Ontario Sports News

Blue Jays’ Chad Green fills up the strike zone in triple-A rehab outing

SportsNets - Sun, 05/19/2024 - 12:59

Toronto Blue Jays reliever Chad Green was sharp in his first rehab outing with triple-A Buffalo on Sunday afternoon.

The 32-year-old righty worked one inning against Rochester, Washington’s triple-A affiliate, allowing one hit, no runs and no walks while picking up a strikeout.

Green threw nine pitches — eight of them for strikes — in the fourth inning, working around a leadoff double. He threw five fastballs and four sliders, topping out at 94.5 m.p.h. and averaging 93.9 with his heater.

He has been on the injured list since April 20 with a right teres major strain. He began the season with a 2.35 ERA and two saves through seven appearances for the Blue Jays before being shut down with the injury.

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Manchester City wins record fourth consecutive Premier League title

SportsNets - Sun, 05/19/2024 - 11:01

MANCHESTER, England — Manchester City fans could hardly stand the wait for the final whistle.

Not because they feared a last-minute twist and the unlikeliest of comebacks from West Ham.

The tension during the dying moments of the Premier League season at Etihad Stadium was simply because fans couldn’t wait to get the party started after a record fourth straight English top flight title for Pep Guardiola’s dominant team.

A 3-1 win on the day made certain of that and soon a sea of light blue shirts flooded the field. Flares and the smell of sulphur filled the air and delirious fans danced, posed for selfies and simply savored the moment – ignoring the futile pleas from the stadium announcer and messaging on the big screens instructing them to return to their seats.

Winning has become a familiar feeling in these parts. And there is no sign of it getting old.

“It feels just as amazing as the first one. We worked so hard for it,” City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne said. “It has been a tough battle with Arsenal and Liverpool this year, and you know to be here again doing something historic is amazing.”

Four titles in a row is also six in seven seasons for Guardiola, who has won 17 trophies and counting since heading to the blue half of Manchester in 2016. That number could rise to 18 as soon as next week when City plays Manchester United in the FA Cup final.

In all, Guardiola has won 38 trophies as a coach at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City to strengthen the case for him to be considered the greatest manager of his era. By comparison, Carlo Ancelotti has won 28, including a record four Champions League titles — one more than Guardiola — and the chance to make that five when Real Madrid meets Borussia Dortmund in this year’s final of European club soccer’s most prestigious competition.

“Everyone in football is in awe of his (Guardiola’s) coaching but there is more to it than that,” outgoing West Ham manager David Moyes said. “Four in a row is incredible.”

Another question that will be debated long and hard is whether this City team should be considered English soccer’s greatest of all time.

No other English team has won four titles in succession. Not during Liverpool’s dominant era in the 1970s and 80s – and not during United’s in the 90s and 2000s.

That alone sets City apart – and by winning the Champions League last season, it has also completed a full set of major trophies during an era of unprecedented success.

“In terms of numbers, nobody has been better than us – the records, the goals, the points and four in a row,” Guardiola said. “If I land here tomorrow and you say I will win six Premier Leagues in seven years, I would say ‘Are you crazy?’ It’s impossible. We have done something unbelievable.”

Guardiola took over a team that was already among the wealthiest in the world after being bought by the ruling family of Abu Dhabi in 2008 and had won two Premier League titles before his arrival. He has gone on to create a near-unstoppable force domestically and continues to hold off the challengers to City’s throne.

Arsenal has taken up the fight, previously offered by United and then Liverpool – and pushed City to the wire this season, having fallen away during the run-in a year earlier.

Still, Mikel Arteta’s team couldn’t quite get over the line and finished two points behind the champion after a 2-1 win against Everton in its final game on Sunday.

Arsenal looks likeliest to push City closest in the coming years, especially now that Jurgen Klopp has stepped down at Liverpool, while Man United looks set for a period of more upheaval.

Whether Arsenal will be able to go one better in the future remains to be seen, given City’s financial power to strengthen further and the age of key players like footballer of the year Phil Foden and back-to-back Premier League golden boot-winner Erling Haaland.

“We got the message from Mikel and his players. We have to make the right decisions in the next years because they are here to stay,” Guardiola said. “They are so young and have experience in the Champions League. For two years (they) were close.”

How long Guardiola stays on could have a big bearing on City’s continued rule. His contract runs until the end of next season.

The outcome of the 115 charges made against City for alleged financial wrongdoing could also be significant. City denies wrongdoing.

That fight is off the field and still to come.

Right now, as far as City’s fans are concerned, another party has only just begun.

SO CLOSE

Arsenal could do no more. A 2-1 win against Everton at Emirates Stadium meant City had to beat West Ham to retain its title. It also meant the Gunners lost just once from the turn of the year to the end of the season.

That 2-0 home defeat against Aston Villa proved to be decisive though, giving City an advantage it never relinquished.

“What can I say? I feel sorry for all the Arsenal fans. We gave our best but it wasn’t enough,” Arsenal forward Kai Havertz said. “Maybe in two or three months we can say it was a good fight. Right now I feel like we deserve more.”

Having spent $138 million on Declan Rice and also recruiting Havertz ahead of this season, Arteta will have to weigh up how to improve his team further.

A prolific striker may be his priority, but his team only scored five fewer goals than City and ended with the same goal difference.

“Now we have to be more determined, very courageous, very ambitious, and we need to go to a different level. We need to deliver,” Arteta said.

UNITED PAIN

Manchester United must beat City in Saturday’s FA Cup final to secure European soccer for next season.

Even a 2-0 win over Brighton couldn’t prevent Erik ten Hag’s team from finishing eighth in the standings — United’s lowest in the Premier League era.

“It is not good enough by far,” Ten Hag said. “Although we had less than 60 points two years ago, 58 points, eighth is the worst performance. It is the truth, but we should have done better.”

Newcastle finished seventh, above United on goal difference, after a 4-2 win at Brentford.

Chelsea beat Bournemouth 2-1 and finished sixth in the table, with Moises Caicedo scoring a goal from just past the halfway line.

Mauricio Pochettino has managed to salvage a troubled season by qualifying for Europe, yet his future has become a source of increased speculation.

“That is a question for the owners and the sporting director,” he said.

KLOPP’S FAREWELL

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool reign ended with a 2-0 win against Wolves.

While his farewell campaign ultimately ended in disappointment as Liverpool’s title bid fizzled out, Klopp’s status as an Anfield and Premier League icon is secure.

The German is standing down after winning a full set of major trophies in more than eight years at the club.

“When you are in it, you forget sometimes how great it is,” Klopp said. “You take it for granted. Now I stand here, I’m just so happy I’m a part of the club’s history. It’s wonderful.”

With Champions League qualification already secured, fourth-place Aston Villa was routed 5-0 at Crystal Palace.

Tottenham, in fifth, ended the season with a 3-0 win at last-place Sheffield United.

LUTON RELEGATED

Luton’s relegation was confirmed after a 4-2 loss at home against Fulham.

Nottingham Forest, which was one place above Luton, beat second from bottom Burnley 2-1.

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Hadwin sinks incredible shot to eagle on the 13th hole

SportsNets - Sun, 05/19/2024 - 10:00

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Resurgent Toronto FC putting recent dismal past behind with Herdman

SportsNets - Sun, 05/19/2024 - 09:59

Toronto FC’s bid under John Herdman to put its recent dismal past behind it took a step forward Saturday with a lopsided 5-1 win over CF Montreal.

Victories over TFC’s archrival are always welcome, especially if they are emphatic.

But Saturday’s romp improved Toronto’s record to 7-6-1, good for 22 points which matched the club’s entire total last season when it finished last in MLS at 4-20-10. And this year’s team achieved that with 20 regular-season outings remaining (with 60 points still on the table).

Whether that’s a statement of how bad last year’s squad was or how good this one is remains to be seen.

“I forgot about (last season), honestly,” Italian star Federico Bernardeschi, Saturday’s hat-trick hero, said in English. “I don’t want to speak about last season.”

“I’m just proud of them. They put a hell of a shift in,” Herdman said of his players.

Injury-ravaged Montreal, missing eight players, served up a dose of 2023 TFC with some horrible defending, however

Toronto went ahead in the sixth minute with a deft Lorenzo Insigne pass finding Tyrese Spicer behind the defence on the left flank. The rookie wingback threaded a cross between goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois and Joel Waterman to an open Matty Longstaff with an empty goal in front of him.

