{allcanada} Last-place Whitecaps fall to New York City FC

 

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VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps gave up goals about 16 minutes apart in the first half to drop a 3-1 decision to New York City FC Saturday night, losing their third Major League Soccer game in eight days.

Alexandru Mitrita scored one goal and set up another for New York City (14-5-8), which won its fourth consecutive game. Heber and Gary Mackay-Steven, an early first half substitution, also scored.

Forward Yordy Reyna scored in the 64th minute for Vancouver.

The game had an eventual first half. A crowd of 17,512 at BC Place Stadium watched New York City score twice and two Whitecaps assistant coaches get ejected for arguing a disputed call.

Mitrita made it 3-1 in the 77th minute when his free kick from about 25 yards out squeezed in between the post and Whitecaps goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau. It was his eighth goal of the year.

New York City used a turnover in the 10th minute to go ahead 1-0 on Heber's 14th goal of the season. Midfielder Tony Rocha took the ball off the foot of Vancouver midfielder Jon Erice, then passed it to Mitrita. He sent it to Heber who scored on a low, hard shot. It was Mitrita's league-leading 19th assist.

Heber limped off the field in the 21st minute after going down in a heap and was replaced by Mackay-Steven.

A pretty play by captain Maximiliano Moralez set up Mackay-Steven's goal in the 26th minute. Moralez threaded a perfect pass through the Vancouver defence to a charging Mackay-Steven who chipped the ball over the Whitecap goalkeeper.

Tempers flared in the 31st minute when referee Marcos de Oliveira initially signalled a penalty kick should be awarded to Vancouver after New York City goalkeeper Sean Johnson appeared to foul Whitecaps forward Tosaint Ricketts. The call was reversed on a video replay, resulting in both goalkeeper coach Youssef Dahha and assistant coach Vanni Sartini being ejected for arguing the decision.

Dahha didn't go quietly. He rallied the booing crowd to their feet while being escorted off the pitch.

Reyna got the Whitecaps fans back into the game when he took a pass from Ricketts and took a shot from the right side of the box that curled just inside the left post.

The Whitecaps (6-15-9) were coming off a 2-1 loss to Montreal Wednesday and are (1-4-0) in their last five games. They have been outscored 11-5 in this stretch and sit last in the MLS Western Conference.

The win moved New York City into second place on the Eastern Conference, one point behind the Philadelphia Union.

NOTES: Vancouver defender Jake Nerwinski left the game 15th minute with an injury. He was helped off the field not putting any weight on his right leg. … The Whitecaps have travelled 14,000 kilometres to play three games in eight days. … Vancouver centre back Erik Godoy missed the game with a right calf strain. … Both defender Ronald Matarrita and midfielder Alex Ring missed the game for New York City due to suspension. … The Whitecaps play three of their remaining four games at home.

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{allcanada} Kamara has two, D.C. United blank Impact

 

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MONTREAL — It was a chance for Montreal to stay in front in its playoff race. But the game quickly descended into a chorus of boos and jeers from the home fans.

D.C. United scored three goals in a 12-minute span in the first half to blank the Impact 3-0 on Saturday night in a crucial Eastern-Conference showdown.

After the third goal, many of the 18,285 frustrated fans in attendance at Saputo Stadium voiced their displeasure with the home team.

"They have every right to be vocal," said defender Daniel Lovitz of the fan reaction. "We hear it and it certainly doesn't help but we're not helping ourselves very much at the moment. I can't imagine what it's like to be a fan right now. It's a rollercoaster and it feels like it's been that way for a little while.

"We're trying to bring positive consistency and this wasn't a step in the right direction and we deserve to hear it."

The slumping Impact (11-15-4) have lost eight of their last 11 MLS matches and fell below the playoff line into eighth place. Seventh-place Toronto FC leads the Impact by one point and has two games in hand.

Montreal has four matches left to play this season — three of those are at home.

Ola Kamara scored twice and Paul Arriola added another for D.C. United (11-10-9) to snap a three-game losing skid. The win propelled D.C. into fourth place in the Eastern Conference, five points clear of Montreal.

The Impact played better after going down 3-0 but they never really threatened in the final third. Montreal outshot D.C. 25-7 but only managed four shots on goalkeeper Bill Hamid, who earned his 10th clean sheet of the season.

"We cannot make excuses about it," said Impact coach Wilmer Cabrera. "We put a lot of effort but we couldn't get to the final. It was a lot of good crosses, a lot of good possibilities. At the end, we have to put the ball in the net. They attacked three times, they put three goals. They made the difference with that."

