Rabu, 29 September 2021

Kraken @ Oilers 9/28/21 | NHL Highlights - NHL

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2021-09-29 04:03:39Z
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Stars shine bright as Edmonton Oilers pound Seattle Kraken - Edmonton Sun

Connor McDavid, Zach Hyman, Jesse Puljujarvi, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Kailer Yamamoto were all unleashed, along with top pairing defencemen Darnell Nurse and Tyson Barrie

Author of the article:

Robert Tychkowski
Seattle Kraken goalie Chris Driedger makes a save on Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid during first period National Hockey League pre-season game action in Edmonton on Tuesday September 28, 2021.
Seattle Kraken goalie Chris Driedger makes a save on Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid during first period National Hockey League pre-season game action in Edmonton on Tuesday September 28, 2021. Photo by Larry Wong /Postmedia

While the visiting Seattle Kraken went with a traditional early preseason road game lineup – largely anonymous and not at all threatening — head coach Dave Tippett countered with his most dangerous weapons Tuesday.

Connor McDavid, Zach Hyman, Jesse Puljujarvi, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Kailer Yamamoto were all unleashed, along with top pairing defencemen Darnell Nurse and Tyson Barrie.

It was like pitting shotguns against nuclear missiles, and the mushroom clouds started early in a 6-0 Edmonton victory inside a fan-filled 13,627 at Rogers Place.

The Oilers lead 3-0 after 20 minutes and 5-0 after 40 to leave a lasting first impression on the expansion Kraken.

As expected in a situation like this, almost everything went well, from shutout goaltending to the power play (two-for-three before Tippett called off the dogs) to penalty kill (four-for-four) to a dynamic wave of offence from Edmonton’s top players.

“I thought our whole group was solid, we were solid all the way through,” said Tippett. “But there are parts of it where you can tell it’s still exhibition.”

McDavid was in superstar form all night, finishing with a goal and two assists, and could have easily put up three or four more points. If it’s possible that he’s found another gear himself after a full summer of training, he has.

Hyman, who will start the season on the top line, found out early how much fun it is to be on McDavid’s wing as he scored an easy tap in late in the first period to make it 3-0 courtesy of a brilliant touch pass from the Oilers captain.

“I think (the line) will work well,” said Tippett. “Hyman’s goal was a perfect example of it. They got the puck, Jesse made a good play, Connor made a good play and it was a tap in for Hyman. Hopefully that’s a sign of good things to come.”

The newly-signed winger delivered exactly what the Oilers expected of him, hounding pucks, creating turnovers and making deft plays around the net to set up scoring chances, like the Hyman to Drasiaitl to McDavid goal nine seconds into a second period power play to make it 5-0.

“(McDavid) just creates so much space for himself,” said Hyman. “And he’s such an elite passer that if you go to the right spots and you’re open he’ll find you.

“It was a good start, and Jesse was great. As a line I really enjoyed playing with those guys.”

Puljujarvi scored the second goal and helped set up the third as he begins what the Oilers hope will be another step in his evolution. He is quickly emerging as a top power forward in the NHL and seems to fit in seamlessly with the best player in the world.

“There’s definitely another gear he can get to,” said McDavid. “He’s such a big, powerful man, and as you play more games you start to figure the game out a little better, you start to understand where the danger spots are on the ice and how you can get lost.

“There’s definitely a thinking side to the game where Jesse can take another step. That will come with time.”

The game was open to the general public, provided they were double vaccinated or provided proof of a negative test — for the first time since March 11 2020. While it wasn’t a massive crowd, for the pre-season opener on a Tuesday night, it wasn’t half bad.

For the players and coaches, it feels great.

“It’s awesome,” said Hyman. “The fans here are awesome. I hope down the line we get to full capacity, it would be even better. You can’t put it into words how much more fun it is to play hockey in a loud building with passionate fans.”

Darnell Nurse opened the scoring for Edmonton with a seeing-eye shot at 5:50 of the first period and Devin Shore set up Brendan Perlini with a great pass for a sharp angle goal to make it 4-0. Perlini scored the 6-0 goal as well to give him three in two games.

