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Abbotsford Canucks Live: A win tonight would send Abbotsford to AHL finals
Abbotsford Canucks Live: A win tonight would send Abbotsford to AHL finals

Vancouver Sun

time3 days ago

  • Sport
  • Vancouver Sun

Abbotsford Canucks Live: A win tonight would send Abbotsford to AHL finals

The Charlotte Checkers are cheering for the Texas Stars to beat the Abbotsford Canucks tonight, rest assured of that. Charlotte has already advanced to the AHL Calder Cup championship series, as the Florida Panthers' farm team swept the Laval Rocket in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals. That set ended Tuesday. The Checkers are waiting on the West winner and will be glad to see Abbotsford and Texas tire themselves out coming to that outcome. The Canucks carry a 3-1 lead on the Stars into Game 5 tonight (5 p.m.) in Cedar Park, Texas. Game 6, if necessary, would be Sunday (6 p.m.) at the Abbotsford Centre and the Game 7 would also be there on Monday (7 p.m.) if it's required. Abbotsford is coming off a 5-4 overtime victory in Texas on Wednesday. Texas is the farm team of the Dallas Stars. The Calder Cup gets going June 13 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Game 2 is there June 15, before the series shifts to either Abbotsford or Texas with Game 3 on June 17. "There was much more tenacity to our game." Olivia McDonald chatted with Head Coach, Manny Malhotra, following last night's game, and ahead of tomorrow's potential series clinching game. This is the fourth season that the Vancouver Canucks have had their AHL team in Abbotsford, and this is easily the deepest they've gotten into the playoffs in that tenure. A win tonight would mark a fourth series win of these playoffs; they had two series wins in the first three years combined. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. This is the best a Canuck farm team has done in the AHL post-season since the Utica Comets made it to the Calder Cup finals in 2015, where they lost in five games to the Manchester Monarchs. This season, Abbotsford (44-24-2-2) finished second in the Pacific Division in the regular season and fifth overall in the league. Texas (43-26-3-0) was second in Central and 10th overall, while Charlotte (44-22-3-3) was second in the Atlantic and fourth overall, two points ahead of Abbotsford. The Canucks and Checkers did not play this season. Winger Linus Karlsson leads Abbotsford in scoring through the playoffs, with nine goals and 17 points going into tonight. Wingers Sammy Blais (3-8-11) and Arshdeep Bains (0-11-11) are next best. Blais and fellow winger Jonathan Lekkerimäki both came out of Abbotsford's lineup for Wednesday's game. There was no word from the team whether it was injury related or a healthy scratch. Lekkerimäki has one goal and five points in 12 playoff games. He had 19 goals in 36 regular season games with Abbotsford. If you aren't able to watch the game in person, check back for the play-by-play updates throughout tonight's game. MORE TO COME …

Abbotsford Canucks Live: It's a 5 p.m., game 3 in Texas with Abby up 2-0 in series
Abbotsford Canucks Live: It's a 5 p.m., game 3 in Texas with Abby up 2-0 in series

Vancouver Sun

time02-06-2025

  • Sport
  • Vancouver Sun

Abbotsford Canucks Live: It's a 5 p.m., game 3 in Texas with Abby up 2-0 in series

