{allcanada} May 1: Beliveau becomes first Conn Smythe winner

 

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THIS DATE IN HISTORY: May 1

1965: Jean Beliveau becomes the first winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Beliveau wins the brand-new trophy after scoring the first of the Montreal Canadiens' four first-period goals in a 4-0 win against the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 7 of the Final at the Forum.

Beliveau sets a record for the fastest Cup-winning goal when he beats Glenn Hall 14 seconds after the opening faceoff. He assists on a goal by Dick Duff less than five minutes later, and Yvan Cournoyer and Henri Richard score late in the period. Beliveau finishes the playoffs with 16 points (eight goals, eight assists).

Gump Worsley makes 20 saves to become the second goalie to have a shutout in Game 7 of the Final. The Canadiens win their first championship since 1960.

 

MORE MOMENTS

1980: The New York Islanders set a playoff record by winning their seventh consecutive road game when Bobby Nystrom scores at 1:20 of double overtime for a 2-1 win against the Buffalo Sabres at Memorial Auditorium in Game 2 of the Semifinals. Billy Smith makes 41 saves before Nystrom scores the third of his four career overtime goals to give the Islanders a 2-0 lead in the best-of-7 series.

 

1992: For the first time in their history, the New York Rangers win a Game 7. Adam Graves scores two goals and sets up two others in an 8-4 victory against the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden in the Patrick Division Semifinala. The Rangers also get two goals and an assist from Mark Messier and 33 saves by John Vanbiesbrouck. It's the first time the Rangers play a Game 7 at home after going 0-4 as the road team.

On the same night, Pat LaFontaine of the Sabres becomes the first player in NHL history to score a goal in each of his team's first seven playoff games in one year. Despite that, the Sabres lose 3-2 to the Boston Bruins at Boston Garden in Game 7 of the Adams Division Semifinal.

Also, Mario Lemieux has a goal and an assist for the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 3-1 win against the Washington Capitals in Game 7 of their Patrick Division Semifinal at Landover, Maryland. The win caps Pittsburgh's comeback from a 3-1 series deficit.

 

1993: Nikolai Borschevsky scores at 2:35 of overtime to give the Toronto Maple Leafs a 4-3 win against the Detroit Red Wings in Game 7 of the Norris Division Semifinals at Joe Louis Arena. The Maple Leafs trail 2-1 and 3-2, but force overtime when Doug Gilmour scores with 2:43 remaining in the third period. Borschevsky then beats Tim Cheveldae to become the second player in NHL history to score his first playoff goal in overtime of a Game 7.

 

1995: The Canadiens are assured of a non-playoff season for the first time in 25 years when they lose 2-0 to the Sabres at Memorial Auditorium. Goaltender Dominik Hasek makes 32 saves and Richard Smehlik and Alexander Mogilny score goals to eliminate Montreal from the playoff race. It's the first time since 1970 that Montreal will not take part in the postseason.

 

2004: Joe Sakic ties Maurice Richard's career playoff record with his sixth overtime goal, giving the Colorado Avalanche a 2-1 win against the San Jose Sharks in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals at San Jose Arena. It's the second overtime goal in as many games for Sakic, who ties the game midway through the third period before scoring the winner at 1:54 of OT.

 

2008: Johan Franzen scores three goals in Detroit's 8-2 win against the Avalanche at Pepsi Center, giving him an NHL-record nine goals in a four-game series. Franzen also breaks the Red Wings record for goals in a series of any length, set by Gordie Howe in 1949 (eight goals in seven games). He matches Colorado's total goals in the Western Conference Quarterfinal series and becomes the first player with two hat tricks in a series since Jari Kurri of the Edmonton Oilers in 1985.

 

2009: The Red Wings make history in a 3-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks at Joe Louis Arena in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals. It's the 18th consecutive time the Red Wings have started a series at home, a playoff record. Defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom has two assists before scoring the winning goal with 49.1 seconds remaining in the third period. Detroit also becomes the first NHL team to win consecutive games in one playoff year by scoring tiebreaking, game-winning goals in the last minute of the third period.

 

2018: Alex Ovechkin scores with 1:07 remaining in the third period to give the Capitals a 4-3 win against the Penguins in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Second Round at PPG Paints Arena. The Penguins trail 3-2 entering the third period, but Matt Niskanen ties the game by beating goalie Matt Murray at 5:06 before Ovechkin gets the winner.

 

2019: Curtis McElhinney became the oldest goalie in NHL history to make his first career playoff start, eclipsing the mark set by Pittsburgh's Les Binkley in Game 1 of the 1970 Quarterfinals. McElhinney (35 years, 343 days) is 37 days older than Binkley when he makes 28 saves for the Carolina Hurricanes in a 5-2 victory against the Islanders in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Second Round at PNC Arena. The victory gives Carolina a 3-0 lead in the best-of-7 series.

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{allcanada} Lions trade up to No. 1, take East Carolina LB Williams

 

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TORONTO — The B.C. Lions ensured Jordan Williams began his CFL tenure with a bang.

