The Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets held limited media availabilities on Sunday ahead of Game 5.
The Leafs had a 2-1 series lead against the Washington Capitals back in 2017. Toronto had the lead entering the third period of Game 7 in 2018 in Boston. And they had a 3-2 series lead on the Bruins last year. Those three golden opportunities turned into bitter losses and, hopefully for the Leafs, important lessons. Tonight, the young core has a chance to change the narrative and earn the franchise’s first series win since 2004.
“We have more than enough guys that have been in these types of situations before as a group,” said coach Sheldon Keefe, “although it’s changed a lot over the years, there are enough guys who’ve been through this together that are looking to leave it all out there to take the next step.”
The Leafs showed great resilience to survive on Friday, but it will mean very little if they fall short in Game 5. And the coach and the captain aren’t shying away from just how significant tonight’s game is for the maturation of the group.
“The continued experience our young core gets in these opportunities and these moments to continue to learn about themselves, find ways to grow and get better and continue to try and rise to the occasion [is important],” said John Tavares. “Obviously, through times of adversity [you] look back and reflect on how you can be better and do a better job and I think we’ve had a lot of that this season.”
Keefe noted that the joy around the team after the Game 4 comeback was unlike anything he’d seen before with this group, but no one is getting carried away.
“A lot of yesterday was trying to turn the page and realize we’ll have a real test again today,” said Tavares, “and know they’ll be prepared and we’ll have to be at our best and continue to find ways to get better.”
It’s been a series of swings with the Jackets scoring the first two goals, the Leafs countering with six straight, Columbus going on a seven-goal run before Toronto potted the last four. When it has been Toronto on the front foot, what is the team doing well?
“We just seem very connected,” said Tavares, who has two goals and an assist in the series. “You know, the level of execution is very high and that comes from all three zones. We’ve done a much better job, especially coming out of training camp with some of the emphasis we’ve put on things defensively, and that has led to a lot of other positives in our game and just being connected through all three zones.”
The ice has been choppy at times during this mid-summer tournament and the pressure is growing. Right now, it’s all about mental strength.
“That’s what it’s about,” agreed Keefe. “I mean, especially as you get to this point in the series where you really know your opponent, you know what the games are going to be like in terms of the structure and different pieces and it really just comes down to staying with it.”
Despite the devastating way Game 4 ended, Jackets coach John Tortorella doesn’t think there will be any emotional hangover for his group.
“We feel we have the momentum no matter what happened there,” the veteran bench boss said. “You know, momentum’s a funny thing, if you want to give it back to them you lose it, if you don’t want to give it to them you keep it on your side so that’s kind of a psychological thing. So, we’re good. We’re good and ready to play.”
The Jackets have reason to feel confident. They have outscored the high-octane Leafs 8-3 in five-on-five play in the series. In fact, they haven’t given up a five-on-five goal since Nick Robertson snuck a puck past Joonas Korpisalo in the second period of Game 3. So, that’s a stretch of 122 minutes and 46 seconds where the Leafs have been held in check at even strength.
“We’re not changing,” Tortorella said. “We thought we played a good game. You know, we pissed it away on a couple of bad plays and just within a couple of minutes, but we thought we played a good game. We’re going to go play the same way.”
Tortorella wasn’t willing to say, specifically, what his team has done well.
“Sorry, man,” he said. “I know I haven’t given you guys a bunch. I’ll talk to you guys about what I think about the series when the series is over, but not during.”
While most of the Leafs have gone through series-deciding games the last couple of years against Boston, this is the first such situation in the history of the Jackets franchise. During an interview with Jackets play-by-play voice Bob McElligott this afternoon, Tortorella revealed that the four guys with Game 7 experience on his roster addressed the group about what to expect.
“If you feel pressure now, you’re an idiot, because this is where you should try and enjoy yourself,” Tortorella told McElligott. “I’m anxious to see who’s tall and who shrinks. The playoffs are where your legacies are made and Game 7s it’s just doubled.”
Pulled in Game 3 and on the bench for all of Game 4, Korpisalo will start tonight for Columbus. Tortorella told McElligott that Elvis Merzlikins is hurt and won’t dress. Matiss Kivlenieks, who only has six games of NHL experience, will be the back-up goalie.
There was some good injury news for the Jackets on Sunday as defencemen Ryan Murray, who missed Game 4, and Zach Werenski, who left Game 4 in the third period, are both well enough to play.
“Our defensive depth is a big part of our team and happy that they’re back in,” said Seth Jones, who’s averaging a league high 30 minutes and 12 seconds of ice time in the playoffs. “They’re big pieces offensively and defensively and in all situations so they should play a key part in the win.”
Auston Matthews came through in the clutch picking up a pair of assists in that frantic finish to regulation on Friday night. The big centre then completed the crazy comeback with the overtime winner. But, for Keefe, the biggest thing that stands out about the 22-year-old’s playoff progression is how he’s been a factor on the defensive side of the puck.
