EDMONTON — Edmonton Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft defended his team’s new defensive system on Wednesday, a day after dropping to 1-4-1 this season following a 7-4 loss at the Minnesota Wild.
Without captain Connor McDavid, who is out 1-2 weeks with an upper-body injury, the Oilers gave up five third-period goals in Minnesota for their third straight loss (0-2-1).
Edmonton, which implemented a new defensive system this season, has been outscored 27-17 through its first six games and is seventh in the Pacific Division.
“I would say the term for it, you guys in the media call it a ‘zone,’” Woodcroft said of the new system. “I would say it was popularized by a team that had the best record in the NHL last year in [the Boston Bruins], so a lot of similarities there. I think through training camp and through the first five games of the regular season, it had performed pretty well. I think through five games we gave up one defensive-zone goal.
“Last night, it wasn’t good enough. Part of that is on us, and part of that is a credit to the other team that did some unique things, some good things and their top players found a way to break it. But there are certainly some areas where we can be better in that coverage.”
Hosting the New York Rangers at Rogers Place on Thursday (9 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN1, MSG), and then playing in the 2023 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic against the Calgary Flames at Commonwealth Stadium on Sunday (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN, TBS, MAX), the Oilers are trying to find answers for their slow start.
There was some debate in the media availability over what constitutes a defensive-zone goal. Edmonton lost its opening game of the season 8-1 at the Vancouver Canucks and were also thoroughly outplayed in a 4-1 loss at the Philadelphia Flyers on Oct. 19.
A number of goals conceded in those games came off breakdowns in front of the Oilers net, but Woodcroft would not concede calling those defensive-zone goals. He said he does not consider goals resulting from turnovers, on the rush, or special teams, defensive-zone goals.
According to Woodcroft, the system is not to blame.
“I think it is a different system, it’s a system that was embraced by everybody in our organization as an area we wanted to go to,” Woodcroft said. “Through five games in the regular season we gave up one goal in that coverage, in the defensive zone. Yesterday we gave up a few, certainly we can be better, but for me, anytime you’re working through a new way of doing things there’s growing pains. Through five games we gave up one goal.”
Edmonton is expected to be without McDavid against the Rangers, who defeated the Calgary Flames 3-1 in the second of a five-game road trip Tuesday. The Rangers opened their longest road trip of the season with a 4-1 win against the Seattle Kraken this past Saturday.
McDavid’s participation in the Heritage Classic, however, has not been ruled out as he works his way back from injury.
He sustained his injury in a 3-2 overtime loss against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday skating up the ice to join a rush. McDavid grabbed at his left side as he crossed the Winnipeg blue line, finished his shift and skated to the bench with 4:20 remaining in the third period. He sat on the bench for the remainder of the third and did not participate in the 3-on-3 overtime despite going out for a short skate prior to the session to gauge the injury.
“I saw him this morning briefly, I said hi. He seems to be in good spirits, but no medical update,” Woodcroft said. “I think with Connor, I would never want to put a timeline on him and his healing ability. He’s a pretty determined individual, and we’ll see how well he heals here.”
With McDavid, forward Leon Draisaitl — the top two scorers in the NHL last season — and the majority of its roster back, the Oilers were considered a Stanley Cup contender entering this season.
Things have not gone according to plan so far and concern is starting to set in among the Oilers’ fan base.
“I think things get magnified when your record is what our record is,” Woodcroft said. “If you’re sitting at 4-1 heading into last night’s game, you would chalk last night into one bad period. But it feels different when your record is what our record is right now.”
Woodcroft believes his team will respond to the early adversity and get the season back on track. The Oilers already trail the Vegas Golden Knights by 11 points in the division standings. The Golden Knights are off to a perfect 7-0-0 start.
“We can use that in different ways,” Woodcroft said. “We can get past the mad and be solutions-based or problem-solving based. Or we can wallow in ‘woe is us.’ I think our players understand where we’re at. We have to take a step, but talk is cheap, we have to show it.”
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.