The Lions opened the CFL draft Thursday night by moving up from No. 3 to first overall in a trade with the Calgary Stampeders. Then B.C. made Williams the first player taken.

"I'm absolutely surprised," Williams said during a conference call. "I thought the CFL is one through nine and that's what you get.

"I didn't think they'd pick me, I thought they'd get a defensive end or something. For them to take me, man, it's surreal. I can't even quantify how it feels."

The five-foot-11, 219-pound Williams hasn't played football since 2017 when he finished second in tackles at East Carolina with 89 — including three for a loss — with a forced fumble. The 27-year-old is an American by birth but was deemed a national for the draft because his mother is Canadian.

"I think once I know the rust's off, I'll be locked and loaded and ready to go," Williams said.

Last year, the Ottawa Redblacks offered Williams a practice-roster spot after he attended one of the club's free-agent camps. But upon learning of his mother's nationality, the club recommended Williams investigate taking that path into the league.

Williams shined at last month's Ontario combine, the CFL's final due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. He recorded a 40-yard dash time of 4.48 seconds, 20 reps in the 225-pound bench press, 39-inch vertical jump and broad jump of 10 feet, 8.5 inches.

B.C. (5-13) finished last in the West Division last season. Head coach DeVone Claybrooks was fired and replaced by Rick Campbell after he stepped down from that post with the Ottawa Redblacks.

The Toronto Argonauts then took Virginia receiver Dejon Brissett, the older brother of Toronto Raptors guard/forward Oshae Brissett. And the elder Brissett, a native of Mississauga, Ont., gets to begin his pro career very close to home.

"It's surreal being home for the first time in a long time," he said. "I can't explain how excited I am."

The six-foot-one, 195-pound Brissett, a native of Mississauga, Ont., appeared in 12 games last season with Virginia after transferring from Richmond, recording two receptions for 18 yards. Brissett appeared in 33 games at Richmond, recording 86 catches for 1,282 yards and nine TDs.

Brissett is looking forward to joining a Toronto team coming off consecutive 4-14 campaigns after winning the '17 Grey Cup.

"It's crazy," he said. "We're going to make it happen, for sure."

At No. 3, Calgary took Southeastern Louisiana defensive end Issac Adeyemi-Berglund of Dartmouth, N.S. And while the six-foot-two, 243-pound Adeyemi-Berglund now knows where he'll begin his pro career, he still doesn't know exactly when it will begin due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It's always crazy when you talk about this COVID-19 thing but it's the same for every athlete," he said. "But it's crazy because we just got drafted, it's probably the biggest night of our lives according to football so it's definitely strange."

Adeyemi-Berglund registered 28 tackles for a loss and 15 sacks during his collegiate career.

The Edmonton Eskimos selected Buffalo offensive lineman Tomas Jack-Kurdyla at No. 4. The six-foot-four, 300-pound Montreal native was a four-year starter for a Bulls team that last year set schools records for most rushing yards (3,256, 296 per game) and fewest sacks (eight).

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats used the first of their two opening-round selections on Guelph offensive lineman Coulter Woodmansey at No. 5. The six-foot-five, 325-pound Toronto native plays with an edge, a solid attribute for a franchise coming off a club-record 15 regular-season wins last year.

The Ottawa Redblacks (league-worst 3-15 record) followed by taking versatile Adam Auclair of Laval. The six-foot-two, 205-pound Auclair, whose brother, Antony, is a tight end with the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers, can play linebacker or in the secondary and contribute on special teams.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders didn't look far with the seventh overall pick, taking Saskatchewan Huskies offensive lineman Mattland Riley. The six-foot-three, 285-pound native of Melfort, Sask., was a 2018 second-team All-Canadian.

Hamilton followed up by selecting North Dakota defensive end Mason Bennett. The six-foot-four, 235-pound Winnipeg native appeared in 43 career collegiate games, recording 128 tackles _ 31.5 for a loss _ with 20 sacks and two fumble recoveries.

Toronto completed the first round with its second selection, Regina offensive lineman Theren Churchill at No. 9. The six-foot-six, 295-pound native of Stettler, Alta., made 25 career starts at right tackle for the Rams.

The Redblacks opened the second taking Brown defensive lineman Michael Hoecht at No. 10 overall. But they'll have to wait as the six-foot-four, 310-pound Oakville, Ont., native signed as an undrafted free agent with the NFL's Los Angeles Rams.

At No. 12, Calgary took British Columbia receiver Trivel Pinto, who was suspended for two years and bumped from the '19 draft after a positive cocaine test. The Toronto native was a first-team All-Canadian for a second straight season in 2018, setting a Canada West record with 67 catches for 916 yards and six TDs.

The Alouettes look to the future with their first selection, taking Montreal Carabins defensive back Marc-Antoine Dequoy at No. 14. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers.

B.C. then made Nathan Rourke of Oaville, Ont., the first quarterback taken at No. 15. That's the highest for a Canadian at that position since '01 when Montreal selected former Florida star Jesse Palmer.