Mike Smith played the first 30 minutes in goal for Edmonton and turned aside all 18 shots he faced. Mikko Koskinen stopped the next 16.

MOSS TRIBUTE

The Oilers unveiled a 3-D plaque of the late Joey Moss on Monday. The former dressing room attendant is memorialized giving a high-five to players as they enter and exit the dressing room.

It’s a little something for all the people who miss his infectious spirit.

“Joe was a special person,” said McDavid. “He meant a lot to the organization and the players. To have a little statue there is a great reminder to us as players and staff.

“The whole city misses him and we certainly miss him as players — just having him around the room and his presence, that energy and life that he would always bring to the room. In a long season there are days where it can be a little boring in there a little dry, a little stale, he would always bring that life and energy and lift guys up. It’s nice to see his face.”

RUSSELL INCHING CLOSER

Kris Russell, who’s been bothered by a neck issue, is shooting for an exhibition game soon.

“Hoping next week. He’s coming along. He feels better. He’s skating a little bit before practice and then practising. Hopefully we’ll be able to get him in a game next week but we’re not going to put him in a bad spot. When he feels comfortable to play we’ll try to get him up and going.”

Tippett would like to get Duncan Keith in three games next week when he comes out of quarantine.

Twitter.com/rob_tychkowski
rtychkowski@postmedia.com

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2021-09-29 03:40:03Z
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Yankees’ Stanton stuns baseball world with moonshot home run vs. Blue Jays - Sportsnet.ca

No matter where a pitch is thrown, New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton seems to have a good chance of belting a home run these days.

The red-hot Stanton delivered the big blow in Tuesday night's series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays, driving a low pitch from Trevor Richards into the second deck in left for a three-run homer to put his team ahead 6-2 in the seventh inning.

The impressive shot marked the lowest ball Stanton has ever hit for a home run.

It marked the fourth game in a row in which Stanton has homered, giving him 35 on the season. All four have also helped the Yankees win games, vaulting New York ahead of Toronto and the Boston Red Sox in the race for the American League's top wild-card spot.

Here's a look at some reaction to Stanton's latest home run:

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2021-09-29 02:42:00Z
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Selasa, 28 September 2021

Jovial rookie Scottie Barnes already making impression at Raptors training camp - CBC.ca

Scottie Barnes has yet to play a real NBA game, but the gregarious rookie is quickly becoming one of the most popular Raptors.

He's a cheering, clapping human energy drink, and his new teammates grinned during Monday's media day as they recounted tales of his time so far in Toronto.

If it's rare for a 20-year-old rookie to instantly step into a vocal role on a new team, Barnes shrugged and said he didn't think twice.

"At this level, you can't be shy. You can't be trying to look too cool," Barnes said after his first training camp practice Tuesday at OVO Athletic Centre. "It's just the dirty things that you need to do on the floor, that's what's going to need to be happening. It's not really that hard. I'm not a shy guy. I'm just going to be who I am no matter where I'm at."

The Raptors selected the Florida State forward, known for his stifling defence, with the No. 4 pick in the NBA draft. Twice before the Raptors chose fourth — Chris Bosh in 2003, and Antawn Jamison in 1998, who they traded for Vince Carter.

Expectations for the young player will be lofty this season, but so far he's earned nothing but praise, including from head coach Nick Nurse who said Barnes will play a "huge role" this season.

"I would imagine he's going to get as many reps as possible, and that's start next Monday night [when Toronto hosts Philadelphia in the pre-season opener]," Nurse said

"He's a clapper, you know, like, 'Let's go, let's go, let's play D.' He just likes to talk, he likes to smile and he enjoys, he loves the game, and he plays that way."

Working on shot

At six foot nine, and boasting a seven-foot-two wingspan and huge Kawhi Leonard-sized hands, Barnes has long been touted for his versatility. He has the ability to play all five positions, and with his speed and ballhandling, he's been compared to a point guard in a forward's body.

