Junior B goalie Hayden Jeffery backstops Niagara to 'fairy-tale' win over OHL powerhouse London
ST. CATHARINES, Ontario (AP) — Long after his Niagara Ice Dogs teammates and coaches had left, Hayden Jeffery lingered with his family and friends high up in the Meridian Centre stands relishing one of the most triumphant moments his young career.
His hair had dried after being drenched by his water bottle-spraying teammates in the mob scene of a postgame dressing room celebration. Dressed only in his red Ice Dogs Hockey T-shirt and shorts, Jeffery seemed immune to the chill inside the rink.
'To be honest, I just remember the win. Like I don't even remember what happened,' the 18-year-old said, referring to the closing minutes of his 40-save outing in a 6-4 win over the London Knights on Saturday night.
It was the unlikeliest of wins secured by one of the unlikeliest of players, a spindly 6-foot-1, 168-pound Junior B goalie making his second career Ontario Hockey League start for a team on a 12-game skid and missing its starter and backup to injuries.
And the opponent presented an even higher degree of difficulty. The Knights entered with a Canadian Hockey League-leading 48-8-2 record and a lineup featuring 13 NHL draft picks, including four first-rounders.
'I'll tell you this, I don't know if that was written on the bingo card tonight,' Ice Dogs coach Ben Boudreau said, laughing.
'That's an unbelievable fairy-tale moment for him to get his first win against all these world junior guys, top-ranked team in Canada,' added Boudreau, whose father Bruce coached 1,087 NHL games, played in 141 more and now serves as an Ice Dogs senior adviser. 'You couldn't have asked for a better story.'
Jeffery didn't look out of place 4:13 in when he kicked out his right pad to stop a slap shot from Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan (selected 28th overall in the 2023 NHL draft).
Some 30 seconds later, Jeffery lunged to his right to stop a one-timer from Blake Montgomery (fourth-round selection of the Senators in 2024).
Though the Knights scored first and led 2-1 through 20 minutes on goals from Denver Barkey (third round, 2023, Flyers) and Sam Dickinson (No. 11 overall, 2024, Sharks), Niagara never relinquished the lead after a two-goal second period.
Jeffery stopped 21 of 23 shots in the third, including Montgomery's tip-in chance in front.
Niagara's Kevin He capped his hat trick with an empty-netter with 67 seconds left to seal the win.
He, selected by Winnipeg in the fourth round in June, grew up north of Toronto is the first Chinese-born player to sign an NHL contract.
'I'm still kind of speechless,' Kevin He said. 'The celebration was pretty big, and we're all really happy for Jeffery for stepping in against the No. 1 team and all their guys.'
The Ice Dogs had gone 0-9-3 and were outscored by a combined 72-29 since a 6-3 win over Erie on Jan. 26. The skid dropped Niagara to sixth in the Eastern Conference standings, with the top eight teams qualifying for the playoffs and three weeks left in the season.
Jeffery learned he would start the night before after stopping 23 shots in the St. Catharines Falcons' 6-3 win over Hamilton to improve his Junior B record to 23-8-2.
On Wednesday, in his first career start with the Ice Dogs, Jeffery made 23 saves in a 5-1 loss at Owen Sound. It was his second appearance after allowing four goals on 20 shots during a 29-minute mop-up role in a 9-3 loss to Erie in November.
'How could you not want to see him again?' Boudreau said, when asked if Jeffery might get another start. 'I don't know why he's playing in Junior B. He looks every day like an OHL goaltender.'
From nearby Grimsby, Jeffery was overlooked by OHL teams as a 16-year-old, before finally being selected by Niagara in the second round of the Under-18 draft — considered an afterthought for most teams.
He's not sure what's in store ahead, while knowing this was an outing he'll never forget.
'It means the world,' Jeffery said. 'I think the biggest thing was just believing that I can play at this level. And now, I believe I can get wins in this league.'
The interview over, still in his T-shirt and shorts, Jeffery returned to chat with a group of friends in a near-empty arena, not wanting the night to end.
___
AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
John Wawrow, The Associated Press
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New York Times
23 minutes ago
- New York Times
Where do the Oilers and Panthers rank among the greatest repeat Stanley Cup Final matchups?
