EDMONTON — In the smaller picture, five wins in a five-game homestand — no matter who the schedule-maker puts in front of you — probably deserves a pat on the back and a cold beer.
The Edmonton Oilers began this homestand on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. Ten points later, after a 6-3 win over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday afternoon, they find themselves five points clear of Dallas — the third wild-card team — and within two points of L.A. for second place in the Pacific, with two games in hand on the Kings.
You’ve got to admit, Edmonton was tested in a myriad of ways in this homestand: Washington scores with two seconds to play to force overtime; mighty Tampa comes in as the two-time defending champs; Detroit erased a 3-0 deficit and tied the game at five in the third period; and New Jersey scores twice in the third to take a 3-2 lead with 16:45 to play.
But every time failure knocked, Edmonton managed instead to succeed.
It wasn’t long ago we referenced this club a fragile. But lately, whomever the opponent, it has been quite the opposite.
“We come out in the third period knowing what we need to do, but they get a couple of bounces and take the lead,” said Evander Kane, after another two-goal night for 12 tucks in 23 games. “We stick with our game plan, we get pucks to the net. We turn up the heat a little bit, stay with it, and we’re able to respond.”
Why now? And not a month ago?
“I think it’s just believing,” said Kane, whose plan to come to Edmonton and beef up his value before July 1 has been working brilliantly, becoming a fixture on Connor McDavid’s left wing. “We can score goals, we know that. It’s just about playing a certain way, having the right attitude and staying with that attitude no matter how bounces go in a game.
“I see great potential in this team, that’s why I came here,” he said. “I think you’re starting to see what it can look like. As we continue to grow our game and become even tighter as a team in the way we play, I think we’re going to be a tough team to beat.”
The small, quick Devils gave Edmonton fits at times Saturday. New Jersey doesn’t pin you in your zone for long stretches, but they’re a fast-break team that can kill you with odd-man rushes.
Alas, Mikko Koskinen was the difference. He made a ton of good saves on a loose night for the Oilers structurally, while former Calgary Flame Jon Gillies folded up at the other end — much to the chagrin of Devils head coach Lindy Ruff.
After New Jersey took a 3-2 lead in Period 3, Gillies surrendered a weak goal from the bottom of the circle by Tyson Barrie. Edmonton never looked back after that, scoring three more times to coast to the finish line.
“That goal from the goal line, the bad angle from Barrie, a terrible goal,” spat Ruff. “That gave them some life. We were doing all the right things. You give up a shot from there, 99 out of 100 times you’re getting a save.”
Poor Lindy. His team had a shot at a win here, but it was the Oilers who found a way instead.
“Our goalie had a tough night,” Ruff complained. “You can look at the first goal, you can look at the second goal. … It’s a team we wanted to limit opportunities, high-rush opportunities, and I thought the momentum changed when all of a sudden, that tough goal goes in.”
It’s a bit ironic that, not so long ago, Dave Tippett was issuing quotes like those about Koskinen. Now, the Three Metres of Koskinen has seized the starter’s job in Edmonton, and given the Oilers enough goaltending to contend for second place in the Pacific.
In return, he’s getting run support. The Oilers scored six goals in three straight games for the first time since 1993, and while getting the first goal of the game was a major issue earlier this season, they have now scored first in nine of Woodcroft’s 18 games.
The Oilers are 21-0 when scoring first this season.
“It’s remarkable,” marvelled Woodcroft. “When our staff came about a month ago, we put a premium on starting well. We talk a lot about early urgency — wanting to sink our teeth into the other team immediately. And putting a little bit of onus on personal responsibility for players to find their game within the team right off the bat.”
McDavid tied a career high with a goal in his fifth straight game, an empty-netter. It capped a night where a fragile team might have lost, but the Oilers — again — found a way not to.
“That comes with a little bit of confidence,” Leon Draisaitl said. “When you get a couple of wins going, get a little streak going, you know that you can come back from a bad shift or getting scored on.
“I think we are growing in that area of the game and it makes us a better hockey team.”
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.
