Sports

Vasilevskiy, Lightning struggling with more playoff-ready Maple Leafs

Published

2 years ago

April 26, 2023

TAMPA — Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy is considering an equipment upgrade to help him in the Eastern Conference First Round against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“I don’t know,” Vasilevskiy said. “Maybe I’ll buy myself some [bleeping] X-ray glasses.”

The Lightning trail 3-1 in the best-of-7 series. Game 5 is in Toronto on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; TBS, CBC, SN, TVAS, BSSUN).

Vasilevskiy has been the backbone of the Lightning’s run to the Stanley Cup Final the past three seasons, including Cup championships in 2020 and 2021. But he has struggled through four games against the Maple Leafs, with a 4.33 goals-against average and .856 save percentage.

He acknowledged that the Maple Leafs’ effort to get pucks on net from the blue line and create traffic in front of the net has given him problems.

“I’m 100 percent sure it’s a game plan for them and so far they’ve executed that plan well,” Vasilevskiy said. “Lots of screens, tips, deflections and obviously we haven’t got much luck on those tips and bounces as well. But it happens in the playoffs. We just have to work hard to get over it.”

The Lightning have tried to close the middle of the ice, particularly in the slot where Maple Leafs forwards Auston Matthews, Mitchell Marner and William Nylander can create high-danger scoring chances. But Vasilevskiy also said that Toronto is no longer solely relying on those opportunities, making them a more dangerous team offensively than they were in the first round of the 2022 playoffs, when the Lightning won in seven games.

“Last year they were trying to play more of a skill game,” Vasilevskiy said. “I’m not sure if they’ve done something different or if we’re not doing as good of a job as a team up front. But last year they played more skilled hockey; this year they are playing more playoff hockey to score those … I don’t want to say garbage goals … but [greasy] goals.”

There also have been questions about whether Vasilevskiy historically has struggled seeing pucks from the blue line. Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde, a Lightning assistant from 2018-22, suggested as much while doing analysis for Sportsnet.

Lightning coach Jon Cooper said that he heard about Lalonde’s comments and dismissed them as not being accurate.

“Sportsnet is paying him well to give an opinion, so he’s got to make something up about that kind of stuff,” Cooper said. “He’s trying to offer insight and give the fans something. He should be doing that. He’s just got to make sure he’s accurate in what he’s saying.”

The outside noise is something Cooper doesn’t have much time for with the Lightning facing elimination. He was more concerned about a strong effort at practice Wednesday and being fully focused on what has to be done Thursday.

“I think that day off (Tuesday) did us well,” Cooper said. “We’re not going to win a series in our next game. We’ve just got to win one game and we’ve done that ample times this year.”

The Lightning have had plenty of positive moments during the series. They controlled play for most of Game 3 and held a 3-2 lead in the final minute of the third period before Ryan O’Reilly tied the game and Morgan Rielly scored in overtime.

In Game 4, Tampa Bay dominated the first two periods and held a 4-1 lead before Toronto scored three goals in a span of 6:20 in the third period to tie the game, and then Alexander Kerfoot won it in overtime.

Forward Pat Maroon said the Lightning can’t think about what might have been.

“It could be 3-1 for us, it could be 2-2 right now,” Maroon said. “It’s in the past. It’s over. Playoff hockey is a game of inches. It’s getting the puck in, getting the puck out, winning your puck battles on the wall. Getting in front of the net, scoring the dirty goals. It’s just outworking your opponent and doing the little things.”

Forward Steven Stamkos said elimination games are less about the skill of a team and more about their willingness to do everything possible to stay alive. It’s something the Lightning captain has seen out of his teammates many times during a run that has seen Tampa Bay win 11 of 12 playoff series during the previous three postseasons.

“When your back is against the wall it’s either fight or flight,” Stamkos said. “You either say it’s going to be too hard to come back and you don’t give your best effort, or you go out there and lay it all on the line. That’s what I expect this group to do.”

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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.

___

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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