Are you enjoying the rematch between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers? I'm guessing you are, since it's already getting some buzz as one of the greatest Stanley Cup Finals of the cap era. This comes one year after our own Chris Johnston ranked the 2024 edition as the best final of the era before it was even over. Advertisement So yeah, it's fair to say these two teams work well together. Sometimes, with the right matchup, that just happens. Where it's Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese, or Bret Hart and Steve Austin, some pairings just make magic together. And that can be true even if it takes a little while to get them back together. As luck would have it, the Oilers and Panthers are the tenth iteration of the same two teams meeting in multiple Stanley Cup Final since the start of the expansion era in 1968. So today, let's put together a ranking of all ten of those pairings, from worst to best, based on how entertaining the resulting series was. The Panthers and Oilers are at a disadvantage here, since their second series hasn't ended yet. But I'm guessing they're still going to rank pretty high, and might even end up taking the crown. Let's find out… First matchup: In 1968, the two teams met in a matchup pitting an established powerhouse against an expansion team. Predictably, the Canadiens swept the series in four games, none of which anyone alive today has any recollection of. Second matchup: In 1969, the two teams met in a matchup pitting an established powerhouse against a recent expansion team. Predictably, the Canadiens swept the series in four games, none of which anyone alive today has any recollection of. Were they classics?: It's subtle, but I tipped my hand in the previous two sections. No, these were not classics. You could make a case that they're among the worst Stanley Cup Finals of the expansion era, although the first meeting at least had a couple of overtimes. Star power: This wasn't the most star-studded Canadiens team ever, but they did feature names like Jean Beliveau, Henri Richard, Yvan Cournoyer and Serge Savard, as well as a young Rogie Vachon and an old Gump Worsley between the pipes. The Blues were basically team 'Red Berenson and pray for rain,' although they did have Glenn Hall in goal, and he was even backed up by Jacques Plante in the second meeting. Advertisement Controversy: Why are we letting an expansion team have a guaranteed path to the final? It would take the NHL one more year to fix that, resulting in a 1970 final that we'll see a bit further down the list. Most memorable moment: It probably came off the ice, as Canadiens legend Toe Blake announced his retirement from coaching shortly after the 1968 final ended. Bottom line: It's always nice when these sorts of rankings have at least one spot everyone can agree on. First matchup: In 1988, the Oilers swept the Bruins in five games. Second matchup: In a rematch two years later, the Bruins managed to win a game, but once again lost the series in five. Were they classics?: They were not. Star power: In addition to most of the Oilers legends (although Wayne Gretzky was gone by 1990), you had Boston's Ray Bourque in the first two finals of his career. We didn't know it at the time, but these series would be important building blocks for Bourque's OGWAC story. Also, the 1990 Conn Smythe winner was Oilers goalie Bill Ranford, which is fun because the Bruins had traded him to Edmonton a few years before. Controversy: Did you catch the part about the 1988 series being a five-game sweep? Yeah, this was the year that the lights went out in Boston during Game 4. The game was tied at the time, so the league just moved on to holding Game 5 in Edmonton as scheduled. The result didn't go into the books as an official tie, but the game and its stats did count. Most memorable moment: It wasn't an especially competitive rivalry, but at least they did give us a triple-OT game. That was Game 1 of the 1990 final, with Petr Klima going from the doghouse to the hero. Bottom line: Not great by any stretch, but at least the 1990 edition was weirdly memorable. First matchup: The Canadiens won their second straight Cup in 1977, sweeping the Bruins in four straight. Advertisement Second matchup: The rematch came a year later and saw the Bruins put up a better fight. But Montreal still won, this time in six. Were they classics?: First things first – remember, we said we were only doing the post-expansion era, which is why these two teams only account for two matchups. They've faced each other in the final on five other occasions from before 1968, with the Candiens winning every one of them. As far as 1977 and 1978, no, they weren't classics (even though these two teams were capable of one, as we'll see in a minute). Star power: Those late-70s Canadiens were stacked, with names like Guy Lafleur, Larry Robinson and Ken Dryden. The Bruins weren't as star-studded, although they still had Hall of Famers like Brad Park, Gerry Cheevers and a 40-something Johnny Bucyk. Oh, and the coaching matchup was Scotty Bowman and Don Cherry. Controversy: Cherry let the refs have it in 1978, accusing them of favoring Montreal by only calling coincidental minors instead of giving Boston power plays. Most memorable moment: Mention these two teams from this era, and everyone remembers their classic Game 7 that featured the too-many-men call leading to the Canadiens' OT comeback win. One problem, at least for our purposes: That