Replacing their suspended captain Wayne Rooney up top, Kamara got the visitors on the board in the 20th minute. After a Junior Moreno free kick ricocheted off Orji Okwonkwo, the ball fell right to an unmarked Kamara in the box for the opener.

The visitors made it 2-0 three minutes later when Montreal's Samuel Piette headed Hamid's towering goal kick right into Arriola's path. The winger took the ball in his stride and beat Evan Bush with a left-footed shot into the bottom corner for his sixth of the season.

Another poorly defended set piece sunk the Impact when D.C. United scored off a Felipe corner kick in the 32nd minute. Defender Frederic Brillant headed the ball across the box to Kamara, who headed it past Bush for his fourth career goal against Montreal.

The Impact have conceded 14 times this season off a corner or free kick.

That third goal unleashed the fans' disapproval.

"Three really bad goals," said Lovitz. "Really tough to game plan for that or even talk about it to try not to do that stuff. Very disappointing to put ourselves in a hole very early on at home in a game that was very important to us."

The match was reminiscent of last year's key meeting between Montreal and D.C. at the end of September. United won that match 5-0, which ultimately led to the Impact missing the playoffs.

Following a 0-0 draw at Audi Field earlier this season, Montreal has now gone 355 minutes without scoring against D.C. United.

Notes: United improved to 2-2-1 this season without Rooney. … Montreal was playing its third game in eight days. … Bush conceded three goals on four shots.

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{allcanada} TFC draws Revolution, moves into playoff position

 

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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Gustavo Bou scored a late goal, Matt Turner had five saves, and the New England Revolution played Toronto FC to a 1-1 draw on Saturday night.

Bou took a pass from Diego Fagundez at the corner of the area, beat a defender 1-on-1 and fired a rolling right-footer into the net to make it 1-1 in the 86th minute. Bou, a 29-year old who signed with the Revolution on July 10, has six goals in eight MLS appearances.

New England (10-9-9) is unbeaten in its last four games and has just one loss — 2-0 at LAFC on Aug. 3 — since May 8.

Nicolas Benezet, making his fourth MLS appearance, scored from point-blank range to give Toronto (10-10-8) a 1-0 lead in the 74th minute. Nick DeLeon, who came on in the 63rd, played a low cross to the back post where Marco Delgado's first-timer was deflected by goalkeeper Matt Turner but Benezet headed the rebound into an empty net.

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{allcanada} Monfils takes his show to the Open fourth round

 

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Gael Monfils is taking his dazzling shotmaking into the fourth round of the U.S. Open after outlasting Denis Shapovalov 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-3.

Monfils, the No. 13 seed, matched the 33rd-ranked Canadian shot for shot in a contest that was all about big shots, high risks and high rewards. Shapovalov, for example, blasted 75 winners but also had 64 unforced errors. Monfils squandered a match point in the fourth-set tiebreaker but held on with a crucial service break in the deciding set to win it.

In the post-match news conference, even Shapovalov said he couldn't help but be impressed with Monfils' shots, saying he came up with the tennis equivalent of a "lot of flashy dunks."

Monfils moves on to play Pablo Andujar in the round of 16.

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{allcanada} Andreescu issues warning to tennis: 'NextGen is here'

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New York (AFP) - Canadian teen Bianca Andreescu met US teen sensation Coco Gauff for the first time Saturday while practicing at the US Open and took confidence a new generation's time has come.

"I told her congrats on all the success," Andreescu said. "Keep killing it. NextGen is here."

The 19-year-old from Toronto ousted 2018 Australian Open champion and two-time US Open runner-up Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-4, extending the 15th seed's deepest Grand Slam run.

"I'm really, really pumped," she said.

Gauff, only 15, reached the last 16 at Wimbledon and booked a third-round showdown with top-ranked defending champion Naomi Osaka in New York while Andreescu won titles at Toronto and Indian Wells this season.

"You see a lot of young players doing really well right now and I think it's really good for the game," said Andreescu. "You see many fresh faces and I think we're only going to get better from here."

Andreescu is 30-4 despite a shoulder injury that sidelined her most of the past five months. But she hasn't lost a completed match since March.

"I don't feel like I've lost a match," she said. "It feels pretty good, because you never know what can happen in a match. I'm trying not to take anything for granted right now. I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing.

"My two (titles) before this tournament are giving me a lot of confidence."

Andreescu next faces 116th-ranked US qualifier Taylor Townsend, who ousted Romanians Simona Halep and Sorana Cirstea to face a Canadian of Romanian heritage.