If he left one box unchecked, it was his shooting. He shot just 27.5 per cent from three-point range in college, and his robotic shooting style has drawn some criticism.

No surprise, he spent a good chunk of his time in the off-season working on his shot.

"Each and every day, just getting more and more reps, it's a process of every day getting more reps, just constant shooting," he said.

What tweaks has he made?

"Just the release on my shot on my fingers. Shooting off of two of my fingers, and just pushing to my side a little bit. It has been [feeling more natural]. We've been working a lot the last two months. I feel like I'm getting better at it every single day."

Barnes, who got a taste of the NBA during the summer league, said the biggest adjustment from college is the speed of the game.

"It's constant running, the floor is longer, bigger so you have to be in really good condition," he said. "The guys are bigger, stronger and you can really feel it at this level. So that's really about it, just staying in condition, getting your wind right, being able to run up and down the floor where it's going to take a high level of conditioning."

Sounds like hard work won't be a problem for Barnes.

"Works hard, you're going to see him to be first in the gym, last to go out," said Goran Dragic, the 13-year NBA veteran who arrived in Toronto as part of the sign-and-trade deal with Miami for Kyle Lowry. "He's got that personality that it's unique, and I really like him. He's got a bright future. I can already see that. It's funny, he's really funny."

'Just an exciting kid'

Pascal Siakam snickered as he recounted passing Barnes in the hallway after team physicals recently. Barnes gave Siakam a jumping chest-bump, like he'd just scored a game-winner.

"He's just an exciting kid, he's exciting to be around, and he just has a great presence and it's really, really fun to see," Siakam said. "I feel like he might beat me in terms of energy just because he's always happy, always excited."

It's partly his humour and all-around good-natured demeanour — evident in his social media presence — that has endeared him to Toronto fans.

On the heels of the draft, he penned a letter on The Players' Tribune titled "What's Good, Toronto?" in which he talked about his excitement around playing for Toronto, and the love he'd already experienced from Raptors fans.

Fans followed him on Instagram Live while he walked about Toronto exploring his new city, and he earned raucous applause when he threw out the first pitch at a Toronto Blue Jays game — further cranking up the hype around the young player.

Fans will get a first glimpse of his on-court enthusiasm Monday against Philadelphia.

"I think he wants to be part of the team, it's kind of like 'Let's do this all together,"' Nurse said. "I think he's vocal and demonstrative in that, and who doesn't love that?"

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2021-09-28 21:37:51Z
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Blue Jays’ Lourdes Gurriel Jr. returning to lineup vs. Yankees - Sportsnet.ca

Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., left, heads to the dugout with a trainer and a towell-wrapped hand after he was injured fielding a double by Minnesota Twins' Mitch Garver in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Minneapolis (Jim Mone/AP).

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2021-09-28 20:35:00Z
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Raptors Notes: Dragic, Siakam, Vaccination Status - hoopsrumors.com

Goran Dragic doesn’t know how long he’ll be with the Raptors, but he’s willing to accept whatever role the team wants him to play, writes Doug Smith of The Toronto Star. The veteran guard was acquired from the Heat this summer in the Kyle Lowry sign-and-trade. There were rumors at the time that he might be shipped to Dallas, but that deal never materialized.

With a $19.5MM expiring contract, the 35-year-old point guard could become a valuable trade chip before the February deadline. A report this week said no deal involving Dragic appears imminent, and Toronto has little incentive to pursue a buyout before the deadline arrives.

Dragic used Monday’s media day to repeat an apology for comments he made to Slovenian reporters last month indicating that he didn’t want to be with the Raptors. He told Smith that his statement was taken out of context.

“You know, it came out wrong. I did apologize and I want to apologize right now, too,” Dragic said. “It was not my intention. But you know, the organization and the players, they welcomed (me). It was really nice; all the guys are nice. They want me, you know, to feel comfortable and I do feel comfortable here, for the past two weeks.”