Bernardeschi made it 2-0 in the 13th minute, taking a long pass from Deybi Flores with nary a defender in sight before roofing a left-footed rocket.

Prince Owusu added to the lead in the 19th minute as Montreal was punished for attempting to play the ball out of the back. Waterman tried to find Mathieu Choiniere with a pass that the midfielder was unable to coral in the penalty box. The ball went instead to Insigne, who fed Owusu in front for his sixth goal of the season.

“We lost balls in areas that were very dangerous for us,” said Sirois, pointing to something Toronto has done time and time again in recent seasons.

Montreal (3-7-3) has now lost four straight in league play and won just one of its last 11 (1-7-3) in all competitions. And most worrying it has conceded 31 goals in 13 games — 15 in its last four league outings alone.

A troubled Waterman said he was “running out of answers.”

“I still believe in the process, still believe in what we’re trying to do fully,” he said. “But you can’t teach intensity, you can’t teach desire and you can’t teach competitiveness. so we’re lacking in a lot of those areas and I don’t know why. If you can’t get motivated for a game like this, I don’t know.

“It’s definitely embarrassing, definitely something that we never want to do again.”

Down 5-0, Sunusi Ibrahim pulled one back for Montreal in the 67th minute.

Waterman defended first-year Montreal coach Laurent Courtois.

“It’s not his fault,” he said. “It’s not up to him to motivate us. It’s up to him to coach us and he’s been doing a hell of a job of doing that. … I still trust in his plan wholeheartedly. I know the guys do too.”

The stylish Bernardeschi, sporting new bleached cornrows, scored in the 12th, 58th and 60th minutes before a jubilant announced crowd of 28,261 at BMO Field.

The Italian has now scored seven goals in his last four games after being blanked for 19 outings. Insigne, captaining the side in his first start since March 23, had a pair of assists while Owusu has six goals in his last seven games in all competitions.

The attacking trio started together for the first time since March 16.

“We knew we had a lot of quality on the pitch,” said Herdman, who has managed to get all his players pulling in the right direction unlike the recent past.

Bernardeschi, who admitted his second goal on the night was an attempted cross, agreed when asked how much damage his club could do if it stays healthy.

“A lot … If we are all together we are a great team honestly,” he said.

Bernardeschi has now been involved in 10 of Toronto’s last 15 goals, scoring seven himself and assisting on three others in MLS and Canadian Championship play.

The Italians, whose combined pay this season is US$21.7 million, had the honour of leading the post-game Viking Clap, banging the drum in front of the fervent fans in the south stand.

And while the victory was complete, there were some TFC stumbles on the night.

Bernardeschi picked up a needless caution in the 91st minute, triggering a one-game ban for yellow card accumulation. And Norwegian defender Sigurd Rosted’s decision to wear a “FCK MTL” T-shirt in the post-game celebrations was ill-advised.

Is that the way a class outfit celebrates, Herdman was asked after the game?

“No it isn’t. It’s not the way we want to be seen, that’s for sure,” the coach said.

Toronto was missing the injured Jonathan Osorio, Kevin Long, Shane O’Neill and Brandon Servania. In an ‘only-in-MLS’ situation, Richie Laryea managed to be both injured and suspended.

Montreal had five Canadians in its starting lineup compared to none for Toronto.

Herdman had Osorio, a hometown boy, address the team pre-game about the significance of the Montreal derby.

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Max Verstappen holds off Lando Norris to win at Imola

SportsNets - Sun, 05/19/2024 - 08:46

IMOLA, Italy — In the real world or the virtual world, Max Verstappen remains the driver to beat.

The defending Formula 1 champion held off a challenge from McLaren’s Lando Norris to win the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Sunday and extend his standings lead.

Verstappen doubled up this weekend by taking part in an online 24-hour race, driving stints for his team from a simulator set up in the Imola paddock. He won that, too, making his F1 victory his second of the day.

Verstappen started on pole position and stayed ahead of Norris at the start but was put under pressure by the McLaren driver again near the end. He held on to take his 59th career win by less than a second.

“Especially the last 10, 15 laps, I had no grip any more. I was really sliding a lot. I saw Lando closing in,” Verstappen said. “It’s very difficult when the tires are not working any more and you have to go flat out, so I couldn’t afford to make too many mistakes. Luckily, we didn’t and super happy, of course, to win here today.”

On a weekend when F1 remembered Ayrton Senna, the three-time champion who died in a crash at Imola 30 years ago, Verstappen took his fifth win in seven Grand Prix races this year after having lost out to Norris in Miami two weeks ago.

Norris’ second place Sunday underlined McLaren’s credentials to be the closest challenger to Verstappen and Red Bull this season. “It hurts me to say it, but one or two more laps, I think I would have had him,” Norris said. “It would have been beautiful, but just not today.”

After waiting until his sixth F1 season for his first win, Norris found himself disappointed not to get back-to-back victories. “It’s still a surprise to say it’s frustrating not to win,” Norris said.

Charles Leclerc was third for Ferrari, the Italian team’s first podium finish at Imola since 2006, ahead of his home race in Monaco next week.

It’s never easy to overtake on the narrow Imola track, and risk-taking was further discouraged this year when asphalt run-off areas on key corners were replaced with gravel traps.

Leclerc closed in on Norris mid-way through the race but made a mistake and ran across the grass, losing time.

Oscar Piastri had qualified second for McLaren but was dropped to fifth because of a penalty for impeding Kevin Magnussen in a Haas. He got ahead of Sainz at the pit stops and finished fourth, ahead of the Spanish driver.

Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton and his teammate George Russell were sixth and seventh after a difficult weekend for Mercedes.

Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez started 11th after a mistake in qualifying and finished eighth. His main impact on the race was when he briefly held up Norris and Leclerc after their pit stops, indirectly helping Verstappen.

Yuki Tsunoda was ninth for RB and Lance Stroll took the last point in 10th for Aston Martin.

With the victory, Verstappen opened up a 48-point standings lead over Leclerc, who moved above Perez into second. McLaren was off the pace at the start of the season but has improved rapidly since and Norris is fourth, 60 points behind Verstappen.

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Now what?: 57 stray thoughts on the Toronto Maple Leafs

SportsNets - Sun, 05/19/2024 - 08:21

TORONTO — Oh, we’re not done.

We’re never done.

We’ll scribble about free agency and the draft and the new assistant coach and the late-summer PTO hopeful and all that.

But before we turn our immediate attention to the final teams contending for the Stanley Cup, let’s empty the ol’ Toronto Maple Leafs notebook.

Here are 57 stray observations on the team that was and what might be — one for every year since the parade.

1. The greatest and simplest argument for changing the Maple Leafs’ mix might be watching the second-round action and asking yourself, honestly: How would Toronto fare in this series?

Any of one of the four.

2. Sheldon Keefe would make a fine fit in New Jersey, if he wants the gig. There is zero sense that the Leafs players quit on their coach. And from a spotlight perspective, it’s all downhill from the mecca.

His stock shouldn’t drop — and his career .665 points percentage won’t change — if he elects to take time to decompress and be a dad.

The man is only 43 years old.

Among all active NHL bench bosses, only Spencer Carbery, 42, is younger than Keefe.

3. How concerning is it that Auston Matthews has now sustained multiple head injuries in his career — one in his sophomore season and another after a “weird hit” in Game 4 of the Bruins series?

Sidney Crosby is the posterboy for stuffing head injuries in the rearview and going on to thrive for years afterward. We’ll take it as a positive that Matthews got cleared to play Game 7 and set up a goal, despite looking something less than 100 per cent.

“Everybody’s is different,” Matthews said after recovering from his first concussion in December 2017. “It’s a physical sport. Stuff like that happens, and you’ve got to deal with it.”

4. Matthews has already captured his third Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy. He is a finalist for the Ted Lindsay, Selke and Lady Byng trophies … but not the Hart.

At this stage in his career, questions and answers about his individual accolades are about as enjoyable as a root canal.

“That stuff’s nice, but it’s not fulfilling. It’s not what I’m after,” Matthews said.

“Everybody here is after one goal, and that’s to win. And so, I think all the other stuff is nice, but it’s not something that I’m necessarily chasing or after that makes me feel good.”