The six-foot-two, 209-pound Rourke completed 200-of-328 passes for 2,820 yards with 20 TDs and five interceptions last season at Ohio University while rushing for 867 yards (5.6-yard average) with 13 touchdowns. It will be a homecoming of sorts for Rourke, who has family in Vancouver and Powell River, B.C.

Montreal followed at No. 16 taking Queen's defensive lineman Cameron Lawson. The six-foot-three, 285-pound native of Caledon, Ont., recorded 74 career tackles, 11 sacks, 19.5 tackles for a loss and two fumble recoveries as a collegian.

The Grey Cup-champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers made their first pick of the draft at No. 18, taking McMaster defensive back Noah Hallett. He joins his brother, Nick, also a defensive back who was a '19 seventh-round pick.

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{allcanada} NHL pleased with talks about season restart scenarios, Commissioner says

 

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The NHL and the NHL Players' Association have been in constant communication as they consider scenarios for resuming the season, which was paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks to NHLPA executive director Don Fehr regularly. The League and the Players' Association have formed a Return to Play Committee that includes executives and players.

"Having the committee that's been put together with the players is important so that we can get the feedback on the issues that are important to them and how to resolve them, and that we can be communicating how we're focusing on the things we think that need to be done," Commissioner Bettman told NHL Network on Thursday. "It's been extraordinarily collaborative, constructive and cooperative, and I couldn't be more pleased with the interaction that we're having."

Following a virtual committee meeting Wednesday, the NHL and the NHLPA released a joint statement saying they had not made any decisions or set a timeline regarding possible return-to-play scenarios.

"I don't think anybody knows for certain," the Commissioner said Thursday when asked how close the NHL was to resuming the season. "We're going to have to take things one step at a time, because the health and well-being of our players is paramount to anything we're focused on."

The joint statement said that if conditions continue to trend favorably -- subject to potential competitive concerns between disparately situated markets -- the NHL and the NHLPA believe they might be able to allow small group activities in NHL training facilities at some point in the mid-to-later portion of May.

But it said the precise date remained undetermined, and in the meantime, players and staff are expected to continue following the recommendation to self-quarantine that has been in place since the pause began.

"We'd like to be able to get our training facilities open," Commissioner Bettman said Thursday. "We'd like our guys to be able to work themselves back into shape. But this is something we're going to continue to evaluate on a day-to-day basis.

"Our health concerns for the players really fit into two categories: One is obviously COVID-19, and two, whatever we're going to do, we don't want them playing games until they're back in game shape.

"So we're going to continue to monitor things, and when the guidance from the medical people is right and the governmental authorities are comfortable, then we'll take step one, which is reopening our training facilities."

The Commissioner said the NHL and the NHLPA would remain patient not only about resuming this season but starting next season.

"We have a great deal of flexibility in terms of when we can start," Commissioner Bettman said. "There's no magic for next season of starting in October as we traditionally do. If we have to start in November or December, that's something that will be under consideration.

"We're going to try and make good, prudent, careful judgments. This isn't a race to be first back. When we come back, we want it to be at the right time, for the right reasons, under the right circumstances."

Commissioner Bettman said the pandemic dwarfs everything the NHL and the NHLPA are considering.

"We miss the game," the Commissioner said. "We miss our fans. We miss watching our players play every night. We'd be in the middle of the [Stanley Cup Playoffs] right now. We're focused on trying to do the right things for the good of the game, so we can get back and connect with our great fans as soon as possible.

"But as soon as possible means under the right circumstances, and for that we're going to take our guidance from the governments at all levels and from the medical people."

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{allcanada} Ex-NHLer Laraque says he has COVID-19

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Long time NHL veteran Georges Laraque announced on Twitter Thursday night that he has tested positive for COVID-19.

"I guess I'm not invincible, just got diagnosed with Covid, since I'm asthmatic, not the best news, will fight it off," he wrote on Twitter.

Laraque is a veteran of 12 NHL seasons mostly spent with the Edmonton Oilers. The 43-year-old also spent time with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Montreal Canadiens and Coyotes franchise.

In 695 career NHL regular season games, he tallied 53 goals and 100 assists. 

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{allcanada} Auger-Aliassime 'hopes' tennis season can restart

 

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Paris (AFP) - Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime said on Thursday that he hopes the tennis season can restart this year despite the coronavirus pandemic, but admitted that it is "hard" to have an opinion on what will happen next.

The ATP and WTA tours are suspended until at least July 13, while Wimbledon was cancelled this year for the first time since World War II.

"It's hard to say (if the season will be scrapped)," Auger-Aliassime, who at 19 is the youngest player in the world's top 20, said in a video call.

"We hear rumours and assumptions every day, but they are just rumours and assumptions. Obviously I hope we can play.

"But it's hard for anyone right now, whatever their position or status, to have a clear and concrete opinion on the future of the season."

Auger-Aliassime has been spending the lockdown with his family in Montreal, but hopes to be able to travel to Monaco next month to resume training.

The teenager had enjoyed a strong start to the season, reaching two ATP finals, although he lost both to take his career record in championship matches to five defeats from five.