"I know she loves coming to the net," Andreescu said. "She has incredible volleys. I'll for sure work on some passing shots."

Wozniacki compared Andreescu to retired Belgian star Kim Clijsters, a three-time US Open champion.

"She has made a mark. Obviously she's playing well," Wozniacki said.

"The one I can most compare her game to would probably be Kim back in the day, Clijsters, because she moves well and she can stretch out and get to some balls and also play the aggressive and using the angles."

Clijsters was indeed one of the idols who inspired Andreescu's style of play.

"I actually looked up to her a lot while I was just coming up, when I started playing tennis," Andreescu said. "I think my game is pretty similar to hers. Not as good yet.

"But she's an incredible fighter. She's very solid all around. She can volley, she can slice, dropshot.

"She's very consistent, as well. She chooses her targets and she has a very good serve and return. She's very strong mentally."

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{allcanada} Inside look at Winnipeg Jets

 

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The Winnipeg Jets face plenty of questions as they approach this season.

The biggest involves the status of unsigned restricted free agent forwards Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor, two of Winnipeg's most important offensive weapons.

The Jets also have to replace three key veteran defensemen, leading to concerns that their window to win the Stanley Cup is closing.

Winnipeg lost in the Western Conference First Round in six games to the St. Louis Blues last season after reaching the conference final against the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017-18.

"If you're looking for any extra motivation, it's great," defenseman Josh Morrissey said. "Being a team that went from the Western Conference Final to not having a great season last year, now all of a sudden I'm not reading too much in the media, but it's hard not to hear about the window -- is it closing? -- and things like that.

"It doesn't come from wanting to prove people outside the team wrong, but we believe in ourselves, and we have a really tight-knit group and it's changed a little bit, but that mindset is still there."

Laine has scored 110 goals since 2016-17, sixth most in the NHL in that span, and Connor had an NHL career-high 66 points (34 goals, 32 assists) in 82 games last season.

Assuming Laine and Connor eventually sign, Winnipeg's top six forwards for much of last season (Laine, Connor, Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, Nikolaj Ehlers, Bryan Little) will be unchanged, and offense should continue to be a strength.

The Jets have scored 543 goals in the past two seasons, third most in the NHL behind the Tampa Bay Lightning (609) and Toronto Maple Leafs (556).

High-energy forward Brandon Tanev signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 1, leaving an opening on the third line.

There will be spots in the lineup available for forward prospects Kristian Vesalainen, the No. 24 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, and Mason Appleton, a sixth-round pick (No. 168) in the 2015 NHL Draft. Center Jack Roslovic may be ready for more responsibility after the 22-year-old had a limited role last season, when he scored 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) and averaged 9:44 of ice time in 77 games.

At defenseman, the Jets must replace Jacob Trouba, who played on their top pair before being traded to the New York Rangers for defenseman Neal Pionk and the No. 20 pick of the 2019 NHL Draft (used to select defenseman Ville Heinola) on June 17; Tyler Myers, who signed a five-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 1; and Ben Chiarot, who signed a three-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens on July 4.

Apart from Pionk, the Jets will continue to promote defensemen from within following the departures of Trouba, Myers and Chiarot.

"We've been on this program really for the last four seasons, bringing in younger players and developing them," coach Paul Maurice said. "I feel they're ready for that. And maybe more than that, they want it. There are young guys here that can play more minutes, that can push for more important roles."

The Jets have Morrissey, Pionk, Dustin Byfuglien and Dmitry Kulikov as their top four. Sami Niku, a seventh-round pick (No. 198) in the 2015 NHL Draft, and late-blooming Tucker Poolman, a 26-year-old selected in the fifth round (No. 127) of the 2013 NHL Draft, could see increased playing time.

The Jets could have seven players 23 or younger, giving the roster a less-established feel in what seems like a recurring youth movement.

But Morrissey said it's a perfect chance for younger players to make a mark in the NHL.

"It's lost in the shuffle a little bit how young a team we are," the 24-year-old said. "That there's the opportunity for young players to grow and get better and achieve new highs in their careers."

Maurice said he sees a team ready to improve, not one on the verge of taking a step back.

"I'd say our hunger, it's very high and there's a capacity for it," he said. "And yes, we're young. So the idea that after these departures the window's closing, those two ideas don't jive. We feel we have young players who are [ready] for more and in some ways that taste of disappointment ... that's a really important motivator for that next step."