Matthews’ peers believe he was one of the top three “most outstanding” players this season — more outstanding than Connor McDavid.

The professional writers, however, deemed McDavid more “valuable to his team” than Matthews.

5. The look on Craig Berube’s face when Paul Bissonnette spills the tea …

6. The morning of Game 7, I asked Ryan Reaves about Jake McCabe: “I was talking about him the other day. He might be my favourite defenceman in the league. He does a little bit of everything. He’s got really good poise with the puck and breaks out well. He plays so physical. Blocks shots. He adds a little offence, too. He’s kind of like a unicorn in the league — just a guy who does everything really well.”

7. Keefe spoke to how much more comfortable McCabe was in 2024, both as an emerging leader on the team and having gotten his first taste of playoff competition in ’23.

“He really feels like a big part of our group now, which he certainly is. And with that, his leadership has really stepped up and his overall confidence has improved,” Keefe said.

McCabe ate tough matchups in both playoffs for the Leafs. In 2023, he was a minus-7. In 2024, he was even.

“He was very open with me, when the playoffs ended last year, how disappointed he was in himself, but also … how surprised he was at how hard the playoffs were compared to the regular season,” Keefe revealed.

“Despite the fact he’s a veteran guy and he’s played in the league a long time, he found it to be a big jump. So, he vowed to be better the next time around. And having learned from that, he’s certainly delivered.”

8. McCabe will still carry a sweetheart cap hit of $2 million for the Leafs in 2024-25, with 50 per cent retained by Chicago. The 30-year-old is coming off a career campaign by virtually every measure (eight goals, 28 points, plus-20) and appears to be improving with age and responsibility.

Hardly at the top of the to-do list, but does Treliving extend McCabe when that option becomes available July 1?

9. Maple Leafs’ playoff hits per 60 is steadily on the rise.

2020: 19.0

2021: 28.0

2022: 36.4

2023: 40.4

2024: 48.9

10. Would love to see the game operations at Scotiabank Arena tone down the bells and whistles, the force-fed noise-o-meters and barrage of video engagements.

Some of the best fan experiences around the league let the moment breathe. They play good tunes and allow fans to sing along. Let the organist riff. They give space for organic chants to emerge from fans who want to cheer.

Every break between whistles doesn’t need to get crammed with an activation.

A few times this season at SBA, especially in the playoffs, a legitimate “Go! Leafs! Go!” chorus or “Sam-my!” serenade would get cut off at the knees by the next programmed pump-up tool, cranked at full blast.

11. Although we’ve probably seen the last of Mark Giordano‘s playing days, he’s an incredible personality and a wealth of knowledge. His perspective would be a much welcome addition to the scouting or development staff if he wants to stay involved in the game.

12. For the second time in four summers, Treliving will let T.J. Brodie walk away from his roster in free agency. Here’s hoping the softspoken defenceman rebounds from an incredibly tough year professionally and personally.

Fun fact: Only one pending UFA, Florida’s Brandon Montour (23:26) averaged more time on ice than Brodie (21:43), who began 2023-24 on the top pair and finished in the press box.

13. Crazy how Brendan Shanahan’s 2024 season-ending comments directly echoed those of Kyle Dubas’s 2023 season-ending comments on two counts: (a) my contract status won’t be a distraction, and (b) maybe the time for patience is over and we should rethink our run-it-back strategy with the core talent.

14. We understand Treliving giving new coach Berube the option to chat with the current assistants before rushing into more firings.

But with Guy Boucher overseeing a power play that tumbled from second to seventh overall in the regular season, then flunked out with a 1-for-21 post-season, he can’t stay.

The whispers of luring Marc Savard away from Calgary are getting louder.

Note: The Flames’ power play fell from 19th in 2022-23 to 26th (17.9 per cent) under Savard this past season.

15. Mike Van Ryn may well be a different story, particularly with his 2019 Cup-winning bond to Berube in St. Louis.

16. We’d love to see Berube start the season with two balanced power-play units to up the urgency and internal competition. An easy reset and attention-getter.

A quick glance at the power plays operating in the second round make the Maple Leafs’ 5-on-4 unit look stale and stagnant by comparison.

17. Any notion of hosting playoff games in Toronto serving an advantage for this group is dead.

Heck, even the Bruins stayed in a Boston hotel prior to beating the Leafs in Game 7.

Keefe on home ice: “Quite honestly, it means nothing.”

18. As Joseph Woll readjusts his off-season training, Treliving must secure a quality partner to share the workload.

Juuse Saros, Jacob Markstrom and Linus Ullmark are a few trade options available but would require surrendering a substantial asset.

UFAs Laurent Brossoit, Anthony Stolarz, Alex Nedeljkovic and Scott Wedgewood would only cost money — but none of them appeared in so many as 30 games.

19. Stellar when healthy, Woll appeared in a grand total of 29 games in 2023-24. That’s including his AHL start and his playoff appearances.

True, Woll’s .964 is still the best save percentage among all goalies who have started a playoff game this spring.

But he turned pro in 2019-20 and has never topped 32 appearances. The best ability is availability.

Rooting for Woll to figure out a way to manage the wear and tear.

20. I will miss Ilya Samsonov‘s personality and enthusiasm. Healthy sense of humour for a guy forced to address the fan base in his second language.

Among all UFA goalies under the age of 35, Samsonov is the only one with more than 18 wins. (He had 23.)

Here’s hoping he and his family get some term on his next contract; financial security could benefit his mental game.

21. The nerds don’t track this stat, but I’m convinced Samsonov leads the NHL in dropped goal sticks per 60. We counted four fumbles in Game 7 alone.

22. Brad Marchand on the Maple Leafs: “They’ve really tightened up their D-zone.”

23. Great to see radio icons Joe Bowen and Jim Ralph back on the road calling games in-person. Word is, Treliving had a major hand in making that happen.

24. An interesting and underdiscussed caveat when Shanahan was explaining his newfound openness to tweaking his core: “It might not look it on the first day of camp. It might be at the trade deadline …”

25. As Jake Muzzin, John Klingberg and Matt Murray’s contracts all expire, the Maple Leafs won’t need to lean into long-term injured reserve for the first time in a long time.

Keep it that way, and capologist Brandon Pridham can accrue valuable cap space in-season that should come in handy by the deadline.

26. With at least 64 NHL goaltending jobs available, why wouldn’t some team take a one-year flyer on Murray as its second- or third-stringer? He’s only 29.

27. We’d love to know much of an impact Max Domi‘s late-season emergence as facilitator for Matthews’ shot had on the organization’s willingness to entertain a Marner trade.

28. The Leafs amassed 115 points in 2021-22, 111 in 2022-23, and 102 in 2023-24.

As the top half of the Atlantic Division remains in go-for-it mode, and the bottom half (Ottawa, Montreal, Detroit and Buffalo) is through bottoming out and now fancies itself as a group of teams on the rise, can Toronto be certain another 100-point campaign and top-three finish awaits in 2024-25?

29. Marner’s agent, Darren Ferris, will have his hands full with the more immediate business of finalizing Sam Reinhart’s next deal. He’s the best player set to hit unrestricted free agency on July 1.

30. The more I think about it, the more difficult it is to see John Tavares not playing out the final season of his seven-year, $77 million homecoming.

31. Much like a head coaching change, a captaincy change would be largely symbolic. Window dressing that will distract from anything but a fresh mix of the roster and a more balanced allotment of cap space across the lines and the positions.

32. Even if the Leafs and Domi can come to an agreement on a reasonable extension, Toronto needs another pure middle-six centre.

Offensively anemic David Kämpf serves best as a 4C. And while we have strong hopes down the road for Fraser Minten, who turns 20 in July, we’re not certain the prospect is ready for 82 NHL games as a 3C just yet.

33. OHL MVP and Memorial Cup–bound Easton Cowan, 18, is speeding toward that finnicky spot in a young stud’s career: Too good to learn much more in junior but not old enough to be eligible for the American Hockey League.

Let’s give him the first nine games of 2024-25 in a Maple Leafs sweater and take it from there.

34. Morgan Rielly, the longest-tenured Leaf, will be entering his 12th season.

He’s running out of we’ll-get-’em-next-years.