"There is a lot of uncertainty, questions," he added. "I try to make do with what we know -- for the moment, there won't be a tournament before mid-July."

"I don't have a motivation problem, I know where I want to go, what I want to work on. I really have no doubts. The difficulty is the total uncertainty around the competition."

Debate has raged in recent weeks over whether top players should give financial help during the COVID-19 shutdown to those lower ranked.

Novak Djokovic said he was working with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to organise aid for players struggling to make ends meet, but world number three Dominic Thiem said he did not "really see why I should give such players money".

Auger-Aliassime insists that there are youngsters on the second and third-tier tours worthy of receiving aid.

"It's a very good idea. I have counterparts my age who are starting out on the circuit, who work hard, and it's difficult for them.

"I would be really interested in participating."

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{allcanada} April 30: Kings complete historic series comeback against Sharks

 

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THIS DATE IN HISTORY: April 30

2014: The Los Angeles Kings highlight a historic night when they defeat the San Jose Sharks 5-1 in Game 7 of their Western Conference First Round series at SAP Center, becoming the fourth team in NHL history to win a Stanley Cup Playoff series after losing the first three games.

Two members of the Kings, forwards Jeff Carter and Mike Richards, become the first players to do it twice, having played on the 2010 Philadelphia Flyers, who won their series against the Boston Bruins after losing the first three games. Kings goalie Jonathan Quick makes 39 saves and yields five goals in the four wins after allowing 16 in the three losses.

The victory by the Kings caps a hectic night of Game 7s.

A couple of hours earlier, Nino Niederreiter scores at 5:02 of overtime to give the Minnesota Wild a 5-4 victory against the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center, moving them into the Western Conference Second Round. The Avalanche lead 1-0, 2-1, 3-2 and 4-3, only to have the Wild tie the score each time, the last on a goal by Jared Spurgeon with 2:27 remaining in the third period. Minnesota becomes the first team in NHL history to score four game-tying goals in the seventh game of a playoff series.

The New York Rangers start the night by becoming the first NHL team to win a Game 7 in three consecutive years when they hold off the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 at Madison Square Garden to win their Eastern Conference First Round series. Henrik Lundqvist makes 26 saves for the Rangers. The win against the Flyers comes after the Rangers defeat the Ottawa Senators in seven games in 2012 and the Washington Capitals in 2013.

 

MORE MOMENTS

1970: The St. Louis Blues defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 at the Civic Arena in Game 6 of their NHL Semifinal series, advancing to the Stanley Cup Final for the third time in their three-year NHL history. Bill McCreary leads the scoring with a goal and two assists; the second assist comes on the series-winning goal by Larry Keenan with 5:35 remaining in the third period.

 

1972: Ken Hodge gets the only playoff hat trick of his NHL career and Garnet Bailey scores the winner with 2:16 remaining in the third period to give the Bruins a 6-5 victory against the Rangers at Boston Garden in Game 1 of the Final. Hodge's three goals help the Bruins build a 5-1 lead; Bailey's shot beats Ed Giacomin for the win after the Rangers score four consecutive goals to tie the game 5-5. It's the first time in 43 years that Boston and New York play in the Final.

 

1986: The Edmonton Oilers' dreams of winning the Stanley Cup for a third straight year end when defenseman Steve Smith accidentally scores into his own net at 5:14 of the third period and the Calgary Flames win 3-2 at Northlands Coliseum in Game 7 of the Smythe Division Final. Smith, playing on his 23rd birthday, tries to throw a cross-ice pass but inadvertently banks the puck off goalie Grant Fuhr and into the net to break a 2-2 tie. The goal is credited to Calgary forward Perry Berezin, the player whose dump-in Smith picks up behind the net. It comes after Edmonton wins the Cup in 1984 and 1985; the Oilers win it again in 1987 and 1988.

 

1992: The Detroit Red Wings defeat the Minnesota North Stars 5-2 in Game 7 of the Norris Division Semifinals at Joe Louis Arena. Five players score and Tim Cheveldae makes 29 saves for the Red Wings, who come back to win the best-of-7 series after trailing 3-1. At the time, they are the ninth team in NHL history to do so.

 

1994: The Sharks, playing in their first Stanley Cup Playoff series, stun the top-seeded Red Wings with a 3-2 victory at Joe Louis Arena in Game 7 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. The game is tied in the third period when Detroit goalie Chris Osgood comes out of the net and tries to throw a backhand pass up the right side; Sharks forward Jamie Baker picks it off and shoots the puck into the vacant net before Osgood can get back. Baker's goal with 6:35 remaining helps the Sharks become the first team since the 1975 New York Islanders to advance to the second round in their playoff debut.

