID-19 protocol are expected to join the team prior to their game against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.

Forwards Timo Meier, Kevin Labanc and Matt Nieto and defensemen Erik Karlsson, Jacob Middleton, Radim Simek and Marc-Edouard Vlasic skated the past two days and are expected to do so again Thursday.

“It’s been a heck of a long time, ” Boughner said Wednesday, speaking for the first time since being placed in protocol on Oct. 30. “Watching the team it’s tough obviously but feeling good. … I dealt with basically a head conjestion and a headache for 4-5 days and then I was fine.”

San Jose plays at the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, NBCSCA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE) before playing the Avalanche.

“The whole list of guys were on the ice for the past two days, will be on again tomorrow and we are going to fly [Thursday] afternoon and meet the team in Denver and were going to plan on having a full team practice on Friday.”

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Sports

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

Published

17 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

17 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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Sports

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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