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{allcanada} Aug. 31: Canadiens great Beliveau born in Quebec

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THIS DATE IN HISTORY: Aug. 31

1931: Jean Beliveau, a member of 17 Stanley Cup-winning teams with the Montreal Canadiens and a hockey immortal on and off the ice, is born in Trois Rivieres, Quebec.

Beliveau spurns several contract offers from the Canadiens in order to stay with the Quebec Aces of the amateur Quebec Senior Hockey League in the early 1950s; the Canadiens finally buy the QSHL in 1953 and turn it into a pro league to secure his rights. Beliveau plays on 10 Cup-winning teams with the Canadiens; the final one is in 1971, after which he retires following 18 NHL seasons. He finishes with 1,219 points (507 goals, 712 assists) in 1,125 NHL games and is inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972 after the Hall waives its mandatory three-year waiting period.

Following his retirement, Beliveau joins Montreal's front office and is part of seven more Cup-winning teams. He is a hero to many Canadians and beloved throughout hockey during his post-playing career before his death on Dec. 2, 2014. In 2017, he is named to the 100 Greatest NHL Players.

 

MORE MOMENTS

1973: Scott Niedermayer, a four-time Stanley Cup winner and a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, is born in Edmonton. The New Jersey Devils select Niedermayer, a speedy defenseman, No. 3 in the 1991 NHL Draft; he becomes a regular in 1992 and plays on three Stanley Cup-winning teams with New Jersey and another with the Anaheim Ducks before his retirement in 2010. Niedermayer is a member of the Triple Gold Club, having won an IIHF World Championship and an Olympic gold medal to go along with his four Stanley Cup championships. He also plays on teams that win the IIHF World Junior Championship, the Memorial Cup and the 2004 Canada Cup. Niedermayer finishes his career with 740 points (172 goals, 568 assists) in 1,263 NHL games; he wins the Norris Trophy in 2004 and the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2007.

 

1995: The New York Rangers acquire left wing Luc Robitaille and defenseman Ulf Samuelsson from the Pittsburgh Penguins for center Petr Nedved and defenseman Sergei Zubov. Robitaille scores 23 and 24 goals in two seasons with the Rangers before they trade him back to the Los Angeles Kings, his first NHL team. He retires in 2006 and is inducted into the Hall of Fame three years later.

 

2005: Alex Ovechkin, the first player taken in the 2004 NHL Draft, signs a three-year, entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals. The Moscow-born forward is an instant hit, scoring twice in his NHL debut, finishing his first season with 52 goals and winning the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie. He goes on to become the NHL's all-time leading scorer among players born in Russia and powers the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup championship in 2018, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

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{allcanada} Winnipeg Jets key statistics

 

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1. Hellebuyck's wins

Connor Hellebuyck won 34 games last season, a decline from 44 in 2017-18 when he was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy. His save percentage dropped from .924 to .913 and shutout total from six to two. One area that could help Hellebuyck increase his win total is his save percentage when facing the power play. He had an .873 save percentage in that situation last season, which was tied for 16th among goalies to play at least 40 games. A Jets penalty kill that was tied with the Ottawa Senators for 22nd in the NHL (79.2 percent) will be without defensemen Jacob Trouba (traded to the New York Rangers) and Tyler Myers (signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks). Trouba (2:28) and Myers (2:10) were second and third behind Josh Morrisey (2:49) in average shorthanded time on ice per game among Winnipeg defensemen last season.

 

2. Laine's shots per game

Patrik Laine had 19 points in November, including an NHL-high 18 goals and 11 even-strength goals, but scored nine goals over the remaining 58 regular-season games. The decline in production wasn't related to ice time because his average increased from 17:12 per game through Nov. 30 to 17:15 from Dec. 1 to April 6. Laine's shooting percentage is the likely culprit. He shot 21.4 percent while averaging four shots per game from the start of the season through Nov. 30 but 6.1 percent and 2.5 shots per game the rest of the way. It's feasible to predict a bounce-back season from Laine, a restricted free agent, if he can start the season on time and improve his shots per game.

 

3. Wheeler's points

Blake Wheeler ranks fifth in points (334) since the 2015-16 season behind Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks (381), Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning (379), Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers (372) and Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins (363). Wheeler had 91 points in each of the past two seasons and is tied for third in power-play points (73) with Lightning center Steven Stamkos over the span. The Jets were fourth on the man-advantage (24.8 percent) last season and Wheeler should continue to be among the NHL leaders in power-play points if their success carries over this season.

 

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{allcanada} Lions fire offensive line coach Chiu

 

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The BC Lions have fired offensive line coach Bryan Chiu, the team confirmed Saturday.