one came in the 1979 semi-final, not one of the finals. We'll probably have to settle for Jacques Lemaire's OT Cup-winner in 1977. Bottom line: This is arguably the NHL's greatest rivalry, including more Stanley Cup Final matchups than any other pairing. But through our post-1968 lens, featuring just these two series, they're just OK. First matchup: The up-and-coming Oilers got their first shot at a Cup in 1983 against the Islanders, who'd won three straight at that point. They made it four, delivering a strong message in a surprising sweep. Advertisement Second matchup: The rematch came one year later and this time it was the Oilers who flexed, winning in five to take the throne as the NHL's new dynasty. Were they classics?: In the big picture, maybe you'd call them that, as there may have never been a more dramatic torch-passing between two rivalries. But the series themselves were duds. Star power: Overwhelming, with the Islanders featuring Denis Potvin, Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier while the Oilers had Wayne Gretzky, Paul Coffey and Mark Messier. Mix in Hall-of-Fame goalies Grant Fuhr and Billy Smith, and Glen Sather and Al Arbour behind the benches, and there may not be a pairing that can match this one. Controversy: We sometimes say a goalie is playing out of his mind, and in Smith's case, we could mean it in more ways than one. He was great, winning the Conn Smythe in 1983. He was also a stick-swinging maniac, which added to the drama. Let's just say Sam Bennett's crease-crashing act might have played out just a bit differently if he'd tried it on 1983-era Billy Smith. Most memorable moment: Befitting a pair of series that didn't really deliver on the ice, this one happened in the hallways. According to legend, members of the losing Oilers didn't truly understand what it took to win the Cup until they walked by the dressing room of the victorious Islanders and saw how beaten up the champs were. Did this actually happen? Probably not, but fans love it, so it's become the sort of lore nobody challenges. (Until one of you sends it in for the next Contrarian.) Bottom line: All the elements were there for a legendary final or two. We did not get those, and have to settle for symbolism and urban legends. First matchup: In 1986, the Canadiens rode rookie Patrick Roy to a five-game win. Advertisement Second matchup: Three years later, the Flames got their revenge, winning their first (and still only) Cup by beating the Canadiens in six in the 1989 final. Were they classics?: Both series were good, but probably fall just short of true classic status. Star power: The first Calgary team had Lanny McDonald and Al MacInnis, and added classic Flames names like Joe Nieuwendyk, Theo Fleury and Doug Gilmour for the rematch. Meanwhile, the Canadiens were built from the back end, featuring Larry Robinson and Chris Chelios on both teams. And of course, the goaltending matchup featured Hall of Famers Roy and Mike Vernon, making these two series the second and third most famous Roy vs. Vernon battles. Controversy: There was an 'appalling' postgame brawl in the 1986 series that featured some biting, and saw the league hammer the teams with fines. Most memorable moment: For the Canadiens, I'd go with Brian Skrudland's record-setting goal nine seconds into overtime. For the Flames, it was more about finally seeing McDonald get to hold the Cup. Bottom line: Back then, it was nice to see teams other than the Oilers or Islanders in a final. And in hindsight, these were the last two all-Canadian finals we may ever see. First matchup: In 1970, the Bruins took over from the Canadiens as the established team that would sweep the expansion Blues in the final. Second matchup: Almost five decades later, the Blues got their revenge by beating the Bruins in seven to win the franchise's first Stanley Cup in 2019. Were they classics?: The first meeting, not so much. The second series did go to seven, but probably falls just short of being one of the true greats of the modern era. Star power: Decent but not overwhelming. The 1970 Bruins were built around legends Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito, while the 2019 edition had names like Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara and Brad Marchand. But the Blues don't really carry their end of their bargain here, with even the 2019 winners being more than the sum of their parts. Advertisement Controversy: There was a missed tripping call in the 2019 final that was bad even by NHL playoff officiating standards. Most memorable moment: Somewhat surprisingly, it comes from the 1970 final instead of the far more recent (and far better) series. Even though some would argue that it remains one of the NHL's most overrated moments, it has to be Orr's flying Cup winner. Bottom line: This is the longest gap between series we'll see on this list, and you have to appreciate long-term booking. And it was worth the wait, with one seven-game series and another that at least produced a historic moment. First matchup: The first came in 1985. In a rare meeting of the two top teams in the regular-season standings, rookie coach Mike Keenan led his league-topping Flyers against the defending champs and won the opener, only to see the Oilers win out to take the series in five. Second matchup: Two years later, we got a rematch in which the Oilers were heavy favorites. But the Flyers gave them all they could handle, taking them to a seventh game before