“It’s always difficult. I feel this year maybe more than ever,” Rielly, now 30, said on locker cleanout day.

“I think partly because of Game 7, overtime. Partly being on the ice for the goal. Partly age. Just, I think, every year gets more challenging, honestly.”

Rielly finds it difficult to replay David Pastrnak’s series-ending goal and wonder what he could’ve done to prevent it.

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35. William Nylander’s perspective on Boston’s set play that snuffed out Toronto’s hopes:

“It happened fast. I didn’t even think I had time to really think out there. And then the puck bounced off the wall, and then you realize it was gonna be a dangerous chance. So, it was a tough goal. I mean, it was like a play that some teams do during the season. And I haven’t seen that in playoffs. And they scored on it, so …”

36. Barring a waived no-move clause and a blockbuster trade, the Maple Leafs will dress four of the top 12 cap hits on Opening Night. All forwards.

37. Last time the Leafs wanted a new head coach, they simply promoted Keefe and called it a day.

At least Treliving conducted multiple interviews (Berube, Todd McLellan, Gerard Gallant, who else?) before making such an important commitment.

38. How suspicious would it look had the NHL just happened to reinstate the banished (and eager) Joel Quenneville during the same off-season the Leafs were hunting for a proven head coach?

39. A great failure of this Leafs era has been the inability to develop a homegrown defenceman who can skate in the top four. Can 22-year-old prospect Topi Niemela take a giant step? Will rugged Cade Webber turn into an NHLer?

And at what point does RFA Timothy Liljegren lose the benefit of the doubt and end up like the once-hopeful Rasmus Sandin and Travis Dermott before him — discarded in a change-of-scenery trade?

40. Something positive: Matthew Knies, Simon Benoit, and Bobby McMann are all under contract at reasonable cap numbers, all young and all showed considerable improvement as the season wore on. Further, they all wield the proper attitude to thrive in a hot market.

Knies had a couple coming-of-age moments in the Boston series that should carry his confidence through the summer and into Year 2.

41. Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson ($11.6 million AAV) admits he was motivated to edge out countryman Nylander ($11.5 million) — and Erik Karlsson ($11.5 million) for that matter — on his in-season contract extension, becoming the priciest Swede in the biz.

42. Curious to see if Nick Robertson has a top-nine roster spot in Toronto this fall.

If that’s not the plan, Treliving should find him one elsewhere. He doesn’t fit as a fourth-liner, but proved this season he does hold NHL value.

43. At various points in the season, the organization sheltered struggling players from the media. If the Leafs are serious about establishing a culture of accountability, that includes answering questions at tough times.

44. Over seven playoff games, Toronto got a grand total of one goal and seven assists from its blueline.

The Leafs defence simply doesn’t drive enough offence.

Treliving attempted to address this deficiency by signing Klingberg over the summer, but when he underwent season-ending surgery, he was never replaced.

Tricky deal to pull off, but I can’t help but think Seth Jones could help in this department.

45. Treliving’s decision to not spend his 2024 first-round pick in-season and make a deadline splash received mixed reviews.

Let’s see if he’s more willing to part with that pick at the draft.

For whomever he selects late in Round 1 will be a long shot to be a significant NHL contributor during the Matthews-Nylander prime.

46. Eight pending UFA defencemen the Leafs should kick tires on: Brandon Montour, Chris Tanev, Brett Pesce, Dylan DeMelo, Matt Roy, Nikita Zadorov, Jalen Chatfield, Alexandre Carrier.

The high end of the class won’t blow you away, but the field is deeper than initially thought.

47. How did Justin Brazeau slip through the cracks?

48. Loved this line from a devastated Samsonov, minutes after Game 7: “I don’t want to say lucky or not lucky. That’s for losers.”

49. Whatever house-cleaning awaits, the Leafs should keep video coaches Jordan Bean and Sam Kim. Heck, give ’em a raise. Their successful challenge rate is off the charts.

50. We can’t recall so many NHL head coaches successfully negotiating contract extensions in a single season only to be fired before coaching one day on their next deals.

Keefe joined McLellan, Lindy Ruff, Don Granato and Dave Hakstol in this category.

Good for the men collecting severance cheques, but from the GM’s point of view, what’s the point of removing “lame duck” status when the coach is still a lame duck?

Meanwhile in Carolina, Rod Brind’Amour routinely runs out contract seasons without a sniff of security.

51. In a good interview with J.D. Bunkis, former Bruins coach Claude Julien agreed that the Bruins brandish a mental edge over Toronto, who hasn’t defeated its Original Six rival in a playoff series since Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue ruled the pop charts.

“At the end of the day, Boston knows how many series they’ve won against them,” Julien said. “And at the other end, it’s the other way around.”

52. Boston fans are as lewd and crude as they are loud and proud.

“F—! The! Leafs!” chants rang out at TD Garden.

And as exiting locals spotted Toronto media waiting to enter the visitors’ dressing room, they shouted plenty of X-rated chirps about some of the Leafs stars.

Respect the passion. But earmuffs, kids.

53. Matthew Tkachuk accidentally on purpose trolling the Leafs after Round 1 should be bulletin-board material.

“Without this coming out too badly, I think we all knew it was probably going to be Boston the way that series was going. I’m sure a lot of people were expecting it at the beginning of the series, but playoffs I guess you never know,” Tkachuk said.

“I think throughout the whole series we were probably expecting they were going to come out and win it one way or another.”

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ICYMI, Paul Maurice defending Mitch Marner’s role in Toronto’s season-ending goal is worth a watch:

54. MLSE dropping a press release about refurbishing Scotiabank Arena’s 100 level to make it more luxurious while the Leafs coach twisted in the wind and two of the guys who wear letters were getting run out of town was a bit … rich.

55. “When teams play the Leafs, they set up the game for the Leafs to beat themselves.”

That Keefe line, on the night it all fell apart, was intended as a comment on the patience of the Bruins, how they clogged the neutral zone and were content to protect their net, patiently waiting for the counterattack. For the Leafs to make a mistake.

It also reminded this observer of how many playoff series, whether Toronto entered the favourite or not, have been waged on the opposition’s terms.

The Leafs are forever trying to solve their opponent instead of imposing their identity on the series.

56. My jaw dropped on the Bruins press conference room floor when I walked in just in time to hear Jim Montgomery reveal that he’d received advice from a former Leafs coach during the series.

“I had a real good discussion with Mike Babcock before Game 6 about owning the moment and how to push your team through,” Montgomery said.

Wow. Salt meet wound.

57. Hey! There’s always next year.

Categories: Canada Sports News, Ontario Sports News, Pro Sports News

Canada’s Byram given one-game suspension for slashing Finland’s Puljujarvi

SportsNets - Sun, 05/19/2024 - 07:51

Canada’s Bowen Byram will miss Sunday’s game at the men’s World Hockey Championship after he was suspended one game for slashing Finland’s Jesse Puljujärvi.

Byram, 22, a defenceman who plays for the Buffalo Sabres, was initially assessed a five-minute major and ejected on the play in question, which occurred at 15:20 in the first period of Saturday’s 5-3 win.

On Sunday, the IIHF announced the additional discipline, saying: “The Championship Disciplinary Panel determined the Player swung his stick into the groin area of FIN No. 13, with a degree of force which could have endangered FIN No. 13, therefore violated Official Playing Rule 61 (Slashing). Additionally, it was considered that the level of force used by the Player while not looking in the direction of where he was swinging his stick, heightens the level of recklessness displayed by the Player.”

Canada, which is 4-1-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) after five games and in second place in Group A, faces Switzerland on Sunday in Prague.

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Categories: Canada Sports News, Ontario Sports News, Pro Sports News

Canucks fail to match Oilers’ desperation despite chance to close out series

SportsNets - Sat, 05/18/2024 - 23:37

EDMONTON — Nobody will remember the Vancouver Canucks’ worst game of the series if their last game of the series is their best one.

With two chances to win one game to eliminate the Edmonton Oilers, the Canucks threw away the first opportunity here Saturday by failing to match their opponents’ desperation, speed and urgency while losing 5-1. Really, it looked like a game between one team facing elimination and another with the wildcard of a Game 7 at home still in its pocket.

Prohibitively-favoured and down 3-2 in the series, the Oilers were desperate. The Canucks were not.