“His commitment defensively has really been off the charts,” Keefe gushed. “How competitive he’s been, his tracking, coming back to our end and blocking shots and getting in lanes and doing a lot of little things that don’t necessarily show up on the scoresheet or anything like that and he’s not doing it for recognition or anything, he’s just doing it because it’s what’s required to win. He’s really taken a massive step in that regard not just now, but it was really starting to come even before the pause in that regard and he’s carried it forward and, in fact, found another level.”
Matthews has seven blocked shots in the series (1.75 per game), which is tied for second on the team behind only defenceman Justin Holl. Matthews blocked 0.86 shots per game in the regular season.
Leafs Ice Chips: Matthews’ defensive play ‘off the charts’
Auston Matthews has had a tremendous series against the Blue Jackets so far, highlighted by his late game heroics in Game 4. His offensive production has been there, but as Mark Masters reports, his defensive play in the series is what has really caught Sheldon Keefe’s attention.
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The Leafs got a psychological boost this morning as defenceman Jake Muzzin is out of quarantine for the first time since going to the hospital following that scary injury on Tuesday night.
“Jake is doing well in the sense that he’s finally got a little bit of freedom,” Keefe said. “He left his hotel room this morning for the first time and he actually got out on the ice and got a little skate in this morning so that’s obviously very positive considering what he had been through. We’re happy to see that. We’re happy to see him around our team today and certainly we’re very fortunate that he’s recovering quickly in comparison to what we were fearing in terms of him being on the stretcher and all that sort of stuff. So, it’s great to see him around our team and moving around today.”
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Lamar Jackson threw for 281 yards and five touchdowns, helping the Baltimore Ravens overcome an early double-digit deficit and extend their National Football League winning streak to five games with a 41-31 victory Monday night over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who lost their top two receivers to injuries.
The two-time NFL MVP improved to 23-1 against NFC teams, the best mark by a quarterback against an opposing conference in NFL history. He’s 3-0 against the Bucs (4-3), who faded after taking a 10-0 lead with help from the 100th TD reception of Mike Evans’ career.
Evans departed with a hamstring injury after Baker Mayfield tried to connect with him in the end zone again, and late in the fourth quarter with the game out of reach, leading Bucs receiver Chris Godwin was carted off the field with a left ankle injury. ESPN declined to show replays of Godwin’s injury, which appeared to be severe.
Jackson completed 17 of 22 passes without an interception, including TD throws of nine and four yards to Mark Andrews. He also tossed scoring passes of 49 yards to Rashod Bateman, 18 yards to Justice Hill and 11 yards to Derrick Henry, who rushed for 169 yards on 15 carries. Bateman had four catches for 121 yards.
The Ravens (5-2) rebounded from a slow start on defence, with cornerback Marlon Humphrey turning the game around with a pair of second-quarter interceptions — one of them in the Baltimore end zone. Jackson led a four-play, 80-yard TD drive after the first pick, and the second interception set up Justin Tucker’s 28-yard field goal for a 17-10 halftime lead.
Elsewhere in the NFL:
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CARDINALS 17 CHARGERS 15
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Kyler Murray ran for a 44-yard touchdown and led the Cardinals on a drive that set up Chad Ryland’s 32-yard field goal as time expired, and Arizona rallied for a win over Los Angeles.
Cameron Dicker kicked his fifth field goal of the night — this one from 40 yards — to give the Chargers a 15-14 lead with 1:54 left. But the Cardinals (3-4) quickly moved into field goal range, aided by an unnecessary roughness call on Cam Hart that cost Los Angeles (3-3) 15 yards.
Arizona followed that with a bruising 33-yard run by James Conner, who finished with 101 yards on the ground. That eventually set up Ryland’s short field goal and a Cardinals celebration.
It was a frustrating night for the Chargers’ offence, which gained 395 yards but couldn’t find the end zone. Justin Herbert completed 27 of 39 passes for 349 yards.
Dicker booted field goals of 59, 50, 28, 47 and 40 yards, the first of which tied a franchise record for distance.
Murray ran for a spectacular touchdown early in the fourth quarter, rolling to his left before turning on the jets, beating safety Junior Colston to the sideline and then coasting into the end zone for a 14-9 lead.
It was Murray’s second long touchdown run in three weeks after he scored on a 50-yard sprint against San Francisco. It was also Murray’s 20th career game with a touchdown pass and run.
Murray completed 14 of 26 passes for 145 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Whitecaps have been here before — literally and figuratively.
With the season hanging in the balance, the ‘Caps were dealt a blow last week when the club learned it wouldn’t be able to play a post-season wild-card game in its home stadium, B.C. Place, due to a scheduling conflict.
The Whitecaps ceded home field advantage to their regional rival, the Portland Timbers. The two clubs will battle for the final playoff spot in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference in Oregon on Wednesday.
The winner will face No. 1-seed Los Angeles FC in a best-of-three first-round series, starting Sunday.