There’s more from Toronto:

  • Pascal Siakam hasn’t been cleared for contact yet in his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery, but the Raptors are optimistic about his progress, tweets Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports. “He looks good,” said general manager Bobby Webster. “He’s in a really positive head space. I think he’s happy and ready to go.” Siakam has been working out on his own at the team’s practice facility, and coach Nick Nurse hopes he’ll be ready relatively early in the season (Twitter link). American Thanksgiving, which falls on November 25, could be a realistic target date, tweets Michael Grange of The Athletic.
  • Lowry’s departure leaves Siakam as the team leader for the first time in his career, notes Eric Koreen of The Athletic. Koreen suggests that Siakam may benefit from a month or so of not playing, which will give him a chance to study his teammates and see the best ways he can help. “We had a conversation with Masai (Ujiri), and it was me, it was OG (Anunoby) and it was Fred (VanVleet),” Siakam said. “Everyone else is gonna be young. … ‘We’re gonna go wherever you guys take us.’ I think that’s the focus. … I don’t like the word ‘the guy.’ I don’t like using it. I want to be the guy who wins. I want to win. I remember when we went to Vegas for dinner and I’m sitting there and I’m like, ‘Damn, I feel like I’m the oldest here.’ It was weird, a weird feeling I never had before. It’s gonna be a process, but I’m excited about it.”
  • Visiting players who haven’t been vaccinated will be able to receive a National Interest Exemption to play in Toronto, according to The Athletic. They must test negative after arriving in Canada and won’t be able to leave the team hotel, other than to go to Scotiabank Arena. Raptors players are almost fully vaccinated and the team expects to reach that status by opening night, according to Murphy (Twitter link).

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2021-09-28 18:51:00Z
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Oliver Ekman-Larsson off to strong start with Canucks - Sportsnet.ca

VANCOUVER – It will be years before we know if the Vancouver Canucks’ $43.6-million bet on Oliver Ekman-Larsson is a prudent one. But if you offered to refund the wager after one week of training camp, the Canucks would let it ride.

In his first pre-season game since July’s blockbuster trade from Arizona, Ekman-Larsson looked like the defenceman the Canucks want and not the one whose huge salary the Coyotes were eager to dump.

The 30-year-old played fast and physically in Monday’s 4-2 win against the Calgary Flames in Abbotsford, B.C.

Ekman-Larsson keyed a Canucks power play that scored twice and he drew two assists, including on Tanner Pearson’s even-strength goal in the third period after the defenceman stepped up aggressively in the neutral zone to force a turnover.

But more than Ekman-Larsson’s skating and passing skills were on display. After getting hit early by Brett Ritchie, then cross-checked by Dillon Dube, the Canuck was engaged physically. He ran over Byron Froese in the second period and, generally, appeared to be involved in the play whenever he was on the ice.

“I really thought he took charge tonight,” Vancouver coach Travis Green said. “He played with a lot of energy. He had a lot of bite in his game, too, which you always like.”

Conor Garland, the speedy, buzzsaw winger whose availability from the Coyotes convinced the Canucks to take on Ekman-Larsson, was also excellent. He scored a goal that followed a deft toe-drag around Dube, but also made plays in the defensive zone and in traffic near the boards.

Garland wasn’t surprised by what he saw from Ekman-Larsson.

“He looks really good,” Garland said. “It's nice to see how fast he's playing, and he's moving the puck so well, and how physical he is. He looks really engaged. He looks like the Oliver I know.

“He was my captain (in Arizona) and anytime he threw a hit, he used to get our team really fired up. In the pre-season, to see him playing that way, I think it engaged a lot of guys even more. I'm excited for him and I'm excited for the team because that's a really good defenceman back there.”

Ekman-Larsson and Tucker Poolman, signed as a free agent from the Winnipeg Jets, are the Canucks’ No. 1 defence pairing.

The Hamonic mystery

The actual “biggest surprise” of training camp? Defenceman Travis Hamonic’s mysterious situation has turned into an off-ice story to rival the absence of unsigned Canuck free agents Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes.