Kelly Bates will replace Chiu as the team's offensive line coach.

Chiu was in his first season with the Lions after spending three years with the Ottawa Redblacks.

A veteran of 13 seasons with the Montreal Alouettes, Chiu also coached with the Toronto Argonauts.

The Lions have given up the most sacks in the league this season, with 43. They are seventh in the league in rushing, averaging 86.1 points per game.

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{allcanada} Canada’s Bianca Andreescu advances to fourth round of U.S. Open

 

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Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu advanced into the fourth round of the U.S. Open on Saturday after defeating Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-4.

It's the furthest the 19-year-old from Thornhill, Ont., has gone at a Grand Slam event.

She'll next face Taylor Townsend of the U.S., in what will be their first meeting against each other.

Andreescu, ranked No. 15 in the world, started off strong against Wozniacki and broke her in the first game of the first set.

Her opponent would bounce back and broke the Canadian in the second game to even up the set.

Andreescu recovered from being down 0-30 in the seventh game of the set to break Wozniacki once again.

The momentum gained from the first set victory carried into the second as Andreescu once again broke her opponent in the first game of the second set and again in the third to take a 3-0 advantage.

But Wozniacki, a former world No. 1, would break Andreescu twice over the following three games to even up the set at 3-3.

The two sides would continue breaking each other until the final game of the set when Andreescu held serve. The Canadian finished the match with 27 winners.

Andreescu, who improved her record to 39-4 in 2019, has captured titles at the Rogers Cup in Toronto earlier this month and Indian Wells in March.

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{allcanada} Top prospects for Winnipeg Jets

 

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1. Ville Heinola, D

How acquired: Selected with No. 20 pick in 2019 NHL Draft

Last season: Lukko (FIN): 34 GP, 2-12-14

Growth and development time are needed for the 18-year-old Finland-born defenseman (5-foot-11, 178 pounds), but anticipation already is rising for a player with the potential to quarterback an NHL power play.

Heinola gained experience last season playing against men in Liiga, Finland's top pro league, and his hockey sense is considered elite.

"His escapability factor is high, which is really going to be an asset in the future, and his puck sense is off the charts," Jets assistant general manager Craig Heisinger said.

The Jets would like to see Heinola improve his skating, but the belief is it will become good enough to raise his offensive skills and instincts to impact level in the NHL.

Projected NHL arrival: 2021-22

 

2. Dylan Samberg, D

How acquired: Selected with No. 43 pick in 2017 NHL Draft

Last season: University of Minnesota Duluth (NCAA): 39 GP, 7-12-19

After winning an NCAA championship his first two seasons, Samberg has chosen to return to school for a third season.

A strong, mobile skater, Samberg has size (6-3, 190) he's not afraid to use, and the 20-year-old will have an even bigger leadership role this season. The package that awaits the Jets is attractive, especially given Winnipeg's transitioning defenseman group.

Projected NHL arrival: Next season

 

3. Logan Stanley, D

How acquired: Selected with No. 18 pick in 2016 NHL Draft

Last season: Manitoba (AHL): 73 GP, 6-16-22

The Jets have taken a patient approach to Stanley's development. They were happy with the progress the 21-year-old made last season, his first in professional hockey, and believe he will play NHL games this season.

Stanley's size (6-7, 228), range and big shot are reasons for that patience, and now that expectations are rising, he will be more under the microscope.

"He's a big man who can skate and he had a tremendous season in the AHL," Heisinger said. "To play in the NHL as a big man, you have to be in peak condition, not American Hockey League condition or junior condition. It has to be NHL shape."

Projected NHL arrival: Next season

 

4. Kristian Vesalainen, F

How acquired: Selected with No. 24 pick in 2017 NHL Draft

Last season: Winnipeg (NHL): 5 GP, 0-1-1; Manitoba (AHL): 22 GP, 4-9-13; Jokerit (KHL): 31 GP, 6-11-17

Vesalainen brings size (6-3, 207) and grit, and the Jets believe the experience the 20-year-old gained last season between the NHL, AHL and Kontinental Hockey League helped mature his game. Vesalainen started the season with the Jets, was assigned to Jokerit on Nov. 22, and returned to Manitoba on March 15.

"I think it helped him that he came back to [Manitoba] after the year in the KHL," Heisinger said. "And it helped the team. He's a top-nine forward who can shoot the puck and can contribute in a variety of ways."

