The Edmonton Oilers came out slow, but the Chicago Blackhawks came out slower. Edmonton failed to rev it up in the second, but the Blackhawks failed harder.
In the most hum drum game of the season — notable only because two good goals appeared to have been taken away from the Oiles by the refs — Edmonton squeezed out a 2-1 victory.
Connor McDavid, 7. Not his “A” game, it’s safe to say. He was muscled off the puck on Chicago’s first Grade A shot. He charged up ice and created his own break-in chance early in the first. Later in the period he stole a puck to set up a Bouchard slot harpoon. Early in the second he blitzed in off Ekholm’s stretch pass and deked Petr Mrazek for Edmonton’s second goal. Contributions to Grade A Shots (GAS): Even Strength +4/-1; Special Teams +0/-2.
Zach Hyman, 6. He was the prime culprit on the first goal against, bumping into Cody Ceci in the n-zone, eliminating both players. He legally screened Mrazek from the outside edge of the crease but the refs still took away a good goal for the Oilers. On a second suspect call, he had a good goal taken away by the refs on an iffy Draisaitl off-side and coach’s challenge early in the third. He missed a wide open net with the net empty. GAS: ES +1/-1; ST +0/-0.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 5. He did his bit on the PK, which was crucial for the Oilers but was otherwise quiet. GAS: ES +0/-1; ST +0/-0.
Leon Draisaitl, 7. More good moments than bad and one great strike. He set up Ekholm’s 5-alarm slot shot early in the game, then zipped in McLeod’s pass on the break to tie the game. He and his line had a terrible shift getting outworked late in the third, not a good time to let down. He won 11 of 16 face-offs. GAS: ES +2/-2; ST +0/-2.
Warren Foegele, 6. Played with his usual hustle. He drove hard to the net for a Grade A power play shot in the first. GAS: ES +1/-0; ST +2/-0.
Derek Ryan, 6. He earned his marks on the PK, where he got the job done. He won 11 out of 15 on the dot. GAS: ES +0/-0; ST +0/-0.
Evander Kane, 4. Not his best game. Failed to cash in a rebound on McD’s break-in shot in the first. He took an iffy reach-in tripping penalty half-way through the third. GAS: ES +0/-0; ST +0/-0.
Connor Brown, 6. He got things going early on, centreing the puck, then moving to the slot to redirect on net Brett Kulak’s outside shot. He had good some moments on the PK. GAS: ES +1/-0; ST +2/-0.
Mattias Janmark, 5. He made a solid block on the PK early in the third. GAS: ES +0/-0; ST +0/-0.
James Hamblin, 5. He failed to drain a great slot pass from Erne in the third but played with his usual hustle. GAS: ES +1/-0; ST +0/-0.
Adam Erne, 5. He was fighting the puck a bit but set up Hamblin in the slot for a 5-alarmer. GAS: ES +1/-0; ST +0/-0.
Evan Bouchard, 6. He failed to drain a slot pass from McDavid late in the first. He was otherwise solid. GAS: ES +1/-0; ST +0/-1.
Darnell Nurse, 5. Had some good moments but also some iffy ones. He sprawled on Chicago’s first goal, sliding out of the play, allowing the wide-open 5-alarm shot. A moment later his stretch pass ignited the rush on Draisaitl’s goal. He made a huge play on what should have been the third or fourth Edmonton goal, winning a battle on the boards and firing it up ice. He got caught out behind the net on a 5-alarmer half-way through the third. GAS: ES +1/-5; ST +0/-2.
Cody Ceci, 4. His turnover in the third led to a wicked slot shot from Rem Pitlick, which he put off the post. He also allowed a slot pass that Ryan Donato almost slammed home in the third. GAS: ES +1/-3; ST +0/-0.
Brett Kulak, 6. Quiet game, decent game. GAS: ES +2/-1; ST +0/-0.
Vincent Desharnais, 7. He had a solid game on defence, as well as moving the puck. GAS: ES +2/-1; ST +0/-0.
Stuart Skinner, 7. He had little chance on Dickinson’s goal, but then came up with a gargantuan stop on Ryan Donato, sprawling to get his arm on Donato’s stuff shot. He thwarted a 5-alarmer from Joey Anderson late in the first. His turnover in the second led to a wicked Hawks slot shot, but the shooter missed the net. Chicago got little on net in the second and early in the third, but he made a huge save on Ryan Donato with ten minutes left, and a few good ones after that as well.
Montreal police say they’ve arrested a man in connection with the theft of tens of thousands of dollars in golf merchandise tied to the Presidents Cup PGA Tour being held this week in the city.