Maybe that’s all about Stanley Cup Playoff experience. Edmonton is in its seventh series in three National Hockey League seasons. About half of Vancouver’s roster came into this series with only six games of genuine playoff experience.

The Canucks, of course, would have accepted in a heartbeat — at nearly any point in their remarkable season-long journey — the opportunity to play the seventh game of a Stanley Cup quarterfinal series on home ice. Win it and you go to the Western Conference Final for the first time in 13 years.

They played 82 regular-season games, winning 50 of them, and clinched the Pacific Division title with a final-week win in Edmonton, for the right to play Monday’s deciding game at Rogers Arena, probably the loudest building in these playoffs.

On Queen Victoria’s day, the Canucks have a chance to be kings. But, after Saturday, so do the Oilers.

“This is huge opportunity for us, for everybody,” Canucks coach Rick Tocchet told reporters. “Like I said, a lot of people would want this. I know it stings because we didn’t have good effort tonight and they played really well. Tip their hat. They had a lot of energy and they played desperate hockey. But saying that. . . you’ve got to flush it down. You’ve got 48 hours to get yourself ready for a huge game. Not many players are playing in this type of atmosphere. I think we play the game, as players, to be on that stage. Play like you want to be a hero.”

The heroes on Saturday were the predictable ones.

One or the other of Oiler megastars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl set up all five Edmonton goals.

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But the Canucks didn’t come close to offering the resistance required, the resistance they displayed by dominating Game 5 two nights earlier. Some of Vancouver’s best players made the biggest mistakes.

On Dylan Holloway’s spectacular charge to the net on the Oilers’ first goal, Elias Pettersson made a soft play in the neutral zone and Quinn Hughes a terrible one at the blueline.

Brock Boeser flimsily poked at the puck on the second goal when he needed to step into Zach Hyman before the Oiler scored from the slot.

Vancouver’s shutdown defenceman, Carson Soucy, allowed Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to easily get in front of him to tap in McDavid’s pass and make it 4-1 early in the third period. And the Canucks stood like statues after losing a defensive-zone faceoff before Evander Kane picked his spot on goalie Arturs Silovs on the final goal.

J.T. Miller, so good with linemates Boeser and Pius Suter at limiting McDavid’s impact through five games, was torched in Game 6 and finished minus-three.

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The top Canuck players combined on the power play to go 0-for-4, managing their only two shots in seven minutes of advantage time during a failed, 56-second five-on-three near the end of the second period when the deficit was only 3-1.

Vancouver finished with just 15 shots on net despite chasing the game for the final 33 minutes after Hyman’s goal broke a 1-1 tie in the second period.

“I mean, it’s not the recipe for success,” Pettersson said of the low shot total. “Obviously, we have won games (with) not many shots. It is what it is. They won today. It’s a seven-game series for a reason, and I’ll focus on that. I’m excited for it. I know the barn’s going to be loud, fans are going to be into it. And those are the type of games you want to play.”

This is the mindset the Canucks will try to reinforce before Monday’s series climax, the first Game 7 in front of fans for Pettersson, Boeser, Hughes, Connor Garland, Dakota Joshua, Silovs and a bunch of others.

They have never had such an opportunity. Which means they’ve also never experienced the pressure of an elimination game in a playoff series — a series they led three times.

Watch Game 7 between Canucks and Oilers on Sportsnet

It all comes down to this. The Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers will play a winner-take-all Game 7 with a chance to advance to the Western Conference Final. Watch the game Monday at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.

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“There’s always a test,” Hughes, the 24-year-old captain, said. “If you lose three in a row in January, you know, people are still going crazy and that’s a test, too. We’re going to have to treat it like another game. It’s a great opportunity. If you told us we’d have this opportunity in September, we would have took it. Probably would have taken it three or four weeks ago as well. Yeah, we’ll be excited.

“We want to be at our best when it really matters and hopefully, you know, we’re going to need to do that.”

But as Tocchet and his Hall-of-Fame staff will tell them, it’s not like any other game.

“A lot of short shifts, a lot of desperation,” he said of Game 7s. “If you’ve got to put that puck in your mouth and skate it out. . . you’ve got to do that. If there’s a chance to block a shot, block a shot. If there’s a two-on-one, you’ve got to execute. I mean, these are big moments, and you’re looking for guys to want it. Want that big moment. Don’t be scared of it. Go after it, you know. Go after this. That’s my advice to everybody.”

Tocchet said injured starting goalie Thatcher Demko will not return for Game 7 and the team has confidence in Silovs, who looked poor on Evan Bouchard’s unscreened point shot on Saturday but otherwise has been the least of Vancouver’s problems.

“I told the players, you’ve got to stick together,” Tocchet said, meaning it literally, not just figuratively. “We’ll probably meet at the rink sometime tomorrow, and I’m a big believer in sticking together (in) groups of people. Especially this next 48 hours. I think that’s the best way for inexperienced guys — to be surrounded with people, and confident people. I think we have to be confident.”

They’re about to experience something special. One way or another it, they’ll remember it.

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Categories: Canada Sports News, Ontario Sports News, Pro Sports News

‘We knew what was at stake’: Oilers deliver best game of series to force Game 7

SportsNets - Sat, 05/18/2024 - 23:02

EDMONTON — It’s a series that has had everything. And now, it gives us a Western Canadian Game 7.

Say what you want about an Edmonton Oilers team whose Stanley Cup roadmap met with an elimination game this early in the journey. When the best game of this series was required, what poured out of that Oilers locker room was as good as it gets in Game 6.

“The boys were ready from the start. We knew what was at stake tonight,” said Dylan Holloway, who weaved through the Canucks’ top defence pair to score the prettiest goal of his NHL career just 8:18 into the night. “There were probably a bit of nerves, but once we got settled in we played our game, rolled all four lines, and never looked back.”

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It all comes down to this. The Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers will play a winner-take-all Game 7 with a chance to advance to the Western Conference Final. Watch the game Monday at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.

Full coverage

Edmonton grabbed this tilt by the throat and squeezed the life out of the Vancouver Canucks, scoring five five-on-five goals in a 5-1 shellacking.

By period, the Canucks had shot totals of four, five and six — a mere 15 shots on Stuart Skinner in total. It was the first night in this series where fans didn’t sweat it out to the final horn — or beyond — in a one-goal game, with Edmonton posting two unanswered goals in each of the last two periods.

“Vancouver, they have a really good even-strength game,” said Darnell Nurse, who was darn near perfect in 19:21 of ice time. “For us to be able to get to our five-on-five game and play strong throughout the night was huge.”

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Folks around this series had been quietly predicting a game like this since the outset. The Canucks, however, had made them all eat their words so far.

In fact, there was a moment in Period 2 that had “Canucks comeback” written all over it:

Leading 3-1, the Oilers had blown a lengthy five-on-three opportunity, and now it was the Canucks with a two-man advantage of their own. It was a full minute to make the score 3-2 heading into the second intermission.

But the Oilers held serve, killed off another 48 seconds of power-play time to open Period 3, and after six close games, one team pulled away from the other, as the steady Arturs Silovs fished five pucks out of his net for the first time this spring.

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“The penalty kill (four-for-four) was outstanding again, keeping momentum on our side,” said Zach Hyman, who snapped a four-game scoring drought with one from the low slot. “If they score a goal there, things are a little different. But it’s 3-1, a huge five-on-three kill to start the third and we go out and get the next one.

“That’s the dagger.”

In the end, the Oilers big boys who were silent in Game 5 came to play in Game 6. But along with the points — three each for Evan Bouchard, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Connor McDavid, two for Leon Draisaitl — came a defensive masterpiece.

This was a game these superstars did not have in their bag a couple of years ago, when they could beat you with offence and a wicked power play, but no other way. Today, McDavid, Draisaitl and Nugent-Hopkins can smother you defensively, and cash in on the scoring chances that result.

They are a three-headed beast in a game like this one, and it started with their absolute control of this penultimate contest.

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“I thought it started away from our defensive zone,” McDavid said. “We did a good job of getting in on the forecheck, holding on to pucks and playing in their zone. Making them defend and making it hard for them to work up the ice.

“I thought we played faster, we played cleaner, we were better with the puck, better coming through the neutral zone.”