Re-signed to a two-year, $6-million free-agent contract in July and expected to play a top-four role as Hughes’ defence partner, Hamonic decided not to attend training camp for what the Canucks are calling “personal reasons” after general manager Jim Benning stated last Wednesday that the 31-year-old would be in Abbotsford. Apparently, circumstances changed after Benning’s pre-camp press conference, and Hamonic remains home in Manitoba.

Benning also stated that the Canucks would be “100 per cent” vaccinated before their season-opener on Oct. 13. Neither the team nor player has said anything about Hamonic’s vaccination status.

Hamonic has until this Friday to opt-out of the National Hockey League’s third pandemic season. If he does so, the Canucks can eliminate the first season of his two-year contract or push the entire agreement back a year. Either way, the Canucks would save Hamonic’s full $3-million-US cap hit.

But things could get messy if Hamonic doesn’t opt out and isn’t vaccinated. In theory, he is entitled to play. But that isn’t happening in Vancouver. Benning’s vaccination statement was unequivocal. Vaccination passports are also in effect in British Columbia, and are required at Rogers Arena.

The Canucks could assign Hamonic to their minor-league team (although he wouldn’t be allowed to play for Abbotsford, either, if unvaccinated) to save up to $1.125-million on his cap hit, and then further reduce his charge by suspending him when circumstances allow. Under protocols negotiated between the league and its Players’ Association, a player who is unable to travel or otherwise be available to practise or play due to vaccination guidelines can be suspended without pay.

However this plays out, it appears the Canucks could be without one of their key defencemen this season.

What about Hughes?

As for the defenceman who is vital, Hughes, the plot-twist on Hamonic has the possibility of further hampering contract talks between the Canucks and their star free agents. Vancouver has about $16-million of available cap space, and this figure has influenced contract discussions all summer because agent Pat Brisson, who represents both Hughes and Pettersson, has to figure out how to divide the money between his clients.

Brisson can’t hit a home run for one if it means striking out on the other. But if he waits until Friday, there may suddenly be another $3-million available.

The good news on D

What was confirmed through the Canucks’ first two pre-season games is that 22-year-old defenceman Jack Rathbone is above the battle at the bottom fringe of the lineup and should make the team after an impressive eight-game cameo at the end of last season.

Sure, the five-foot-10 blue-liner needs to continue to work on his defensive game. But he engages physically and plays bigger than his size. There has never been much doubt that Rathbone has the speed and puck skills to play, and his composure and ability with the puck were obvious in Monday’s win against the Flames and Sunday’s 5-3 loss to the Seattle Kraken in Spokane, Wash.

It was also revealing that Rathbone was elevated on Monday to a pairing with veteran Tyler Myers, who practised in training camp last week with Olli Juolevi. Clearly, Rathbone is now ahead of Juolevi, who played Monday alongside prospect Jet Woo and might still make the NHL roster.

Chase on

Winger Alex Chiasson’s audition with the Canucks has started well.

Chiasson, who spent the last three seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, for whom he had a successful professional tryout in 2018, was given the chance to play Monday with Bo Horvat and Tanner Pearson. The 30-year-old looked like a capable NHL winger and provided experience and net-front presence on Vancouver’s power play. He finished plus-one and drew an assist while jamming the net on J.T. Miller’s goal.

“I saw the lineup yesterday and the opportunity today to play with Bo and Pearse,” Chiasson said late Monday. “Those two guys just play the game the right way. It's easy to play with them. I think Bo is really underrated, just the way he plays. He's always well-positioned.

“I've bet on myself three times so far (on PTOs), and I've come out on the right side of it. It's not always been easy. Sometimes you leave and you don't know where you're heading and how long you're going for. But I think I've learned as time goes -- this is my 10th year in the league -- go one day at a time and just try to show what I'm capable of doing. I thought tonight was a step in the right direction.”

The Canucks would be Chiasson’s sixth team. He has played 564 NHL games.

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2021-09-28 20:29:00Z
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