Police say that on Sept. 20 and Sept. 21 a person entered a downtown Montreal hotel and stole numerous official items and clothing “from a major golf tournament.”
The tournament is taking place at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in the city’s L’Île-Bizard–Ste-Geneviève’s borough through Sunday.
Police say a 46-year-old man was arrested in downtown Montreal on Thursday and was arraigned Friday on a number of charges including theft.
The accused remains detained until his next court appearance.
Police say the investigation is ongoing to locate the stolen golf items and apparel, adding that anyone with information is invited to come forward.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors are expected to confirm today that Vince Carter’s No. 15 will be the first number to be retired by the NBA franchise.
Carter will attend an MLSE Foundation event this afternoon at the renovated Vince Carter Court at a park in the city’s northwest end.
Raptors president and vice-chairman Masai Ujiri will also be on hand along with some current players and city officials.
Reports this week said that Canada’s lone NBA team would honour Carter on Nov. 2 when Toronto plays the Sacramento Kings at Scotiabank Arena.
Carter, an eight-time all-star, played parts of seven seasons with the Raptors. He was named NBA rookie of the year in 1999 and won the Slam Dunk Contest in 2000.
He was the Raptors’ first superstar and is credited for raising the profile of the team and igniting enthusiasm for basketball across Canada.
Carter guided the Raptors to the Eastern Conference semifinal in 2001. Toronto had a chance to beat the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 but Carter’s shot at the buzzer hit the rim and bounced out.
He asked for a trade in 2004 and was dealt to New Jersey in a mid-season deal that saw the Raptors receive little in return. The Nets, who are now based in Brooklyn, plan to retire Carter’s number in January.
Carter played 22 seasons in the NBA before retiring after the 2019-20 season. He’ll be enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame next month.
The Raptors are celebrating their 30th anniversary this season.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge hit his major league-leading 58th home run, going deep for the fifth straight game to help the New York Yankees wrap up their second AL East title in three years with a 10-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night.
Giancarlo Stanton had four RBIs that included his 27th homer, Alex Verdugo also homered and Gerrit Cole outpitched Corbin Burnes in a possible postseason preview. Judge and Stanton homered in the same game for the 14th time this year, tying Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris in 1961 for the most in Yankees history.
New York assured itself a first-round bye and home-field advantage in a best-of-five AL Division Series starting Oct. 5.
Baltimore, which clinched a postseason berth by winning Tuesday night’s opener of the three-game series, will be in a best-of-three Wild Card Series starting Tuesday.
Stanton homered in the second to put the Yankees ahead and hit a three-run double in a six-run sixth.
Judge hit a two-run homer in the seventh against Bryan Baker and has 144 RBIs, the most in the major leagues since Ryan Howard’s 146 in 2008. Judge matched his career best by homering in five consecutive games.
Making his last start before the playoffs, Cole (8-5) allowed two hits in 6 2/3 innings, struck out five and walked one, lowering his ERA to 3.41. He struck out Anthony Santander with a 98.1 mph fastball that ended the eighth after plate umpire David Rackley called a ball on the previous pitch, a knuckle-curve that appeared to be just above the strike zone. Cole glared as the umpire as the pitcher walked back to the dugout.
Cole was given a standing ovation when he walked to the dugout with two outs in the seventh and tipped his cap to the crowd of 42,022.
Burnes (15-9) allowed two hits in five innings, one walk and nine strikeouts — including eight on cutters. Burnes came out after 69 pitches and is likely to start the Orioles’ postseason opener on Tuesday. He had a 1.20 ERA in five September starts.
Stanton lofted a slider at the bottom of the strike zone into the left-field seats after missing badly at a slider on the prior pitch.
Austin Wells, in a 4-for-42 slide, forced in a run when he walked with the bases loaded against Cionel Pérez. Stanton drove the next pitch on one hop to the wall in right-center for a 5-1 lead. Stanton has 72 RBIs after hitting 6 for 18 with two doubles, two homers and eight RBIs in his last five games.
Anthony Rizzo added a two-run single against Baker.
Emmanuel Rivera hit a ninth-inning sacrifice fly for the Orioles.
UP NEXT
Orioles: LHP Cade Povich (2-9, 5.59) starts a series opener at Minnesota on Friday, when LHP Pablo López (15-9, 4.11) will be on the mound for the Twins.
Yankees: LHP Carlos Rodón (16-9, 3.98), 7-2 with a 2.87 ERA since the All-Star break. starts Friday’s series opener against Pirates RHP Jared Jones (6-8, 4.14).
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AP MLB:
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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