In career game No. 60, Draisaitl notched his 60th career playoff assist and career playoff point No. 100. Sixty apples in 60 post-season games is a feat accomplished by only three others: Wayne Gretzky (43 games), Connor McDavid (54) and Mario Lemieux (58).

Meanwhile, Bouchard delivered another tour de force on a one-goal, three-point night, wiring home a key slapper that gave Edmonton their two-goal cushion after 40 minutes. He’s crushing the head-to-head battle with Quinn Hughes in this series, outscoring Hughes 4-0, has him 9-4 in points, and Bouchard sports a healthy plus-7 to Hughes’ plus-1 in the series.

“I guess now we’re going to play seven games and things are going to happen,” said Hughes, who like his team, may have had his worst game of the series on a sudsy Saturday night at Rogers Place. “It’s hard to play seven amazing games.”

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The good news for the Canucks is they’ve nullified Edmonton’s lethal power play, killing off the last nine consecutively.

The bad news? Edmonton just beat them by four and didn’t even score a power-play goal. Now, they’re due.

They’ll have two days, these Canucks, to figure out why they came up with their worst effort in the biggest game thus far in the series — much like Edmonton said about itself in Game 5.

And the Oilers? They just proved that, when it’s time to dig in and dig deep, the game they can conjure up is awfully hard to beat.

Play that little bit better in Vancouver Monday night, and this series might be theirs after all.

“We have guys in this locker room who are so talented, but they’re winners,” said defenceman Vincent Desharnais. “They’re here to win and it showed tonight.

“It’s going to show again on Monday.”

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Categories: Canada Sports News, Ontario Sports News, Pro Sports News

Oilers’ brought their best game when needed most to extend series

SportsNets - Sat, 05/18/2024 - 22:26

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Categories: Canada Sports News, Ontario Sports News, Pro Sports News

Oilers’ Draisaitl becomes third fastest player to record 100 playoff points

SportsNets - Sat, 05/18/2024 - 21:35

When the Edmonton Oilers needed them most, their big guns came to play.

Not only did Leon Draisaitl help his team to a 5-1 victory to force a winner-take-all Game 7, he also made history in the process, becoming the third fastest player in NHL history to record 100 playoff points.

The 28-year-old forward achieved the feat on Evander Kane’s goal in the third period against the Vancouver Canucks, and took just 60 games to do so. He joins elite company in Wayne Gretzky, who is first (46 games) and Mario Lemieux, who is second (50 games).

Teammate Connor McDavid has 96 points in 60 games, including a three-point effort in Game 6.

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“(Draisaitl) has just been doing it since our first year in the playoffs,” McDavid said of his teammate following the Game 6 win. “He’s somebody that just brings his game to a whole other level. I said before, he’s one of the best players in the world and a lot of nights, he is the best player in the world. In the playoffs, he’s been nothing but great.”

Draisaitl (and McDavid) will have the chance to pad their totals on Monday, when the Oilers travel to Vancouver and attempt to punch their ticket to the Western Conference Final.

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Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko will not play in Game 7

SportsNets - Sat, 05/18/2024 - 21:30

Vancouver Canucks injured starter Thatcher Demko will not be available to play in Monday’s Game 7 showdown against the Edmonton Oilers, head coach Rick Tocchet told reporters on Saturday.

The 28-year-old Vezina Trophy finalist was injured in Game 1 against the Nashville Predators and hasn’t seen game action since. Backup goaltender Casey DeSmith started two games in the first round (one win, one loss) before AHL call-up Arturs Silovs took over the net.

The Canucks have not disclosed what injury Demko has, nor the extent, but classified him as week-to-week on April 23.

Watch Game 7 between Canucks and Oilers on Sportsnet

It all comes down to this. The Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers will play a winner-take-all Game 7 with a chance to advance to the Western Conference Final. Watch the game Monday at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.

Full coverage

The San Diego native has been a limited participant in Canucks’ practices, but coaching staff have been cautious with his return.

Demko started 51 games for the Canucks during the regular season, posting a .918 save percentage and a 2.45 goals-against average (35 wins, 14 losses and five shutouts) to help the Canucks win the Pacific Division.

You can watch Game 7 between the Canucks and Oilers on Monday at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.

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What did Oilers’ do so well to send the series to a seventh game?

SportsNets - Sat, 05/18/2024 - 21:20

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UFC Vegas 92: Murphy still unbeaten as Williams, Yanez, Hill earn main card wins

SportsNets - Sat, 05/18/2024 - 20:20

Lerone Murphy continued his unbeaten march up the featherweight ranks, closing out Saturday’s return to the UFC APEX with a unanimous decision win over Edson Barboza in his first main event assignment in the UFC.

The 32-year-old from Manchester brought the fight to the Brazilian right out of the chute, working behind a long, sharp jab and good movement to keep Barboza off balance for much of the opening round. Outside of eating an upkick at the close of the first, Murphy was in control and happy to trade on the feet with the veteran, each shot that landed having a visible impact on Barboza.

Sporadically mixing in takedowns and low kicks while sprinkling in plenty of feints, “The Miracle” turned in his most complete and impressive performance to date to garner the biggest win of his career.

That’s now six consecutive victories and a seven-fight unbeaten streak inside the Octagon for Murphy, who moved to 14-0-1 overall with the win. Injuries have often prevented him from building the kind of sustained momentum required to make a serious push forward in the talent-rich featherweight ranks, but this effort against Barboza puts him front and centre for the time being, and should be the catalyst for another step up in competition next time out.

While he’s unlikely to be able to hustle back in time to be a part of the UFC 304 pay-per-view in his hometown, as long as he’s back in the cage in the back half of the year, Murphy should have an opportunity to creep closer to the Top 10 before the year is out.

It’s time for people to pay closer attention to the streaking British standout, as six straight UFC wins and an unblemished record through the first 15 fights of ones career are no easy tasks. Murphy is the genuine article and an intriguing figure in the 145-pound weight class, and it’s going to be interesting to see how far he can push this unbeaten run.

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In the co-main event, Khaos Williams reminded everyone of the power he possesses, putting Carlston Harris to sleep in just 90 seconds.

Entering off a split decision win a year ago at UFC 288, “The Ox Fighter” happily met Harris in the centre of the Octagon to trade hands, trusting his speed and power would be too much for the veteran to handle. Just over a minute into the contest, Williams was proven correct, as he fired a right hook at Harris’ jaw, connected with force, and halted the contest in a hurry.

Now 4-1 over his last five outings, the 30-year-old remains an interesting figure in the “Second 15” in the 170-pound ranks, as he is clearly a plus athlete with dynamite at the end of his arms. His two UFC setbacks have come against solid competition (Michel Pereira and Randy Brown, both by decision) and he’s earned four of his six wins inside the distance.

A showdown with one of the more veteran names in the division — Santiago Ponzinibbio, Michael Chiesa, Li Jingliang — would make a great deal of sense at this point, but after a quick outing on Saturday, don’t be surprised if Williams is right back in the gym, ready to raise his hand if anyone falls out of one of the four welterweight pairings on deck at UFC 302 next month in Newark, New Jersey.

Adrian Yanez got himself back into the win column in impressive fashion, stopping Vinicius Salvador in the first round.

One of the standouts from Season 4 of Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS), Yanez opened his UFC run with five straight wins, only to stumble last year, landing on the wrong side of the results in bouts with Rob Font and Jonathan Martinez. But Saturday evening, the 30-year-old from Houston dialled up a dynamic finish, putting a right hook on Salvador’s chin before chasing the Brazilian to the canvas and pounding out the finish.

Veteran Angela Hill collected her first career submission win on Saturday, taking a page out of Dustin Poirier’s book and jumping onto a guillotine choke to tap out Luana Pinheiro in the main card clash of Top 15 strawweights.

“Overkill” has steadily improved her grappling throughout her UFC tenure, and when Pinheiro left her neck exposed late in the second round, the 39-year-old divisional stalwart quickly cinched up the choke and jumped guard, floating into mount and securing the tap. With back-to-back wins and victories in four of her last five, the strawweight mainstay should climb into the Top 10 for the first time in her career when the rankings update early in the week.

On the prelims, the most impressive effort on the early slate was turned in by promotional newcomer Oumar Sy, who wasted little time dragging Tuko Tokkos to the ground where he patiently worked to find a rear-naked choke finish.