On the same night, Pavel Bure scores at 2:20 of the second overtime to give the Vancouver Canucks a 4-3 win against the Calgary Flames at the Saddledome in Game 7 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

 

2008: Patrick Marleau becomes the first player in playoff history to score shorthanded goals on consecutive days. His unassisted goal 9:19 into the second period also proves to be the game-winner when the visiting Sharks defeat the Dallas Stars 2-1 in Game 4 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

 

2013: Alexander Steen scores a shorthanded goal at 12:36 of overtime to give the Blues a 2-1 win against the Kings in Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals at Scottrade Center. Steen steals the puck from Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick and puts in into the vacant net to become the seventh player in Stanley Cup history to score an overtime goal while his team is shorthanded.

 

2015: Joel Ward scores with 1.3 seconds left in the third period to give the Capitals a 2-1 victory against the Rangers in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Second Round series at Madison Square Garden. Ward, unchecked in the slot with time running out, takes a pass from Alex Ovechkin and shoots the puck through the legs of Henrik Lundqvist for the win.

 

2019: Logan Couture scores three goals for his first playoff hat trick, helping the Sharks defeat the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 at Pepsi Center in Game 3 of the Western Conference Second Round. Couture scores at 12:50 of the third period to put the Sharks ahead 3-2 and hits the empty net with 30 seconds remaining. It's his 43rd playoff goal since 2010; only Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals (50) has more.

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{allcanada} Hoglander signs three-year, entry-level contract with Canucks

 

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Nils Hoglander signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday.

"Nils is a dynamic player with a high skill level and a strong work ethic," Canucks general manager Jim Benning said. "He's a creative playmaker with great hands and goal-scoring abilities. We're pleased to sign Nils today and look forward to seeing continued development in his game next season."

Benning said he thinks the forward has the potential to become a top-nine player upon entering the NHL, and perhaps better.

"Well, he could," Benning said, "because he played in the Swedish Elite League this year and never looked out of place, played in the top nine, and that's kind of where I see him playing in the NHL. He'll be a top-nine player, and I think once he's up and going and after he has a year or two under his belt, I think he could be a top-six player for us."

The 19-year-old forward scored 11 points (five goals, six assists) in seven games to help Sweden finish third at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship. He scored the most impressive goal of the tournament, a lacrosse-style goal against Finland in a 3-2 overtime win Dec. 26.

"When I was younger," Hoglander said, "I always liked to try crazy things with the puck and with the stick and just have fun with the stick and the puck and take that out to the ice too. I don't know what I am thinking when I do it, it's just coming up in my head and it works, I score on it.

"In Sweden we call it the Zorro goal."

Hoglander scored a similar goal for Rogle of the Swedish Hockey League on Oct. 29. Hoglander was selected in the second round (No. 40) of the 2019 NHL Draft. He scored 16 points (nine goals, seven assists) in 41 SHL games this season.

He said he thinks he can be a more effective player on the larger North American ice surface despite his size (5-foot-9, 185 pounds).

"It can be better for me to play on small ice," Hoglander said. "When I play my game, I like to play fast hockey, quick hockey, go to the net.

"When I protect the puck, that's my strength, not just stick-handling. I work out a lot, I'm pretty strong ... I think I'll win the puck, and nothing else.

"I will show people that I can play against bigger men. I trust my body and my game."

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{allcanada} Ferland could return in summer if NHL season resumes, Canucks GM says

 

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Micheal Ferland could return for the Vancouver Canucks in the summer if the NHL season resumes, general manager Jim Benning said.

Ferland was expected to miss the rest of the season after recurring concussion symptoms limited the forward to 14 games this season. Ferland last played in the NHL on Dec. 10, and an earlier return ended while playing his first game on a conditioning assignment with Utica in the American Hockey League on Feb. 14 when he left after the first period with concussion-like symptoms.

"I talked to Micheal Ferland last week and he's doing well," Benning said Wednesday. "He's training [at his offseason home in Manitoba], and if we were to start here later on this summer, I think he's going to be at 100 percent and going to be able to come back and play."

Ferland, who is in the first season of a four-year contract with an average annual value of $3.5 million, has five points (one goal, four assists) this season.

Benning was less certain about the return for forward Josh Leivo, who fractured his kneecap Dec. 19 against the Vegas Golden Knights and was expected to miss 2-3 months. Leivo has 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) in 36 games this season.

"That was a tough injury," Benning said. "He's doing his rehab [in Vancouver] and can continue to do that, and we'll just see where he's at."

Goalie Jacob Markstrom and defenseman Christopher Tanev have already been cleared to play.

Markstrom had knee surgery Feb. 26 but had already resumed skating before the NHL paused the season March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. Tanev sustained a lower-body injury March 10 during the final game before the season was paused and was considered week to week.

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{allcanada} Oilers greats can't see way of stopping McDavid, Draisaitl

 

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Paul Coffey and Grant Fuhr know greatness. Each is in the Hockey Hall of Fame and played for the Edmonton Oilers in the 1980s, when the Oilers also had Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier and Jari Kurri and company.

When Coffey and Fuhr watch the Oilers now, what do they see? As a defenseman, how would Coffey try to slow forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl? As a goalie, how would Fuhr try to stop them?

"I think with Connor, I mean, it's always, 'Feet don't fail me now,'" Coffey said Wednesday on a video call to commemorate the Oilers' run in the 1987 Stanley Cup Playoffs, when they won the Cup for the third time in four seasons.