losing. Were they classics?: The first, no, but you could make an argument that the 1987 series was. Star power: The Oilers were stacked. The 1985 Flyers were not, with one Hall of Famer (Mark Howe) and a handful of Hall of Very Good guys like Tim Kerr and Brian Propp; their leading scorer in the final that year was 20-year-old winger Derrick Smith. The 1987 team wasn't much different, although rookie goalie Ron Hextall stole the show, winning the Conn Smythe in a losing cause. Controversy: Lots of rough stuff, as you'd expect from these two teams in that era. But my favorite controversy came in the 1985 series, when the Flyers' radical idea of letting their goalies have a water bottle on top of the net resulted in Glen Sather threatening to pull the Oilers off the ice while demanding to know whether buckets of fried chicken were next. Most memorable moment: It would be the Game 7, and probably Glenn Anderson's slapper to seal the Oilers' title. Bottom line: The Oilers sure seem to love showing up on this list. This was the best of the three options from the 1980s dynasty. First matchup: In 1971, the Canadiens followed a so-so season by upsetting the Black Hawks in seven games. Second matchup: Two years later, the teams met again, this time with Montreal the heavy favorite. They won the Cup in six. (By the way: No, you're not catching a repeated typo – they were called the Black Hawks and not the Blackhawks back then.) Advertisement Were they classics?: Pretty close. I'm not sure modern fans remember these meetings all that well, but they gave us 13 games, almost all of them close. Star power: High. We've already met most of those early '70s Canadiens up above, and they'd just added Frank Mahovlich. Meanwhile, the Hawks had Stan Mikita and Tony Esposito, plus Bobby Hull in the first meeting. Controversy: There was a big one on the Montreal side in 1971, with coach Al MacNeil benching captain Henri Richard, who responded by calling his own coach 'incompetent' while the series was still going on. It led to MacNeil becoming the only coach to be fired right after winning a Cup. Most memorable moment: It's probably the Richard/MacNeil feud, but let's work in a mention of the Black Hawks beating the Canadiens 8-7 in Game 5 of the 1973 final, which still stands as the highest-scoring final game ever. Bottom line: I'm not trying to go all old-man on you kids out there, but these are two underrated finals that deserve more respect. First matchup: Last year, the Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 series lead before the Oilers fought back to force a Game 7 and everyone freaked out. It ruled. Second matchup: We're five games in as I write this, with three games being overtime classics and the other two being impressive-but-forgettable Panthers wins. Were they classics?: I'd put the first series in that category for sure. The rematch is still to be determined, although an Oilers win in Game 6 would set the table nicely. Star power: Well, both series have featured the best player in the world, who may someday even be placed in the context of being the single greatest player in the history of the sport. And in addition to Playoff Sam Bennett, there's also Connor McDavid. Plus Leon Draisaitl, Sasha Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Evan Bouchard, Sergei Bobrovsky, Brad Marchand dropping in for the rematch … you know what, I'm going to give this one a yes. Advertisement Controversy: We've had a disputed interference review, some water bottle hijinks and even some warmup weirdness with the backup goalies. But given that the Panthers and Corey Perry and Evander Kane are all involved, we've miraculously avoided anything all that bad, which means that … oh no, I just jinxed it, didn't I? I apologize to everyone for what's about to happen. Most memorable moment: If you're an Oilers fan, you're hoping it's still on the way. For now, there's been a ton of fun moments to choose from on the ice. But I really think the most memorable of them all might be McDavid's meltdown after last year's Game 3, especially since in hindsight we know it almost worked. Bottom line: I'm hesitant to rank this pairing as number one, since I'm a bit wary of recency bias and we still don't know how this year's series will end. But it's already way up the list, and we could be a few days from it moving up even further. First matchup: It came in 2008, with the veteran Red Wings holding off the up-and-coming Penguins in six games. Second matchup: The rematch came one year later, and this time the Penguins did just enough to flip the script, winning in seven. Were they classics?: They were borderline at the time, and I'd argue they only look better with a bit of distance and some historical context. Star power: Plenty, with the Red Wings still having Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk while the Penguins had Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Marc-Andre Fleury and Kris Letang coming into their primes. Mix in the fun Marian Hossa factor, and even Dominik Hasek sitting on the Wings bench, and it feels like a snapshot of hockey history. Controversy: Aside from the usual questions about close calls, there wasn't much aside from a weird mix-up in one of the handshake lines. Most memorable moment: Fleury robbing Lidstrom in the dying seconds of Game 7 might be the single greatest ending to a Stanley Cup Final ever. Bottom line: It doesn't get much better than this. But check back in a few days. (Photo of Brad Marchand and Mattias Ekholm: Jamie Squire / Getty Images)