The 28-year-old from France, who earned wins over a pair of UFC veterans in his two 2023 appearances on the regional circuit, immediately closed the distance and changed levels, connecting his hands and dumping Tokkos to the canvas. While the short-notice fighter repeatedly told his cornerman Brendan Allen that Sy was breathing heavier than he was, the unbeaten prospect was securing back mount and locking in a body triangle.

From there, it was only a matter of time until he clamped down on Tokkos’ neck, squeezing out the tap to move his record to 10-0 overall.

Earlier in the card, we saw some excellent officiating in a pair of unconventional stoppages.

Melissa Gatto snapped a two-fight skid with a stoppage win over Tamires Vidal in an all-Brazilian battle that ended early in the third round.

After dominating the first two rounds on the canvas, Gatto opened the third by landing a right hand to the breast of Vidal, who recoiled and grabbed her chest once the blow connected, looking for referee Chris Tognoni to pause the action. The veteran official quickly told her the blow was legal and there would be no timeout, and when Vidal turned her back on the forward-charging Gatto, he stepped in and stopped the contest.

Two fights earlier, Piera Rodriguez was disqualified for headbutting Ariane Carnelossi.

Rodriguez was just starting to control the action, having hurt Carnelossi on the feet before spilling her to the canvas and landing in her guard. As she crashed down looking to attack, the DWCS graduate lead with her head, drawing a warning from referee Mark Smith to not do so again.

And then she instantly did it again, landing with force, prompting Smith to pause the action. When Carnelossi was unable to continue, Rodriguez was disqualified.

In both instances, the referees handled things perfectly, promptly and clearly addressing the situations and wasting no time in making the call to halt the action.

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Rod Brind’Amour, staff agree to extensions with Hurricanes

SportsNets - Sat, 05/18/2024 - 19:34

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes have re-signed coach Rod Brind’Amour and his staff to multiyear contracts, keeping one of the best in the NHL behind the bench around for the long term.

The team announced the re-signings Sunday for Brind’Amour, assistants Jeff Daniels and Tim Gleason, goaltending coach Paul Schonfelder and video coach Chris Huffine.

“Rod has been instrumental to the success we’ve had over the last six seasons,” team president and general manager Don Waddell said. “Ever since he joined the organization 24 years ago, Rod has embodied what it means to be a Hurricane. We hope to keep him a Hurricane for life.”

Brind’Amour was in the final year of a deal reached in 2021, when he was the winner of the Jack Adams Award as the league’s top coach. His status had become a talking point around the NHL as jobs changed hands, though Brind’Amour — as well as Waddell — had expressed confidence that a deal would get done.

“I never had a doubt in my mind he (would) come back,” Carolina center Sebastian Aho said earlier in the day when asked about the reports of a deal. “Not surprised, I would say.”

He took over in 2018 to lead a franchise that had missed the playoffs for nine straight years, but the Hurricanes have gone to the playoffs six times in as many seasons under the captain of Carolina’s 2006 Stanley Cup winner. Carolina has also won at least one series in each of the past six postseasons, the first since Detroit did it from 1995-2000, and has twice reached the Eastern Conference Final in that span.

Carolina finished three points behind the New York Rangers for the Metropolitan Division title and Presidents’ Trophy presented to the league’s top regular-season team, another season with ranking among the NHL’s top teams with an aggressive-forechecking style.

The Hurricanes beat the New York Islanders in five games in Round 1, then lost to the Rangers in a six-game second-round series after falling in a 3-0 hole.

Brind’Amour, 53, arrived in Raleigh in a January 2000 trade from Philadelphia and played there until his retirement in 2010. He then spent seven seasons as an assistant coach before taking over as a first-time head coach.

Multiple players were asked earlier Sunday about Brind’Amour’s status during end-of-season interviews. None expressed concern that he wouldn’t return or that it had been any type of distraction.

“He’s one of the main pieces that turned this organization around from where it was when I first got here,” defenseman Jaccob Slavin said. “So I think anyone would want him to stay as well. I know he wants to be here. I’m confident it’ll get done.”

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Ross Atkins betting on current Blue Jays to spark revival

SportsNets - Sat, 05/18/2024 - 15:58

TORONTO – Interpreting the comments from Ross Atkins’ first media availability since the April 8 home opener really depends on your level of faith in this edition of the Toronto Blue Jays.

The general manager, now in his ninth season on the job, unsurprisingly expressed “the greatest sense of confidence” in the group he and the rest of the front office assembled, despite a red-flag-filled 19-25 start after blowing a late lead in Saturday’s 5-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Shortcomings at the plate are being attacked with “a massive sense of urgency.” The way hitters are working pitchers and getting into advantage counts are “encouraging things” that in time “we can certainly see righting the ship.” Despite being the second-least productive offence in the majors so far, “we feel that there’s enough talent for us to score more runs.” There may be five teams and 4.5 games between them and the third wild-card spot, but “we believe in this talent, we believe there is time left.”

On the flip side, the Blue Jays’ offensive decline from the powerhouse clubs of 2021 and 2022 at this point seems far more like the norm than an aberration. The early returns on the club’s revamped game planning are worrisome, resulting neither in more runs nor a more successful process. A bet on internal improvements to restore lost production isn’t looking good. And the clock is ticking ever louder on a team with 17 players eligible for free agency over the next two winters, and seemingly lacking the necessary farm system depth to successfully turnover the roster.

Each of the outlooks laid out above are fair and reasonable.

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Depending on which side of the ledger you sit lies your answer on how to balance showing patience for the bats to come around versus acting more aggressively in search of help before the current window disappears.

“We have good triple-A players that could contribute here. We have a talented team and we have some time for things to correct. The sense of urgency has always been there and it remains,” Atkins said of his outlook on the balance there. “If there are ways that we could add a player externally that makes sense for the team, we are open to doing that. It’s not just a matter of trading away players and trading away prospects. It just has to make the most sense in terms of adding wins and impact to this team. The sense of urgency is always very high for us to push things over the top. There is nothing more that myself, Mark Shapiro or John Schneider, anyone in this organization wants than for us to be winning more than we are.”

Nobody gets into these jobs to do otherwise, of course, meaning the real debate is whether this team is equipped both in terms of personnel and structure to make that happen.

Some objective data lands squarely on the fence.

Before Saturday’s game, FanGraphs projected the Blue Jays to finish the remainder of their schedule at 62-57, with an average of 4.40 runs per game, nearly a full run better than the current 3.60. That’s obviously a big improvement over where they’re at right now, but would still leave them 81-81, with four teams between them and the Houston Astros, projected to claim the final wild card at 84-78.

Perhaps the Blue Jays’ proprietary projections tell a different, more promising story.

If that’s the case, the priority is for them to ensure their hitters reach those projections and to that end, their offensive game-planning is “always evolving.”

“We have tweaked it, we have tweaked some of the information flows,” said Atkins. “It’s not something that’s set in stone. But the changes that we made, we do believe they can be effective.”

But if their track is more akin to what FanGraphs projects, then the Blue Jays can’t simply let it ride and see where everything lands.

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Atkins acknowledged that he’s explored the trade market, but a deal of consequence at this point of the season requires a premium, like the one the San Diego Padres paid the Miami Marlins for Luis Arraez. The Blue Jays might not have the farm system depth to pull off that type of move and then there aren’t many ideal fits — a left-handed hitting outfielder, second baseman or third baseman with some thump — available anyway.

That, then, leaves the triple-A players Atkins mentioned and even there, nothing is straightforward.

Infielder Orelvis Martinez, the home-run hitting, exit-velocity monster slugging .518 at triple-A Buffalo, seems like the most logical candidate. But keeping him at triple-A for the time being “is a combination of where he would play here, him learning to play second at a level that would be average to above, and the benefit of player development in that time for a 22-year-old,” said Atkins.

Some variation of the above also applies to Addison Barger, Spencer Horwitz, Nathan Lukes, Leo Jimenez and Will Robertson, so until the Blue Jays make a conscious decision to cut into the playing time of someone currently on the roster, they all must bide their time.

Atkins mentioned urgency often enough during his 23-minute session to make it sound like that could happen somewhat soon if there isn’t a timely correction. But one way or the other, “we feel that the best contribution that could create that change in run-scoring is going to come from within our own clubhouse or with triple-A, with the players that are here,” he said.

