Anton Khudobin isn’t the sexiest name out there when you consider the stars in this year’s Stanley Cup Final between the Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning. But he might be the most lovable.
Since being pressed into service during the Stars’ first-round series against the Calgary Flames, it has been a whirlwind for the 34-year old netminder, who once lived in Saskatoon, Sask., with a billet family and has bounced around four pro leagues (KHL, ECHL, AHL and now the NHL) before reaching this moment. He is arguably the best feel-good story of the postseason in a year when good news is seriously welcomed any time we can get it.
Khudobin has been a driving force in the Stars’ quest to capture Lord Stanley’s mug for the first time since 1999. “Dobby” has been the go-to guy in the playoffs despite taking a back seat in the regular season to Ben Bishop, who battled a mysterious ailment through camp and only played one of the three round-robin games, suited up once against Calgary, allowing four goals, and once against Colorado, giving up four goals in 13 minutes before hitting the showers. Khudobin has made the most of the opportunity, posting a 12-6 record alongside a .920 save percentage and 2.62 goals-against average.
The 34-year-old saved his best work for when it mattered most, going 4-1 with a .950 SV% and 1.69 GAA against the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference final, capping it off with another viral moment after finishing them off.
<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="That tweet has been seen nearly 60,000 times, reaffirming that, yes, Khudobin is thriving in 2020 and we are all here to see it. ” data-reactid=”24″>That tweet has been seen nearly 60,000 times, reaffirming that, yes, Khudobin is thriving in 2020 and we are all here to see it.
<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Praise for the Kazakh has gone beyond what his past and present teammates have said about him. His personality and “memeability” has already caused some on Twitter to change their display names, ranging from “Anton Khudobin stan account” to “I would kill a dude for Anton Khudobin.” ” data-reactid=”25″>Praise for the Kazakh has gone beyond what his past and present teammates have said about him. His personality and “memeability” has already caused some on Twitter to change their display names, ranging from “Anton Khudobin stan account” to “I would kill a dude for Anton Khudobin.”
Extreme, but the passion is there for the potential Conn Smythe winner.
Of course, Khudobin wouldn’t be enjoying this level of success and newfound fame without the support of his teammates, one of whom also has a good case for the Conn Smythe Trophy.
It’s hard not to cheer for Anton Khudobin. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Miro Heiskanen is fourth in playoff scoring — and tops among all D-men — while matching up against the best of the best for 25 minutes a night. Jamie Benn has shown off his leadership qualities throughout the postseason while leading all Stars forwards in points with 18. Denis Gurianov and John Klingberg have also kept the Stars shining all summer.
But the fate of the Stars against the high-powered Lightning is going to rest heavily on the thick shoulders of their spiritual leader, who with a little more magic could become the first goalie since Cam Ward (whom Khudobin once backed up) in 2006 to win the Conn Smythe Trophy while finishing with a GAA above two. The highest GAA recorded by a Conn Smythe Trophy winner was 3.00, recorded by Ken Dryden with the Canadiens in 1971.
No matter what happens in the Stanley Cup Final, “Dobby” has left his mark on the game — or at the very least, on the Internet.
<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="More NHL coverage from Yahoo Sports” data-reactid=”42″>More NHL coverage from Yahoo Sports
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.
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.