Indianapolis Star
2 hours ago
- Indianapolis Star
How the Pacers plan to keep Game 4's disappointment from costing them Game 5 vs Thunder
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- At this stage of the season, Tyrese Haliburton said, simply moving on from defeat is not an option. The Pacers can't try to avoid the sting of what they gave away on Friday night in Game 4 of the NBA Finals when they entered the fourth quarter with a seven-point lead and seemingly all the momentum pushing them toward a 3-1 lead in the series. They were instead outscored 31-17 in the final period to lose 111-104, evening up the series heading toward a pivotal Game 5 in Oklahoma City on Monday night. Between Friday's game and Sunday's media availability, they had no choice but to relive it in excruciating detail. "I think once you get to the playoffs, I don't think it's so much about flushing things," Haliburton said. "You've really got to take every game, see where you did well and see where you can do better and learn from that. I think in the regular season, it's different. You play 82 games. You play a team in Game 10 that you don't see again until Game 60. So, all right, flush it and move on to the next. In the playoffs, it's different. You don't get the right to flush games. You have to learn from everything and watch film and see where you can get better." The Pacers have proven to be very good at that process, which is why they haven't lost two games in a row at any point in these playoffs and why they have a 14-6 record overall in the postseason. In each of the first three series en route to their Eastern Conference championship, they immediately followed a double-figure loss with a double-figure win, yet another data point that speaks to the resilience that has allowed the Pacers to go from being a 25-win lottery team in 2021-22 to an NBA Finals team just three seasons later. "When your back is against the wall, that's typically, I guess, when we show what we're made of," veteran center Myles Turner said. "That's typically where we get our best basketball." The Pacers' backs aren't against the wall quite yet with the series even, but to keep it from getting there they have to find a way to beat the team with the NBA's best regular season record at their place. They pulled it off in Game 1 with a late-game rally that culminated in Haliburton's game-winning jump shot with 0.3 seconds to go. However, the Thunder have lost just two home games in these playoffs and they were 35-6 in the regular season. Counting the regular season and playoffs, they have lost exactly one home game in each calendar month since November, which was the last time they lost two games in the same month. The Pacers' loss in Game 4 means they have to find a way to beat the Thunder a second time in June, either in Game 5 or Game 7 or both, and that will obviously require better offense than they had in the fourth quarter of Game 4. After starting the game on fire with a 35-point first quarter, they wilted in the fourth with 17 points on 5 of 18 shooting including 0 of 8 from 3-point range. It was their lowest scoring quarter since the Eastern Conference semifinals as they posted a horrendous efficiency figure of 0.70 points per possession. The Pacers were fairly guarded about pointing out what exactly went wrong in the period, but repeatedly mentioned the lack of tempo. "Keep playing fast," Turner said. "Keep playing with pace. That's how we play, and that's how we made our mark. It's not coming off our principles." Pacers coach Rick Carlisle noted that their lack of ability to play with pace on offense came in part because of issues on defense. They committed 10 fouls in the fourth quarter that led to 14 Thunder free throws and they also allowed four offensive rebounds that turned into eight second-chance points including a pair of put-back dunks by Thunder center Chet Holmgren. "The problems that hindered us in the fourth quarter were an inability to rebound the ball, unnecessary fouls," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "Those things have us taking the ball out of bounds after they score or having to take it out after a free throw, and then they can really set their defense. Then the game becomes slower. Doing better in those two areas, the rebounding and the fouls, that will help us. But it's a challenge. They put a lot of pressure on you in the fourth quarter. They have got some great, great players that cause major problems." They also have to find a way to better involved one of their best players. All-Star forward Pascal Siakam scored 20 points in the game, but took just one field goal attempt in the fourth quarter and that came with more than 10 minutes remaining. Siakam led the Pacers with 20.2 points per game in the regular season and is averaging 20.6 points per game in the playoffs. He's a threat to score inside and out and is clearly the Pacers' best isolation scoring option because of his ability to score out of the post, either by turning and getting to the rim or hitting turnaround jumpers. "That can't happen," Carlisle said. "He is a guy that if we are not playing through him, he needs to touch the ball more." That's been driven into their heads for two days and on Monday they get a chance to apply it. Neither of the two teams involved in this series has lost back-to-back games in these playoffs and the Pacers are trying not to be the first.