An unforeseen hurdle like a change of venues is nothing new for the ‘Caps, said defender Ranko Veselinovic, who was part of the team that was forced to relocate first to Portland, then Utah during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It feels that always something happens for us, but it is what it is. So far, we’ve managed to always find solutions for those situations,” said the Serbian centre back. “But I hope this team can find it one more time, because we need it this time. And it will be a really nice feeling in those circumstances to go in, win and go face L.A. in the next round.”
Vancouver (13-13-8) heads into the post-season winless in its last seven MLS games and with losses in four straight after dropping a 2-1 road decision to Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
The skid followed a run that saw the club go 4-1-3 across all competitions between late August and late September.
There’s just one way to return to that level, said Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini.
“The work is the only way to do it. Try to put the work in and try to put the team in a way that they’re going to regain the form and the way that they were in the past,” he said.
Despite the final score, Sartini has seen positives in the way his team played in its two most recent losses.
“I think already we turned the corner,” he said. “And we start from there to build and build and build.”
Facing challenges together can help a team build, whether it’s a winless skid or an unexpected hurdle, said Vancouver’s captain Ryan Gauld.
“When you’re going through adversity, that’s when people start to raise their voice a little bit. You get good when the problems arise, you get a lot of people coming together to make sure we get out of it,” said the Scottish attacking midfielder.
“And we’ve had a tough time the last few games, but everyone’s aware of the fact that we’re a much better team than we’ve shown, and we need to find a way to get back to doing what we’re good at.”
The ‘Caps face a familiar foe in the Timbers (12-11-11).
The two sides have already met three times this season, with each coming out of the series with a win, a loss and a draw.
Portland has also struggled in recent weeks and are winless in their last five MLS outings (0-1-4).
The Timbers boast one of the league’s top offensive units, though, with threats such as Evander. The Brazilian midfielder notched 15 goals and 19 assists during the regular season.
To earn a win on Wednesday, the Whitecaps must be solid defensively, Gauld said.
“They must be one of the best attacks in the league. They have a lot of good players, and they can hurt you if you switch off,” he said. “So just being concentrated from the first whistle, and just being hard to beat, being stuffy. Just being on it for the full 90 minutes.”
A victory in the wild-card match would guarantee Vancouver at least one home playoff game, a factor that Sartini said would be a big reward for his group.
The entire team relished the experience of playing post-season soccer in front of more than 30,000 fans last year, the coach said, and the desire to repeat the feat is high as the club heads to Portland.
“Everyone is happy to be in the playoffs. So we don’t have to be moody to be in the playoff. And we go in there, we’re play one of our rivals. So it’s gonna be a nice game to show up and to play our best game possible.”
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (13-13-8) AT PORTLAND TIMBERS (12-11-11)
Wednesday, Providence Park
HISTORY BOOKS: This will mark the seventh all-time post-season meeting between the Timbers and ‘Caps, dating back to 1975. The last time the two clubs squared off in a playoff game was during the Western Conference semifinal in 2015. Portland won the two-game aggregate series and went on to hoist the MLS Cup.
ROAD WARRIORS: The ‘Caps boasted a 7-6-4 record on the road during regular-season play — better than the 6-7-4 showing they posted at B.C. Place.
POST-SEASON PARTY: Wednesday will mark the first time the Timbers have hosted a post-season game since 2021.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — Scotland conceived rugby sevens in the 1880s yet it will not feature in the scaled-back 2026 Commonwealth Games hosted by Glasgow.
Other sports that have also been dropped include field hockey, triathlon, badminton, Twenty20 cricket, squash, and diving.
The Games will have a 10-sport program in four venues. Athletics and swimming are compulsory while there will also be track cycling, gymnastics, netball, weightlifting, boxing, judo, bowls and 3×3 basketball.
There will also be integrated para events in six of those sports: Athletics, swimming, track cycling, weightlifting, bowls and basketball.
The Games will take place from July 23-Aug. 2 after Glasgow stepped in when the Australian state of Victoria withdrew last year because of rising costs.
It was not easy to decide which sports to include, Commonwealth Games Scotland chairman Ian Reid told the BBC on Tuesday.
“I think everybody recognises that these events need to be more affordable, lighter and we would have loved to have all of our sports and all of our athletes competing but unfortunately it’s just not deliverable or affordable for this time frame,” Reid said.
Athletes and support staff will be housed in hotels. Around 3,000 athletes are expected to compete from up to 74 Commonwealth nations and territories representing a combined total of 2.5 billion people, a third of the world’s entire population.
More than 500,000 tickets made available for spectators.
The Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Katie Sadleir said: “The 2026 Games will be a bridge to the Commonwealth Games of tomorrow, an exciting first step in our journey to reset and redefine the Games as a truly collaborative, flexible and sustainable model for the future that minimises costs, reduces the environmental footprint, and enhances social impact. In doing so, increasing the scope of countries capable of hosting.”
Glasgow hosted the event in 2014 at a cost of more than 540 million pounds.
