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Showtime hat trick from Dubois pushes Maple Leafs to brink of elimination – Sportsnet.ca

Published

4 years ago

August 7, 2020

TORONTO — Maybe it was a dose of reverse psychology.

In the hours leading up to the Columbus Blue Jackets’ intent to upset the hometown Toronto Maple Leafs in a sprint series of 100 per cent away games, coach John Tortorella said publicly that his roster was devoid of “game-breakers,” that the blue-collar, team-first shot-blockers simply weren’t build top-heavy that way. (You know, like the Maple Leafs are.)

Ladies and gentlemen, we present Pierre-Luc Dubois.

All the 22-year-old centreman did Thursday night was peer up at the scoreboard, notice his club was down 3-0 to one of hockey’s most talent-rich rosters, and then go out and score three pretty goals — including Game 3’s overtime winner at the 78:24 mark, pushing the Leafs to the brink of elimination.

P-L-D! A goal for each initial. And the first hat trick in Columbus Blue Jackets playoff history.

“If he wants to be a difference-maker, a game-changer, one of the best players in the league, he has all the capabilities, all the tools. Tonight, he showed it,” said winger Cam Atkinson, after tossing Dubois the club’s player-of-the-game chapeau.

“It’s not always going to go your way, but it’s those moments where you capitalize on your opportunities. Big-time players step up in big-time crucial situations. Sure enough, hat trick. Put us all on his back. It’s good to see.”

In this city, they’re ready to paint Dubois’ tour de force Game 3 performance as yet another chapter in a tragic novel chockful of disappointing collapses.

The more objective view frames the gutsy response of Dubois — and, by extension, the Blue Jackets — as part of the Stanley Cup tournament’s century-old lineage of stepping up when things get tough.

In one of his more thoughtful moments this summer, Tortorella — who memorably tore the accent off Dubois midway through Game 2’s loss — spoke about the strange and illuminating effects of the post-season spotlight.

“I have been surprised where guys shrink, and then other guys, you just say, ‘Man, I didn’t expect that he’d be standing this tall. He’s not afraid of this,’ ” Tortorella said during reset camp. “And that’s where it is. This is an added pressure. And some guys just want it, and they revel in it. Other guys shrink. So, I’ve been surprised both ways.

“That’s mental, to me. That’s not physical. That’s a mental toughness, to be able to handle these types of situations. That’s when you find out who’s who.”

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In his own way, Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas stressed something similar heading into what’s shaping up to be the tightest and most compelling of the eight qualification-round series.

“The talent level of the group has never been in question,” Dubas said from the bubble. “It’s been the maturing and mindset of group that we know we have to take strides in.”

Dubois and Tortorella both downplayed the viral clip from Game 2 of the coach hollering at his young top-line centre to wake the f— up, and Dubois spitting some venom right back at his bench boss. But, as evidenced by Game 3, the veteran coach knows when to pull a goalie and push a skater.

“People make a bigger deal out of than it should be. We’re coaching our players,” Tortorella said post-win. “I’m not so sure that had anything to do with tonight. I just think Luc played a really good hockey game and had some great concentration.”

Dubois shook off Game 2’s poor performance and said he didn’t need a Jack Adams winner in his ear to jump-start his batteries.

“If you’re lacking motivation, I don’t think you’re in the right spot or playing the right sport,” Dubois said. “Everybody was motivated tonight. We went down 3-0, just kept believing.”

“I’m not sure what’s best — total experience in playoff hockey or just youth and dumbness.” —John Tortorella

— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) August 7, 2020

The ice titled the Leafs’ way when Dubois’ top line hopped the boards, and the kid from Ste-Agathe-des-Monts used his speed and his out-sized frame (6-foot-3, 218 pounds) to drive the net and take advantage of a depleted Toronto defence, worse off without Jake Muzzin on its shutdown duo.

Dubois snaped five shots and beat Frederik Andersen on three of them.

“PL didn’t miss,” said Seth Jones, scorer of Columbus’ other goal. “He’s strong as an ox down in the corners. His puck protection is off the charts. He’s a handful for any defenceman, no matter how big you are or how quick you are. He always finds a way to muscle you off, hold you off with one arm and make a play.

“He can match up with any centreman in the league when he’s on his game, and we love having him on our side.”

And it’s only because of gutsy drafting that they do.

To think: The same week Dubois plays OT hero to swing the pendulum in a critical elimination series, Jesse Puljujarvi, the forward everyone expected Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen to draft third overall in 2016, re-signed with Karpat.

Less than 20 hours from Dubois freezing the clock at Scotiabank Arena, he and the Blue Jackets will be at it again, with a shot to end the Maple Leafs’ season on Friday night.

But that doesn’t mean Tortorella won’t let the kids whoop it up a little tonight.

“I want ’em to have a ball right now. That’s why we play,” Tortorella said.

“It was a really good games by both teams. It’s too bad fans weren’t in the building. I want ’em to enjoy themselves in the proper way. I trust them. They’ll be ready to play tomorrow.”

Friday will mark the first time since April 12, 1988 where there will be 6 potential elimination playoff games played on the same day

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) August 7, 2020

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Sports

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

Published

2 days ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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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Sports

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

Published

2 days ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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

Published

2 days ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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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