Boston Globe
2 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Revolution's latest loss exposed their desperate need for a finisher, a hole they won't easily fill
There is a chance the situation could improve should Campana (hamstring) return for the June 25 home date against Nashville but he has missed seven games and departed in the first half of two others, raising questions about durability. Meanwhile, the team's other starting forward, Ignatius Ganago, will be That leaves Tomás Chancalay and Maxi Urruti up front. Both are proven to be effective alongside a physical striker or off the bench, but the Revolution are missing the combination of aerial threat, back-to-goal presence, and opportunism of, say, Cincinnati's Kévin Denkey and Kei Kamara, who displayed their effectiveness Saturday as Denkey converted after Kamara's holdup play ignited a counterattack. Advertisement Kévin Denkey puts it away to give 📺 — Major League Soccer (@MLS) Denkey has 11 goals this season. Kamara has 146 in his MLS career, including 19 during a two-year stint with the Revolution. Advertisement After the match, coach Caleb Porter noted the Revolution needed a 10-goal 'minimum' striker and talked about 'find[ing] that guy, whether it's here or somewhere else.' Unfortunately, they have not been able to uncover a double-figure forward since 2021, when Adam Buksa (16) and Gustavo Bou (15) helped the team set a league record for points. The Revolution lost Buksa via a transfer to Europe, and Bou declined due to injury. (He was replaced by Chancalay, who underwent knee surgery last year.) Placing scoring hopes on Campana was a gamble, though he appeared ready to break out after filling a reserve role with Inter Miami. He was one of only two forwards which have achieved double-figure goals in an MLS season, his 11 in 2022 going with Urruti's 12 in 2017 and 10 in 2014. Against Cincinnati (10-5-3, 33 points), second place in the Eastern Conference, the Revolution attacked effectively on the flanks, but without a prominent target crosses were easily stopped by a back line led by Matt Miazga. Yes, they might have been able to finish off a low cross (as Cincinnati did), but crossing effectiveness depends on a combination of factors. Aerial ability is, obviously, primary. Luis Diaz was used as a starter and on the attack on Saturday due to Caleb Porter's options being severely limited. David Silverman/New England Revolution The Revolution also had chances to break through via set pieces — they earned eight corners and 13 free kicks — but mostly were unable to get off effective shots. Plus, Luis Diaz got a 52nd-minute breakaway, but could not pull the trigger. The Revolution need to adjust their mindset at Gillette Stadium, as opposing teams' tactics become based on physicality and counterattacking. While the Revolution were threatening early in the second half, Cincinnati focused on stopping sequences before they could get started. Advertisement Seconds after Diaz's breakaway, Luca Orellano was cautioned, and Pavel Bucha committed a hard foul on Carles Gil. The play could be described as negative, but also as resourcefulness. All season, the Revolution have defended well and demonstrated a decent possession game. Near the halfway point, they rank second in the league in goals against (15), and their plus-4 goal difference is better than Cincinnati's (plus-2), indications of a team close to contending status. As Porter noted, the Revolution 'were in way more positions than they were to score, and we have to find a goal. They pull off the cross into Denkey and he finds a half chance. That's why Denkey was such a big transfer in. That's what he does.' The Revolution are close to having as complete a roster as league restrictions allow, minus a top-level striker. Weighing against them filling the gap are the team's artificial turf surface at home, its unfavorable climate, plus an uneven history of success. They do have Gil, though, among the best setup midfielders in the league and their best hope for a recruiter. Without a consistent scoring threat, ambitions will be limited, but demand for forwards outpaces supply. And it will not necessarily be easy to bring in a difference-maker without spending close to the $16.2 million Cincy paid for Denkey's transfer from Cercle Brugge.