Draisaitl and McDavid were first and second in the NHL scoring race when the season was paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus, Draisaitl with 110 points (43 goals, 67 assists) in 71 games, McDavid with 97 points (34 goals, 63 assists) in 64 games.

Not since the '80s have the Oilers finished a season with the top two players in scoring. Gretzky and Kurri did it twice, when Gretzky had 208 points (73 goals, 135 assists) and Kurri had 135 points (71 goals, 64 assists) in 1984-85, and when Gretzky had 183 points (62 goals, 121 assists) and Kurri had 108 points (54 goals, 54 assists) in 1986-87. Gretzky and Coffey did it in 1983-84, when Gretzky had 205 points (87 goals, 118 assists) and Coffey had 126 points (40 goals, 86 assists).

We all know McDavid is not only fast but can make plays with the puck at warp speed. Still, it's something else to hear that comment from someone like Coffey, one of the best skaters in NHL history. Coffey was voted the Norris Trophy winner as the NHL's best defenseman three times. He's 13th on the NHL scoring list (1,531 points), second among defensemen behind Ray Bourque (1,579).

"If you're a defenseman and you've got a guy coming down on you like that, that means, 'Feet don't fail me now,'" Coffey said, repeating the phrase. "You're not going to shut him down. You're just going to try to limit what he can do. And a lot of times, he's going to burn you anyway, and you can't do a thing about it. And that's where I just look over my shoulder and say, 'Fuhrsie! He's coming!'"

McDavid was voted the Hart Trophy winner as NHL most valuable player and won the Art Ross Trophy as the League scoring champion in 2016-17, when he had 100 points (30 goals, 70 assists) in 82 games.

He won the scoring title again in 2017-18 with 108 points (41 goals, 67 assists) in 82 games, then increased his numbers again last season with 116 points (41 goals, 75 assists) in 78 games.

This season, he's tied for his NHL career high in goals per game (0.53) and has NHL career highs in assists per game (0.98) and points per game (1.52).

Draisaitl reached a new level last season, when he was second in goals (50) to Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (51) and fourth in points (105) behind Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov (128), McDavid (116) and Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane (110).

This season, he has built upon that.

"You've got a guy like Leon who's just a horse out there, is becoming a better player every single game he plays, stronger," Coffey said. "… Leon's vision and passing and his strength is incredible. It's just a treat to watch those two play."

Fuhr, who won the Vezina Trophy voting as the NHL's best goalie in 1987-88 and ranks 12th in wins (403) in NHL history, would try to bait McDavid and Draisaitl to attack his strength.

"I've got to agree with Paul," Fuhr said. "It's fun to watch the two play. I'm kind of happy I'm not playing against them.

"But at the same time, when you play against players that have that much skill, you try and give them something to look at, so it takes away some of their benefit. I mean, I'd try and give them the glove side so they can see it, and then you're playing their best against your best, and you hope for the best result."

Fuhr used to do the same thing in the '80s.

"Fuhrsie, you were great at that, especially in practice with me, teasing me, giving me that corner and then stopping it and looking and laughing at me," Coffey said. "But those two guys, they're just beautiful to watch."

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{allcanada} Fuhr doesn't believe 1984-85 Oilers are No. 1 Greatest NHL Team

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Grant Fuhr said he doesn't believe the 1984-85 Edmonton Oilers are the No. 1 Greatest NHL Team, which they were voted during the NHL Centennial Celebration in 2017.

"I kind of like the '87 team better," said Fuhr, who was the Oilers goalie for their first four championships and a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame since 2003. "I think we were a little bit deeper. I think if you looked, we had four solid lines, we added Kent Nilsson at that time, so I personally think the '87 team may have been a little bit better than the '85 team."

Fuhr and defenseman Paul Coffey, key members of the dynasty when the Oilers won the Stanley Cup five times (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990) in seven seasons, participated in a video conference arranged by the team Wednesday.

The subject arose because the 1987 Stanley Cup Final between the Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers, won by Edmonton in seven games, has been airing on Sportsnet in Canada while the NHL season is paused due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.

The Greatest NHL Teams were voted by fans during the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, as part of the NHL Centennial Celebration. Stanley Cup championship teams from 1918-2016 were eligible. The 1986-87 Oilers finished fifth, behind the 1991-92 Pittsburgh Penguins, 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens and the 1987-88 Oilers.

Edmonton led the NHL with 106 points (50-24 with six ties) in the 1986-87 regular season and went 16-5 in the playoffs. The Oilers finished second in the League with 109 points in 1984-85 (Philadelphia had 113) and went 15-3 in the playoffs (including nine straight wins), when Gretzky set NHL records for assists (30) and points (47). His linemate, Jari Kurri, scored 19 goals in 18 games to tie Reggie Leach of the Flyers for the NHL record for most goals in a single postseason. Coffey set League records for goals (12), assists (25) and points (37) by a defenseman.

