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Player grades: Edmonton Oilers shift into high gear late to thwart Columbus Blue Jackets – Edmonton Journal

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It was no beauty, but it was a win, adding to a great beauty of a winning streak. The Edmonton Oilers beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1 and extend their winning streak to 14 games.

Columbus outplayed Edmonton slightly in the first, then significantly in the second, outshooting Edmonton 24-13, nine to six on Grade A shots. But Stuart Skinner was solid when he needed to be, coach Kris Knoblauch mixed up the lines in the third period, the Oil shut things down completely on defence and Edmonton forechecked hard, pounding in two goals early in the third. A final goal, a real beauty of forechecking and hustle, came last with Dylan Holloway scoring.

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The Oilers are a weak defensive team according to commentator P.K. Subban but have given up just 17 goals in their last 12 games. Fancy that.

In total, Edmonton had  Grade A shots 16, while CBJ had nine. In the subset of 5-alarm shots, Edmonton had eight, Columbus six. Grade A shots go in on average 25 per cent of the time, 33 per cent for 5-alarmers.

Connor McDavid, 7. Another one point game for McDavid, another win for the Oilers. He got the first Grade A of the game, charging in for a dangerous shot ,then charged in for another later in the frame. He had a goal called back in the second for an offside as small as a nano particle, but then scored in the third when Erik Gudbranson cross-checked Hyman into Elvis Merzlikins. Karma baby. Contributions to Grade A shots (GAS): Even Strength +5/-0; Special Teams +1/-0.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 6. He was put on a line with Foegele and Kane in the third, went to the net hard, saw the puck deflect off his skate on the post, with Kane cashing in the rebound. GAS: ES +3/-1; ST +1/-0.

Zach Hyman, 6. Hyman got going in the third as the Oil got going. He made a weak backcheck late in the second, allowing for a Grade A CBJ shot. He was shoved into Merzlikins on McDavid’s goal, a credit to Hyman’s net presence. I suppose he wanted to show Corey Perry that there are already some clever gamers on the Oilers. GAS: ES +4/-1; ST +0/-0.

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Leon Draisaitl, 6. Up and down game. First period saw him with a few mistakes leading to Grade A shots against, but he also put two Grade A shots on net. He set up McDavid’s goal in the third. GAS: ES +3/-3; ST +2/-0.

Evander Kane, 8. He’s bringing his “A” game again. He charged in fast and determined on the power play to set up Foegele’s goal. Early in the second he blasted Adam Fantilli with a wicked hit but then let him free for a Grade A slot shot. Kane has got the gift of the goal as he knows where they are scored, between the rocks and the hard places on the ice, which is where he drove in Edmonton’s second goal. A bit later, he skated in fast and pounded a shot off the post. GAS: ES +2/-2; ST +1/-0.

Warren Foegele, 7. Another good game. He made up for an early turnover and Grade A shot against by charging in on the power play and deflecting the puck in the net. He also zapped a rebound shot on net in the third on the Kane scoring sequence. GAS: ES +3/-1; ST +1/-0.

Ryan McLeod, 7. He allowed the pass on Gaudreau’s breakaway in the first. Looked better in the third on a line with speedy Holloway in the third. He made a great play on Holloway’s goal, winning a battle as he rushed up ice and passed over to Kulak. GAS: ES +3/-1; ST +0/-0.

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Dylan Holloway, 7. The kid looks great. He set up Brown for a decent shot early in the third. Then McLeod set him up for a Grade A backhander. He started off his own goal-scoring sequence by getting the puck out of the Edmonton net then going to the net to slam home Brown’s rebound. GAS: ES +3/-0; ST +0/-0.

Connor Brown, 6. He had another Charlie Brown moment late in the second, the puck skittering under his stick on a wide open 2-on-1 chance late in the second. But he won a board battle on Holloway’s scoring play, then went up ice to drive a nasty shot on net. Once again he was good on the PK. GAS: ES +3/-0; ST +0/-0.

Mattias Janmark, 4. Quiet game. Too quiet. But some OK work on the PK. GAS: ES +0/-0; ST +0/-0.

Derek Ryan, 4. Also a quiet game. Also to quiet. GAS: ES +0/-0; ST +0/-0.

Sam Gagner, 3. Not his night. He fell down and flubbed making a pass, kicking off the Sequence of Pain on the first CBJ goal. He played just 7:44. GAS: ES +0/-1; ST +0/-0.

Mattias Ekholm, 6. Kept things generally under control when he was on the ice. After an outside shot and rebound attempt, he saved a goal clearing the puck out of an open crease. He led the team with five hits. GAS: ES +0/-2; ST +0/-0.

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Evan Bouchard, 5. Seemed a bit out of sync running a somewhat out of sync Edmonton power play. Otherwise was OK with a few sharp passes. He led the team playing 23:36. GAS: ES +2/-1; ST +0/-0.

Darnell Nurse, 5. Some good, some bad. He wandered up ice and got caught in the Red Light Zone — not covering anyone and not covering a passing or shooting lane — on two early Grade A shots in quick succession. He stopped a dangerous cross-seam pass early in the second. GAS: ES +1/-2; ST +0/-0.

Cody Ceci, 6. Quiet game but in a good way. Little damage to Edmonton when he was on the ice. He led the team with four blocked shots. GAS: ES +0/-1; ST +0/-0.

Vincent Desharnais, 4. He and Kulak were both caught up ice on the Gaudreau breakaway. Two solid blocks on the PK in the second. Blasted Gaudreau with a hit. GAS: ES +0/-2; ST +0/-0.

Brett Kulak, 8. Great game. On the downside, the Gaudreau breakaway. On the plus, his fine slapshot was crucial to the goal-scoring sequence on Kane’s score. He made a sharp pass to Brown in the lead up to Holloway’s goal. GAS: ES +5/-1; ST +0/-0.

Stuart Skinner, 8. Huge first period with a number of stupendous scramble saves, then a wicked glove snag of Johnny Gaudreau’s breakaway snipe. He had little chance on the first goal against. Another huge save, this time on Kuraly, late in the second. Nothing much to stop in the third, but a great game.

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Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

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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.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

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.

___

AP cricket:

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Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

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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.

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Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

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Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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