With a big break in the schedule upcoming for Toronto, it’s time to empty the tank. The Maple Leafs will need to dig deep in a back-to-back situation against a rested and red-hot Canucks team on HNIC (7:00 p.m. EST, Sportsnet).
John Klingberg, call-up Bobby McMann, and Ilya Samsonov will all enter the lineup ahead of this clash against the league’s top offense (a whopping 4.54 goals/game, 32.7% on the power play).
Inserting Klingberg against a Canucks team that can readily capitalize on defensive gaffes or any additional time and space afforded in the defensive zone is a bit of a risky play, but Sheldon Keefe appears to want the extra mobility and fresh legs on a back-to-back by inserting Klingberg over Simon Benoit, who has fared well in his three appearances so far (plus-three with zero goals against, eight hits, seven blocked shots, 74% xGF, plus PK duty). There may also be an element of the coaching staff wanting Klingberg to play his way through this rut versus sitting out more games, but it’s not hard to picture this backfiring based on Klingberg’s recent form.
In a tired situation for the Leafs, McMann will hopefully bring a bit more juice up front on what is the best-looking fourth line the team has iced all season with the mix of size and now an additional speed and skill upgrade with McMann over Ryan Reaves. With the team’s third line really starting to gel — bringing lots of pace plus an offensive threat in behind the top six — hopefully, this makes for the most formidable four-line attack the Leafs have iced all season.
They’ll need it against a Canucks team that is both shooting the lights out — outscoring their 44.6% expected goal share at five-on-five by nearly 30% in terms of actual goals for/against (36-14 or 72%) — and has a goaltender in Thatcher Demko that is absolutely cooking with a .948 save percentage.
Game Day Quotes
Sheldon Keefe on the biggest challenge presented by the Vanucks:
Probably just the confidence that they have right now. As a team, they have real belief in what they are doing. Things have gone really well for them. They have earned that.
First, they defend really well. They are getting elite goaltending. It seems everything that they shoot is going in the net.
We have to do all that we can to reduce their opportunities to score because they are really feeling it on offense. It seems like they don’t need a lot of chances to score. Stay out of the penalty box and do a job on the penalty kill because it is an elite power play.
They are a significant challenge but one I expect our guys to meet.
Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet on the matchup against the Leafs:
They have high-end talent. If you cheat the game, the puck is in your net. We know what we have to do tonight when you play the Leafs. They have star players.
I have seen games in the past and present where they can score goals in two or three goals in three or four minutes. You have to be on your game.
Tocchet on the addition of former Leaf Sam Lafferty:
He was a big pickup for us. I don’t want to use the word grinder, but we added just a heavy guy on the forecheck.
Our scouting report said he was a good skater. I didn’t know he was that good of a skater through the neutral zone.
Also, the intangibles — he is a well-liked guy. Guys love him.
When you add a guy who all of a sudden 24 guys love the guy, you know you are getting a good character guy.
Keefe inserting Bobby McMann onto the fourth line:
Bobby is a guy that we have liked for a while here now. His training camp and preseason were disrupted by his injury and not being available for us until really late. We have always liked the size and speed that he brings. Playing in a back-to-back against a team like Vancouver, we think he can help us.
His greatest asset, in addition to his speed down the wing to generate shots and scoring chances, is his speed to get onto the puck first on the forecheck. It is very helpful for any line that he is on.
Keefe on the message to Ryan Reaves as he sits out the game tonight:
We want to give him the night off and give him a chance to clear his head a bit. It starts to pile up — whether the goals are your fault or not — when you are on the ice for goals against. That can be a challenge for sure.
We are just kind of telling him to clear his head, get a good skate today, and we’ll take it from there.
Keefe on Max Domi’s game coming to life at the center position:
There are a couple of things. The first — and the reason why we did it — is to get him skating, get him off the wall, and get him flying through the middle of the ice. That seems to have happened. His feet are moving with greater regularity. He is using his assets that he has with that pace.
The way it has come together with Robertson and Jarnkrok, and Robertson in particular… Max is a go-and-go type of player. Robertson is skating with Max and Max is finding him. Jarny is a good complement to all of that — the give-and-go game — by getting to space as well. He has scored some great goals finishing off sequences between Nick and Max, and then there is also the defensive piece.
We saw a real positive trend in Max’s game before we put him at center in terms of his defensive game and the work he was doing away from the puck. Last night might have been the best that it has been in that regard. It has all come together.
The development of that line has changed a lot for us.
Head-to-Head Stats: Maple Leafs vs. Canucks
Toronto Maple Leafs Projected Lines
Forwards
#23 Matthew Knies – #34 Auston Matthews – #16 Mitch Marner
#59 Tyler Bertuzzi – #91 John Tavares – #88 William Nylander
#89 Nick Robertson – #11 Max Domi – #19 Calle Jarnkrok
#18 Noah Gregor – #64 David Kampf – #74 Bobby McMann
Defensemen
#44 Morgan Rielly – #78 TJ Brodie
#55 Mark Giordano – #22 Jake McCabe
#85 William Lagesson – #3 John Klingberg
Goaltenders
Starter: #35 Ilya Samsonov
#60 Joseph Woll
Scratched: Simon Benoit, Ryan Reaves Injured: Conor Timmins, Timothy Liljegren
Vancouver Canucks Projected Lines
Forwards
#65 Ilya Mikheyev – #40 Elias Pettersson – #96 Andrei Kuzmenko
#34 Phil Di Giuseppe – #9 JT Miller – #6 Brock Boeser
#81 Dakota Joshua – #24 Pius Sutter – #8 Conor Garland
#21 Nils Hoglander – #18 Sam Lafferty – #72 Anthony Beauvilier
Defensemen
#43 Quinn Hughes – #17 Filip Hronek
#7 Carson Soucy – #57 Tyler Myers
#82 Ian Cole – #51 Mark Friedman
Vancouver Canucks winger Dakota Joshua is set to make his season debut Thursday after missing time for cancer treatment.
Head coach Rick Tocchet says Joshua will slot into the lineup Thursday when Vancouver (8-3-3) hosts the New York Islanders.
The 28-year-old from Dearborn, Mich., was diagnosed with testicular cancer this summer and underwent surgery in early September.
He spoke earlier this month about his recovery, saying it had been “very hard to go through” and that he was thankful for support from his friends, family, teammates and fans.
“That was a scary time but I am very thankful and just happy to be in this position still and be able to go out there and play,,” Joshua said following Thursday’s morning skate.
The cancer diagnosis followed a career season where Joshua contributed 18 goals and 14 assists across 63 regular-season games, then added four goals and four assists in the playoffs.
Now, he’s ready to focus on contributing again.
“I expect to be good, I don’t expect a grace period. I’ve been putting the work in so I expect to come out there and make an impact as soon as possible,” he said.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be perfect right from the get-go, but it’s about putting your best foot forward and working your way to a point of perfection.”
The six-foot-three, 206-pound Joshua signed a four-year, US$13-million contract extension at the end of June.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.
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.