Coffey, who won the Cup three times with the Oilers (1984, 1985, 1987), said he finds it difficult to choose and has even had the discussion with center Wayne Gretzky about which team was better.

"I don't disagree (with Fuhr), but I did pick the '85 team, simply because we won (the Final against the Flyers) in five games," said Coffey, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004. "But to have a Kent Nilsson … and you can't overlook Reijo Ruotsalainen, one of the talented, talented defensemen [in regards to] puck moving.

"But I have a soft spot for the '85 team because of [Dave Semenko] and Donny Jackson and guys like that that were on that club. 1987 was an incredible team, but you've got to remember the League was getting better, so we had to get better. And that's one thing that [coach and general manager Glen Sather] wasn't afraid of, to make moves."

Flyers goalie Ron Hextall made things much more difficult for the Oilers during their championship run in 1987. He was on the losing team in the Final but was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, one of the elements that has elevated the series to classic status in the eyes of many.

"We knew if we didn't play our best, we would not win," said Coffey, who had 1,531 points (396 goals, 1,135 assists) in 1,409 NHL regular-season games and 196 points (59 goals, 137 assists) in 194 playoff games. "You've got to remember as great as Grant was, and I still think Grant played as well, if not better, than Ron Hextall, [Hextall] did a great job on the other side and kept those guys in the series."

Fuhr went 14-5 with a 2.47 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage during the 1987 playoffs. He said he relished the duel against the Flyers and Hextall, who went 15-11 with a 2.76 GAA and a .908 save percentage.

"It's not so much you're playing against the other goalie, you're playing against the other team," said Fuhr, who had a career record of 92-50 in the playoffs. "If he's doing his job, then I have to do my job. I think that was the big thing. [Hextall] was playing well, so I knew I'd have to play well. But I also knew our guys would be good. As long as I did my part, then we have a chance."

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{allcanada} CPL asking Ottawa for financial assistance during pandemic

 

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TORONTO — The Canadian Premier League has joined the Canadian Football League in asking the federal government for financial assistance during the global pandemic.

The eight-team pro soccer league has asked Ottawa for "short-term financing" of $15 million, saying it is working "on any and all scenarios" related to playing a season in 2020.

The CPL was set to start its second season on April 11, but postponed the kickoff on March 20, saying it was following Canada Soccer's decision to suspend all sanctioned soccer activities — and COVID-19 directives by governments and health officials banning public gatherings.

On Wednesday, it acknowledged it needed help in the form of bridge financing.

CPL commissioner David Clanachan said the league fully supports steps by governments and health agencies to combat the COVID-19 virus.

"Some things are bigger than football," he said

But those actions have essentially paralyzed the league, which has franchises in Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Victoria.

"So you've got no revenue ... No fans, no revenue. No revenue, no business. No business, no jobs," Clanachan said in an interview.

The league has 400 full-time staff and another 1,600 part-time workers it employs throughout the season.

Clanachan said the exact nature or form of the financial help "is all part of the conversation."

The CPL has already reduced wages for players and staff.

Players will have 25 per cent of their contracts deferred, while coaches, technical staff, and club and league employees will take unspecified pay reductions "during this challenging time in order to keep as many people as possible employed."

The CFL is seeking up to $150 million in federal assistance — $30 million now to manage the impact the pandemic has had on league business and up to another $120 million in the event of a lost 2020 campaign.

Commissioner Randy Ambrosie says the CFL's long-term future would be in peril if the season was wiped out.

The two leagues have ties. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers own Valour FC while Bob Young owns both the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Forge FC.

Both leagues say they can play a part in the country emerging from the global health crisis.

"We want our return to play to help unite soccer and sports fans across Canada to be a symbol of Canadian unity from a league for Canadians, by Canadians," the CPL said in a statement.

Clanachan says the league is running different scenarios on what the 2020 season might look. But the final word on resuming play will come from government and health authorities.

Clanachan said earlier this month that the CPL, thanks to the commitments of its owners, will survive the pandemic.

"As in any business, you do what you have to do and adjust as you go. But we're in this for the long run," he told The Canadian Press. "This is a long game here and we're very focused about what we're going to build and the legacy we will leave going forward. That's not changed at all."

On Wednesday, however, he said the league needs help in an landscape that is ever-changing and hard to predict.

"It gets tougher and tougher every day that goes by," he said.

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{allcanada} NHL, NHLPA have not set timeline for return to play

 

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NEW YORK/TORONTO - Following the NHL/NHLPA Return to Play Committee's meeting today, and in line with guidance provided by medical experts and national and local authorities, the NHLPA and the NHL issued the following statement regarding the continuing pause in the 2019-20 season:

Despite numerous reports and speculation over the last several days, the NHL and the NHLPA have not made any decisions or set a timeline for possible return to play scenarios.

Given recent developments in some NHL Clubs' local communities, we are now looking ahead to a Phase 2 of the transition period that would follow the currently recommended Phase 1 period of "self-quarantine" by Players and Hockey Staff.