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And if the runs don’t come, if their record doesn’t improve, the Blue Jays will have to go the other way at the trade deadline, ensuring that they keep the asset alive with their expiring contracts.

Atkins didn’t say that outright, of course, offering up only a “we’ll see, you always are prepared for any angle or any pivot that you have to make.” But telling was how he added that “we spend every day thinking about every way to make this organization better and the situation that could present itself,” and not leveraging pending free agents would be Colorado Rockies-esque negligence.

The Blue Jays don’t expect to be in that spot, adamantly believing that their season will turn around. The time is nigh, with two weeks of the Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates looming. Given how they’ve played so far, they can take nothing for granted and while that stretch isn’t their point of no return, if not now, when?

“When you dig yourself a little bit of a hole, you’re increasing the importance of the games ahead,” said Atkins. “We have had a very tough schedule, the hardest in baseball. We played on the road a ton. Now it’s starting to turn a bit. So that would heighten our opportunity to turn the tides.”

It’s also an opportunity to reward those who are showing faith in this Blue Jays team, perhaps win back some of those in doubt or prove right anyone for whom it was lost.

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What Ross Atkins’ comments tell us about Blue Jays’ next moves

SportsNets - Sat, 05/18/2024 - 13:57

TORONTO – The morning after the 24th loss of the Toronto Blue Jays‘ season, Ross Atkins stood on the field at Rogers Centre and fielded some questions about what’s next.

At 19-24, the Blue Jays are in some trouble. With 119 games remaining, they’re not fully out of contention, but only the Chicago White Sox have scored fewer runs this season and no team has seen its playoff odds drop more since opening day.

Entering play Saturday, the Blue Jays were last in the American League East with just a 20.3 per cent chance of reaching the playoffs. If their season keeps unfolding like this, they’ll be summer sellers, listening on pending free agents like Yimi Garcia and Yusei Kikuchi. But here on May 18, Atkins continued expressing optimism about his team.

“We believe in this talent,” the GM said. “There is time left, but there’s a massive sense of urgency and we need to get it turned around soon.”

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Atkins pointed to “some encouraging things” he’s seen including “the compete, the fight, the no roll-over” from Blue Jays hitters and the lineup’s ability to get into advantage counts. He also spoke highly of a group of triple-A players, naming Orelvis Martinez, Addison Barger, Spencer Horwitz, Nathan Lukes, Will Robertson, Steward Berroa and Leo Jimenez, and said the Blue Jays are interested in adding via trade.

But for now, Atkins said there’s no concern this group of players simply lacks talent.

“We’re not there.”

Whether you find Atkins’ assessment of the Blue Jays unsurprising, infuriating or somewhere in between, this team is clearly headed for change. Ideally, the change comes with wins – and soon. Yet other, more disruptive, possibilities exist, too. While there’s no need to concede defeat now, there’s a real chance the Blue Jays will face a difficult pivot at some point this summer.

In the meantime, though, there are still some moves to consider. Relatively small ones like finally bumping George Springer out of the leadoff spot for Davis Schneider Saturday – or larger ones, like role changes, prospect promotions and trades.

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“We’re at the quarter pole and once you get to the halfway mark, there’s not much you can do if the whole (picture) remains the same,” Atkins said. “We’ll see. You always are prepared for any angle or any pivot that you have to make.”

The simplest pivot of all would consist of calling up a player from triple-A, but with the exception of a brief cameo for Barger, that hasn’t happened yet. Instead, the Blue Jays have stuck with Daniel Vogelbach despite his .395 OPS, reasoning that he’s capable of more than he’s shown and better-suited to the challenges of a part-time role than a hitter like Horwitz, someone they want getting regular at-bats.

So while Atkins mentioned the organization’s triple-A bats on multiple occasions Saturday morning, the preference seems to be keeping them in the minors until more regular playing time opens up. An injury could create an opening at any time, and there’s another possibility, too. Should the offensive struggles of Kevin Kiermaier and Springer continue, it’s conceivable that the Blue Jays could start them less often, creating playing time for a younger bat around the diamond.

With that in mind, the defensive development of Horwitz (showing early progress at second base) and Martinez (continued progress at second, some work at third) is worth watching. But while those prospects could help the big-league team this summer, it won’t matter if the likes of Springer and Bo Bichette can’t produce more.

At the Letters

Ben Nicholson-Smith is Sportsnet’s baseball editor. Arden Zwelling is a senior writer. Together, they bring you the most in-depth Blue Jays podcast in the league, covering off all the latest news with opinion and analysis, as well as interviews with other insiders and team members.

Listen and Subscribe for free Follow Ben on Twitter Follow Arden on Twitter

Alongside the possibility of a prospect promotion, the Blue Jays are also considering deals, according to Atkins. In theory, they could trade away one of the aforementioned minor-leaguers for a hitter – ideally someone who bats from the left side.

“If we were to acquire a player at this point, you obviously are paying a premium. We can do that. We have the players to trade for that level of talent,” Atkins said. “We (presently) feel that the best contributions that could create that change in run scoring are going to come from within our clubhouse or triple-A, with the players that are here. But the dialogue is steady on the alternatives that that could happen.”

So for now, the Blue Jays are buyers – technically. They’re looking at the market with hitters as their priority. But trades are rarely completed this time of year and those that do get across the finish line typically see the buyer paying a steep price, as the Padres did for Luis Arraez.

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A case could be made that the Blue Jays need a hitter at any cost, yet there’s a compelling counterargument, too: is this group worthy of mortgaging the future? Regardless, the final buy-sell decision doesn’t have to be made for another couple of months, and if the standings clearly tell the Blue Jays they’re out of it, they’ll do what any rational front office would: start selling.

Kikuchi and Garcia might be among the most coveted pitchers available in that scenario, while pending free agents like Kiermaier, Justin Turner and Danny Jansen could also draw interest. One scenario that’s not presently in consideration for the Blue Jays: a major shake-up that would see them blow things up for 2025 and beyond.

Of course, for now, Atkins still holds onto hope that this season can still deliver on the promise it once seemed to hold. With four-plus months to go, time is on their side – yet time matters more if you have the talent to make the most of it. Whether the Blue Jays do is very much an open question.

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Duchene scores in 2OT, Stars eliminate Avalanche

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DENVER — Matt Duchene scored at 11:42 of the second overtime after being involved in a play that led to a goal disallowed for goaltender interference in the first extra period, and the Dallas Stars advanced to the Western Conference final with a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche in Game 6 on Friday night.

Duchene, a former draft pick of the Avalanche, secured a loose puck in front of the net and sent it over a sprawled out Alexandar Georgiev. Duchene took off down the ice and slid on his knees in celebration.

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Dallas advances to face either Edmonton or Vancouver next. It’s the second straight trip to the conference final for the Stars, who lost last season to eventual Stanley Cup champion Vegas. The Stars won their only Stanley Cup title in 1999.

Jamie Benn tied the game at 1:56 of the third period. Mason Marchment thought he scored the winner with 7:29 left in the first overtime but it was waved off for goaltender interference. The play was reviewed and the call on the ice stood. Duchene was jostling with Cale Makar in front of Georgiev, leading to a call. The NHL’s situation room explained that Duchene impaired Georgiev’s ability to play his position in the crease.

Jake Oettinger was stellar all night in making 29 saves. One of his biggest was a close-range shot from Artturi Lehkonen down low midway through the second OT.

This was a series in which the road team won five of six games, including the Stars taking all three in Denver. The Avalanche were the top home team in the regular season, while the Stars had the best road record.

Dallas joins Florida and the New York Rangers as teams that closed out a second-round series in six games. It’s just the third post-season to have three Round 2 matchups decided in six games (1999 and 2004).

It was a tumultuous post-season for Colorado, with Valeri Nichushkin suspended before Game 4 for violating terms of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.

Colorado scored the opening goal of the game for the first time in the series when Mikko Rantanen sent a wrist shot over Oettinger early in the second period on a power play.

Cale Makar had an assist to give him 80 career playoff points in 72 games played. He’s the fifth defenceman in NHL history to amass 80 career post-season points in 80 or fewer games, joining Bobby Orr (66 games), Paul Coffey (67), Brian Leetch (70) and Al MacInnis (71).

Both team were missing forwards, with Roope Hintz out for Dallas and Yakov Trenin for Colorado.

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