Projected NHL arrival: This season

 

5. Sami Niku, D

How acquired: Selected with No. 198 pick in 2015 NHL Draft

Last season: Winnipeg (NHL): 30 GP, 1-3-4; Manitoba (AHL): 20 GP, 3-9-12

The 22-year-old started the season in the AHL but earned the chance to stay in Winnipeg. After Jan. 1, he spent all but 11 days with the Jets and averaged 14:24 of ice time in 25 games.

The Jets believe what the Finland-born Niku lacks in size (6-1, 176), he makes up for with elite skating and outstanding vision. Niku's hockey sense was a major reason he was named AHL defenseman of the year in 2017-18, his first North American season, when he had 54 points (16 goals, 38 assists) in 76 games.

Projected NHL arrival: This season

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{allcanada} Three questions facing Winnipeg Jets

 

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1. When will Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor sign?

Each forward remains a restricted free agent with the start of training camp less than two weeks away.

Laine had 50 points (30 goals, 20 assists) in 82 games last season and has scored 110 goals in his first three NHL seasons (36 as a rookie in 2016-17 and 44 in 2017-18), sixth most in the League in that span.

Connor had 66 points (34 goals, 32 assists) in 82 games last season and has 123 points (65 goals, 58 assists) in the past two. He was second on the Jets in goals last season behind Mark Scheifele (38) and has played mostly on Winnipeg's top line with Scheifele and captain Blake Wheeler.

Laine and Connor accounted for 23.7 percent of Winnipeg's goals last season and 27.5 percent of its goals in 2017-18.

 

2. Are their defensemen good enough?

It appears the top four to start the season will be Josh Morrissey, Dustin Byfuglien, Dmitry Kulikov and Neal Pionk. Jacob Trouba (traded to New York Rangers for Pionk and a first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft), Tyler Myers (signed with Vancouver Canucks) and Ben Chiarot (signed with Montreal Canadiens) likely will be replaced by Sami Niku, Nathan Beaulieu and Tucker Poolman. Winnipeg allowed 243 goals last season, 15th in the NHL after finishing fifth in 2017-18 (216 goals-against).

 

3. Can Connor Hellebuyck bounce back?

After going 44-11-9 with a 2.36 goals-against average, a .924 save percentage and six shutouts in 2017-18, Hellebuyck was 34-23-3 with a 2.90 GAA, a .913 save percentage and two shutouts. The decline in his statistics can be gauged in a simple analysis: Hellebuyck allowed 23 more goals last season than in 2017-18, one more in every 2.7 starts, and his rate of saves was worse by 1.1 over each 100 shots-against. Those are small differences that have big impacts.

 

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{allcanada} Whitecaps remain resilient despite tough travel schedule

 

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VANCOUVER — After a rough week-long road trip, coach Marc Dos Santos says his Vancouver Whitecaps are returning home to what feels like a bit of a rude dinner guest.

While the 'Caps (6-13-9) dropped a 2-1 decision in Montreal Wednesday night and faced travel delays in their return to B.C., New York City FC (13-5-8) has been in town for days preparing for Saturday's match up.

Dos Santos compared the situation to inviting someone you don't know well over for dinner.

"You tell him 'Hey, be there at 7.' And when you arrive at 7, he's already there, smoking a cigar on your couch. It's the same thing. It doesn't make sense," the coach said.

"We're going into a game where New York has more preparation, New York has more rest and where New York travelled better. And it's going to take absolutely everything from us to get the result we want."

This week marks the fourth time this season that the Whitecaps have been forced to play midweek and weekend games on opposite sides of the continent.

"It's definitely been difficult for us, a lot of Wednesday games, travelling to the East Coast and back to the West. It's been a grind. But it's nice now to finally be home," said right back Jake Nerwinski.

This road swing was made especially difficult after the team's flight out of Montreal was abruptly cancelled on Thursday.

"I should have asked some of the (NYC) guys to water my plants or something because they were here all week," Nerwinski said.

Dos Santos wants to see Major League Soccer make adjustments to the schedule that would allow both teams to prepare at an equal level. One possibility, he said, would be to have only teams that both played mid-week games meet in weekend contests.

He also wants the league to do something about what he sees as uneven officiating.

There have been 12 times this year when video-assistant referee review has been used during 'Caps games and most of the calls have gone against the club.

The latest decision came in Wednesday's loss to the Montreal Impact when a penalty kick by Vancouver striker Tosaint Ricketts was called back due to encroachment. The goal would have put the Whitecaps up 2-0 midway through the first half.

Dos Santos doesn't believe the same call would have been made against other MLS teams like Atlanta United, the Seattle Sounders or Los Angeles FC.