The precise date of transition to Phase 2, during which Players might return to small group activities in NHL Club training facilities, remains undetermined. However, provided that conditions continue to trend favorably - and, subject to potential competitive concerns as between disparately situated markets - we believe we may be able to move to Phase 2 at some point in the mid-to-later portion of May. Specific guidelines governing Player and Hockey Staff activity would be provided at that time. In the meantime, we expect Players and Hockey Staff to continue to adhere to the recommended guidelines put in place when the season was paused on March 12.

The Return to Play Committee will continue to meet regularly.

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{allcanada} Flames sign defenceman Johannes Kinnvall to two-year, entry-level contract

 

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The Calgary Flames have signed free-agent defenceman Johannes Kinnvall to a two-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Wednesday.

Kinnvall will remain in Sweden for this upcoming season and join the Flames following the 2020-21 season. He was invited to the Flames development camp back in 2019 and according to Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet the Fan 960, the team was awaiting the completion of a transfer agreement before making the signing official.

The 22-year-old had 11 goals and 29 assists for 40 points in 51 games this season with HV71, establishing career-highs in assists and points. In 121 career games in the SHL, Kinnvall has 23 goals and 39 assists for 62 points.

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{allcanada} A return to rollerblades balancing out Suzuki's newfound talent amid pause

 

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Nick Suzuki has a new set of wheels.

Back at his parents' home in London, Ontario, in between video game bragging rights with his brother, Ryan, and the latest offerings on Netflix, one of hockey's top rookies is adding something new into the mix during the temporary pause of the 2019-20 NHL season.

"It's been pretty good being home," said Suzuki, in his first big-league season with the Montreal Canadiens. "I've been doing some baking. It's not the healthiest stuff, brownies and fudge, things like that. I also just got some rollerblades, so I'm going to be doing that a lot more."

Several players around the league have strapped on rollerblades and hit the pavement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

David Pastrnak, Claude Giroux, Patrick Kane, Nikita Kucherov, Aleksander Barkov and the Hughes brothers Jack, Luke and Quinn are some of the NHL stars who have taken up rollerblading as a way to stay in shape.

Suzuki, who recorded 13 goals and 41 points in 71 games in 2019-2020 (placing him sixth in points among rookies league-wide), is looking forward to putting his blades to good use.

"My brother and I would rollerblade when we were younger," recalled the 13th overall pick of the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 Entry Draft. "We would use them to play road hockey and we'd also use them when we went to the rollerblade centre in north London. That was always fun."

The 20-year-old, who came to Montreal via a trade in September 2018, is once again ready to roll, so to speak.

"It's definitely a good way to get some exercise during these times."

Suzuki is also enjoying the comforts of home and quality family time, sitting down to home-cooked meals, watching movies, and hanging out with Ryan, the 28th overall pick of Carolina in 2019.

The former Ontario Hockey League standout has also been chatting with his teammates on an almost daily basis, catching up on each other's lives and talking a little hockey.

"A few of the guys have reached out to me and I've done the same," said Suzuki, who notched 16 goals and 42 points in 24 playoff games to help lead the Guelph Storm to the 2019 OHL championship title. "It's nice to be able to check in and see how everyone is doing. Obviously, there isn't a lot going on these days, but it's good to see what everyone is up to. I've been keeping in touch with the guys I usually talk to through social media."

Suzuki is looking forward to the day he can trade in his sweatshirt and rollerblades back in for a Canadiens sweater and hockey skates.

"It definitely feels like something is missing from your life. Being on the ice, being around the guys that camaraderie you have it's something you really enjoy. So, to not have that now, you really do miss it. It will be nice to have that back. When it's taken away from you, you realize how lucky you are to have your teammates. You really miss that and you miss being out on the ice, going after those two points."

In the meantime, he'll be able to represent himself and the Habs alongside teammate Victore Mete in the first-ever NHL Player Gaming Challenge. Beginning April 30, players from each club will be featured in one-time matchups against other players from around the league over the course of four weeks. All featured matches also will be streamed on the NHL's social platforms. The NHL and EA will donate a combined $100,000 in support of the CDC Foundation's COVID-19 efforts.

Aside from reconnecting with his teammates, there is a particular part of playing at the Bell Centre that Suzuki is pining to experience again.

It was something that left him at a loss for words in the first NHL game he played in Montreal.

To this day, it still does.

"You can see the history of the team everywhere you look around our practice rink and at the Bell Centre. Maybe the biggest thing for me is walking into the dressing room. I always walk by the Stanley Cup presentation, with all the trophies. I walk by that every time we play our home games. That's such a cool thing to have, and I always look at it when I'm walking in or when we play soccer, which we do near that area. You see all the faces and names that are in the Hockey Hall of Fame… I look it at every time I'm in the building."

For now, Montreal's talented young playmaker and budding two-way superstar will have to conjure up images of that historical display, perhaps when he's rollerblading near his parents' home in southwestern Ontario.

Rollerblading might also play a role in helping Suzuki shed some of the calories that come from enjoying his decadent dessert creations.

"I'm definitely planning a few longer skates," he said with a laugh. "Really, it's just nice to have that feeling of putting on skates again."

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