Sports

The Maple Leafs melted down in Game 1 – and may end up rewarded for it

Published

2 years ago

April 19, 2023

TORONTO – “You’re in the jungle, baby,” Axl Rose warbled over the Scotiabank Arena loudspeakers during a TV timeout. “You’re gonna DIE.”

It was like Guns N’ Roses was speaking directly to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ anxieties, reminding them of every ghost that has haunted them, during their 56-year Stanley Cup drought, during their 19-year playoff series win drought, during their streak of six consecutive opening-round playoff exits. It took all of one minute and 18 seconds in Game 1 of their rematch against the Tampa Bay Lightning to be reminded that their annual regular season brilliance was no longer relevant. The Leafs were back in the jungle that is the Stanley Cup playoffs, a.k.a. the place they go to die year in and year out against more battle-hardened opponents. And rather than prove that, this time, they were up to the challenge, the Leafs treated the 19,000 plus in attendance to a 60-minute panic attack on ice, a circus of turnovers, lost edges, bad penalties and more.

What went wrong? What didn’t go wrong? The Leafs allowed buzzer-beater goals in the first and second period of their 7-3 drubbing. The left the ice for each intermission to a hailstorm of boos – for them or for the officials, we can’t say for sure. Goaltender Ilya Samsonov, who had nursed a mysterious injury down the stretch, delivered one fat rebound after another, amounting to an .793 save percentage, allowing six goals in two periods before being mercy-pulled for Joseph Woll to start the third.

“I will be better,” Samsonov said after Game 1. “I played like shit today.”

Most of all, it was agitator Michael Bunting symbolizing all that imploded for the Leafs in Game 1. The player Toronto has previously painted as a victim, a target of league officials who never gets the benefit of the doubt, actually had a call go his way early in the second period, drawing a penalty leading to a power-play goal from Ryan O’Reilly. But Bunting quickly erased that goodwill with a high hit on Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak, sending him crashing hard to the ice and knocking him out of the game with an undisclosed injury. It was an unforced error by Bunting, earning him a five-minute major and match penalty.

“Bunts, to me, is trying to win the line to set himself up to win a race for the puck and it got away on him,” said coach Sheldon Keefe. “A guy wasn’t expecting it and I’m sure Bunts is expecting a battle in that situation and didn’t get one.”

The Bolts scored twice during that five-minute power play, stretching the score from 4-2 to 6-2. The Bunting penalty all but ended the game on the spot. All in all, the Leafs handed the Bolts eight power plays, four of which they converted. Toronto gave the game away. And superstar Auston Matthews had no excuses for it.

“I think the (officiating) standard was set pretty early on, so that’s on us to not cross that line,” he said. “Most of the penalties that were called were penalties.”

That’s one way to look at it. All the demons, the pressure that seemingly gets more suffocating every year, mushroom-clouded on Toronto in Game 1.

“There’s always nerves opening night of the Stanley Cup playoffs,” said captain John Tavares. “A few days to prepare and the excitement builds. Obviously an area we have to do better in.”

And yet? It’s possible they walked away rewarded despite falling down 1-0 in the series and losing home ice advantage. Top Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman departed after the first period with an undisclosed injury. Cernak didn’t return after taking the blow from Bunting. And checking forward Mikey Eyssimont left after being wobbled by a heavy hit from Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe.

Here we have a Toronto team that just suffered one of its worst home-ice humiliations in recent memory and should be missing one of its top nine wingers for Game 2 in Bunting after the NHL Department of Player Safety decided the match penalty wasn’t sufficient discipline and called for a hearing. And yet…if you told them a week ago that they could face a Tampa team minus two of its top three defensemen in all-around horse Hedman and shutdown specialist Cernak…would you trade a loss for it? The Lightning are suddenly much smaller, much lighter and much easier to play against if they’re without 6-foot-7, 244-pound Hedman and 6-foor-4, 224-pound Cernak for extended periods of time. Speaking after the game Tuesday, Lightning coach Jon Cooper sounded hopeful that Hedman could be back for Game 2 but that it was too early to speak on it with any clarity. Ominously, there was no update on Cernak or Eyssimont.

So while the Leafs don’t necessarily deserve it after a truly embarrassing Game 1 showing, they have a golden opportunity to take over this series at home in Game 2. The Lightning have tremendous depth up and down the lineup at forward, but they are quite top heavy on defense after being forced to trade Ryan McDonagh as a cap casualty last summer. It stands to reason they’d be at a significant disadvantage for the balance of the series if they’re without one or both of Hedman and Cernak for a significant period of time. Mikhail Serchachev has the size, talent and pedigree to step up. But after that, you’re looking at veteran Ian Cole, rookie Nick Perbix, journeyman Zach Bogosian…it thins out fast.

As Keefe said Tuesday, it was impossible to get any sense of rhythm from the 5-on-5 action in Game 1 because there was so little of it. But the Leafs did have the edge in the share of scoring chances when they were out there 5-on-5. If they can stay out of the box, they may be battling a badly depleted Tampa D-corps all night. If they can’t: you can’t exploit the Lightning’s injuries if you’re spending most of your night killing penalties against their elite forwards. Given Bunting’s struggles to find the right side of the line, maybe it’s a blessing to have him mothballed for a game or two. Now it’s just a matter of whether the Leafs can seize that chance – or if the cold sweats and wobbly legs taker over once again for a team that seemingly can never get out of its own way.

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Sports

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

Published

1 day 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.

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AP cricket:

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Sports

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

Published

1 day 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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Sports

Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day 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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