"Against us, it's been 'Call the FBI, call the CIA, call the army, VAR, bring everybody on the field to check it again.' I think it's a lot against us," he said.

"Right now, it's way too much. This call affected the game. It was 2-0 for us and it changed totally the complexity of the game."

Still, there are positives to be taken from the mid-week match up, Ricketts said.

"We started the game quite lively and we had our tactics, we had our ideas going into the match and we executed them in the first bit of that game. Unfortunately there were some situations that turned the tides against us," said the 32-year-old, who got his first start as a Whitecaps against the Impact on Wednesday.

"We know as a group that we have quality. We know as a group that we can produce some good moments like we did against Montreal."

Preparation to face New York has to be kept simple because of time constraints, Dos Santos said, but he expects his group to go into the contest with a chip on their shoulder.

"I know that inside our guys, they feel a lot of revolt from even the call in Montreal, they feel revolt from the type of travelling, that NYC FC was here before us," he said. "And that passion, that desire, I think that's going to be a part of us (on Saturday)."

NEW YORK CITY FC (13-5-8) AT VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (6-13-9)

B.C. Place, Saturday

MISSING PIECE: Vancouver's Erik Godoy is listed as doubtful for Saturday's game as he nurses a right calf strain. The centre back has been a stalwart piece of the 'Caps defence this season, 2,416 minutes in 27 games.

PLAYOFF HOPES DIM: The Whitecaps must beat NYCFC to keep their faint hope of a post-season berth alive for another week. They'll also need help from some other teams in the Western Conference, where the club is currently tied with the Colorado Rapids for last place.

HOLDING OFF HEBER: The 'Caps will be looking to stymie a dynamic New York offence that has scored 48 times this season. Forward Heber Araujo dos Santos leads the charge with 13 goals, good for fifth in MLS. Midfielder Maximiliano Moralez leads the league in assists with 18.

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{allcanada} NHL informs union it won't terminate labor deal

 

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Citing what it called momentum from a sustained period of labor peace, the NHL said Friday it has informed the NHL Players' Association it will not use its option to terminate the existing collective bargaining agreement next year.

The league announced its decision two days before its deadline to notify the union whether it would reopen collective bargaining talks. The union has until Sept. 15 to decide on whether to terminate the agreement as of September 2020, two years before the existing deal expires.

''We will continue to discuss this matter with our players as our September 15 decision approaches,'' the union said.

If the players opt to reopen the CBA, it would set the clock ticking toward a potential third work stoppage in the sport since 2004. If the players choose not to terminate the agreement, it remains in effect until 2022. The next Winter Olympics are in Beijing earlier that year.

''Based on the current state of the game and the business of the game, the NHL believes it is essential to continue building upon the momentum we have created with our players,'' NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement issued by the league. ''It is our hope that a continued sustained period of labor peace will enable us to further grow the game and benefit all constituent groups.''

The players, however, have concerns, notably regarding the escrow issue, Olympic participation and the split of hockey-related revenue. The NHL and NHLPA are in agreement on wanting more international competition and are in talks about holding another World Cup of Hockey as early as February 2021.

The NHLPA executive board is scheduled to meet in Chicago on Wednesday. The league and union have been meeting through the summer and those discussions are scheduled to continue.

Escrow is a major concern for the players, according to a majority of union representatives surveyed by The Associated Press and Canadian Press last spring.

The current CBA has owners and players dividing hockey-related revenue 50/50, and if player salaries exceed that split a certain percentage is withheld in escrow to make it even. Players have complained, saying some have lost upward of 10% of their pay to escrow over the past seven seasons.

''I don't know if we're going to eliminate it,'' New Jersey Devils player rep Cory Schneider said. ''Obviously we'll figure that part out. But at least some way to mitigate it or control it better for us just to know what to expect.''

The league has countered by saying escrow is a function of the salary-cap system, with the amount of money held back being higher when the upper limit on salaries is higher.

On Friday, Bettman stressed a desire to have a cooperative approach between owners and players.

''In any CBA, the parties can always identify issues they are unhappy with and would like to see changed,'' Bettman said. ''However, our analysis makes clear that the benefits of continuing to operate under the terms of the current CBA - while working with the Players' Association to address our respective concerns - far outweigh the disruptive consequences of terminating it following the upcoming season.''

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{allcanada} TFC's Bradley unhappy at having to choose between club and country

 

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Toronto FC captain Michael Bradley isn't happy about having to choose between club and country.

And he tore a strip off Major League Soccer on Thursday, saying the league needs to respect FIFA's international dates.

The world governing body of soccer designates times throughout the year for top leagues to shut down so international matches can be played. While MLS has taken breaks during the World Cup and Gold Cup, it does not routinely close shop during FIFA windows.

Taking advantage of the Sept. 2-10 FIFA window, the U.S. is playing friendlies against Mexico on Sept. 6 in East Rutherford, N.J., and Uruguay in St. Louis on Sept. 10. But Toronto FC has league matches Sept. 7 in Cincinnati and Sept. 11 in New York against NYCFC.

U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter elected not to call up Bradley or Toronto teammates Jozy Altidore and Omar Gonzalez, citing the scheduling clash and the fact that TFC is looking to climb the standings ahead of the playoffs.

Bradley, who has won 150 caps for the U.S., said he was involved in discussions with Berhalter about the scheduling clash. He also said that MLS has to change.

"It's the worst part about the league, the fact that teams play through FIFA (international) dates," he told reporters after training Thursday. "Because as you're trying to give everything you have for your club team and the national team, there's too many moments where you're missing something.

"It's got to be one of the next steps for the league in terms of respecting the FIFA dates, not playing through summer tournaments. And it always comes back to scheduling issues and all this. I get it but it has to become something where it gets worked around

"Because you can't have the rest of the world respecting the FIFA calendar and FIFA dates and then there's still a full slate of MLS games ... It's not the right way to do things."

While Bradley said he doesn't like missing the U.S. games, Toronto's playoff chase takes precedence.

"I love playing for the national team. I'm very committed to what's going on there and with Gregg Berhalter and his staff. But for right now, for this next period, given how many games we have, given how important the games are here, it's real important that I'm here."

Toronto (10-10-7) stands eighth in the Eastern Conference with seven games to play. The top seven teams in each conference make the playoffs.

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{allcanada} Lucic primed for bounce-back season with Flames, coach says: report

 

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Milan Lucic is "in phenomenal shape" and poised to have a bounce-back season, Calgary Flames coach Bill Peters told Sportsnet 960 in Calgary on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old forward was acquired in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers for forward James Neal on July 19.

"[Lucic] gives us a dimension that we basically didn't have," Peters told the radio station. "You always hear, and you read articles in the summer, everyone's got a chip on their shoulder. Anyone who's gotten bought out or traded have a chip on their shoulder, and they've got something to prove, and that's true."

Lucic is coming off the least productive full NHL season of his 12-year career, with 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in 79 games with the Oilers last season. It marked the third straight season his point totals have declined, following 50 points (23 goals, 27 assists) in 82 games with Edmonton in 2016-17 and 34 points (10 goals, 24 assists) in 82 games in 2017-18.

But Peters said he believes Lucic is poised for a revival in Calgary.

"He looks great," Peters said. "He's in phenomenal shape. Very driven, very realistic about where he's at and what he has to do. I like the fact he's wearing (No.) 17 instead of 27. I think he had some good success when he was (with the Boston Bruins) wearing 17. Looking forward to getting him in the lineup."

Lucic also received praise from Flames defenseman Travis Hamonic.

"He's won the Stanley Cup (with the Bruins in 2011), been to another Final (with Boston in 2013), so he knows what it takes," Hamonic said of Lucic last week. "I think we have a good mix of old and young, but when someone like that comes into your locker room as a teammate, you can lean on their experience. You can never have too much of that."

Forward Johnny Gaudreau, who led Calgary in goals (36), assists (63) and points (99) last season, said he is looking forward to seeing the physical play Lucic (6-foot-3, 231 pounds) can provide.

"You don't really realize how big a presence he is on the ice," Gaudreau said after playing in a Checking For Charity game at Flyers Skate Zone on Aug. 10. "When you play against a team like that and you have a player like that who can get into the corners, big body, get in front of the net, he really helps your team. I think that's what we've been looking for in our team. I think he can push us over the edge here."

The Flames hope to better their performance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season; they were 50-25-7 with 107 points last season and had the best record in the Western Conference but lost in the first round to the Colorado Avalanche in five games.

A second-round pick (No. 50) by Boston in the 2006 NHL Draft, Lucic has 501 points (198 goals, 303 assists) in 890 regular-season games with the Bruins, Los Angeles Kings and Oilers, and has 70 points (28 goals, 42 assists) in 114 playoff games.

Though Lucic averaged 13:14 of ice time during his final season with the Oilers, Peters said he sees him skating on the third line with center Derek Ryan, if not the first line with Gaudreau and center Sean Monahan.

"I've got to keep the big guy involved," Peters said. "He's got to be involved, so he needs some ice time."

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