Everything is bigger in Texas. Houses are huge. Food portions are gigantic. And so is the appetite for sports. Egos and expectations could easily be the state slogan because sports spectacles aren't just something, they mean everything in a place where the only thing that matters is winning. For the Texas Stars, who trail the Abbotsford Canucks 2-0 in the best-of-seven AHL Western Conference finals, it's must-win desperation tonight in their home arena at Cedar Park, a 20-kilometre drive north of bustling Austin. If the Stars expect to stage a series rally and take the next step to claiming their second Calder Cup championship in 11 years — former Canucks bench boss Willie Desjardins was at the helm in a 2014 title season — they'll have to get past standout stopper Arturs Silovs . Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. He's on the cusp of equalling another AHL playoff record and is in constant about his NHL future. Silovs, 24, who made 29 saves Saturday in a 1-0 blanking of the Stars in Abbotsford, has five post-season shutouts to go with his league-leading 1.61 goals-against average and .941 saves percentage. The shutout record of six is held by former Canucks goaltender Mika Noronen, who established the mark by backstopping the Rochester Americans to the league crown in 2000. 'It's our game overall,' Silovs said of Abbotsford's playoff progression. 'We're getting better every single game by doing the right things by blocking shots and taking guys away from the net front. And we're doing a good job on the PK with guys sacrificing their bodies. 'It's a team effort. We have big confidence and we've put them (Stars) on the ropes.' Noronen played just four games for Vancouver after being acquired at the 2006 NHL trade deadline. In his first appearance, he was bombed in a 5-0 loss to the Nashville Predators. Noronen then signed in Russia as opposed to serving as backup to workhorse Roberto Luongo. As for tonight, the Stars now need Justin Hryckowian and former Canuck Kole Lind, who have seven playoff goals apiece, to strike early. They'll also need leadership from hockey-lifer Curtis McKenzie, 34, who has four playoff goals and was 22 when the Stars won the AHL title in 2014. He had a career high 27 goals that season. The Golden, B.C. native was a sixth-round pick of the NHL Stars in 2009 and had 23 points (10-13) and 131 penalty minutes in 99 games. The Canucks have scored by committee in the post-season. While winger Linus Karlsson leads the club with seven goals, they've also got eight from defencemen. More to come … If you aren't able to watch, scroll down for the play-by-play updates from tonight's game, including the latest score. Refresh the page to get the latest update. • Abbotsford Canucks recap: Artūrs Šilovs does it again, Abby wins 1-0 to go up 2-0 in series • Does Abbotsford's success mean Malhotra will outskate the Canucks? • The Abbotsford Canucks' strong season and what it may mean in the long run

Toronto Raptors mailbag: Who should they draft, plus Masai Ujiri's future
Toronto Raptors mailbag: Who should they draft, plus Masai Ujiri's future

Toronto Sun

time01-06-2025

  • Sport
  • Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors mailbag: Who should they draft, plus Masai Ujiri's future

Plenty of options for draft night and what do looming ownership changes mean for the Raptors? Get the latest from Ryan Wolstat straight to your inbox Duke's Khaman Maluach (right) and Cooper Flagg high-five after a play during a game. Photo by AP Photo / AP Photo The second part of this week's Toronto Raptors mailbag keys on the upcoming draft, which is somehow just about here since it's June out of nowhere. What happened to May? That sure didn't feel like an early summer. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Toronto is hard at work getting to know prospects as the draft process enters the final stretch. The NBA Finals are about to start and Canada's best-ever basketball player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, can become the first Canuck to be the best player on an NBA champion if his Oklahoma City Thunder can keep rolling. They'll likely be facing Pascal Siakam and the Indiana Pacers (barring a stunning New York Knicks comeback) in a great contrast of styles: Smothering defence against frenetic offence. It should be fun. If you missed Part 1 of the mailbag, which had a lot of trade talk, it's here. From Various people: 'Do you think the lottery was rigged, because it sure as hell seemed like it was!!!' RW: No. It's a lottery, weird things happen. We saw Atlanta win with minuscule odds last year, the New York Islanders and Utah Whatevers make massive jumps in the NHL lottery this year and the days of lotteries going mostly chalk are long gone. There are too many security procedures in place for it to be rigged. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. I simulated the lottery 25 times on Tankathon and Dallas only moved up twice, to second and to fourth (Toronto moved into the Top 4 several times). Dan: 'With the East not having many great teams, what do you think is the likelihood the Raptors attempt to upgrade their talent with a large-ish trade or two? I'm thinking trading a youth or two for a solid big makes sense for this group as currently constructed.' RW: That kind of happened already with the Brandon Ingram trade and it didn't cost any young roster pieces (a first-round pick and a second-round pick went out with Bruce Brown and Kelly Olynyk). Could more consolidation happen? Absolutely, but I would expect the front office to see what it has for a few months before doing anything. The whole group wasn't together for many games last year and Ingram didn't play for the Raptors at all. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. For luxury tax reasons they might need to explore what they could get for Ochai Agbaji and even RJ Barrett and eventually, if either Ja'Kobe Walter or Gradey Dick separate themselves from the other (as I've said, my money's on Walter), one of them could be on the move. But, again, don't see that happening for a while. My best guess is Toronto either makes a major deal before the season starts or nothing. League insiders have speculated there will be a flurry of trades league-wide. @B_Viddy: 'Do you know why the Raptors gave up on Dalano Banton after only 2 seasons? It's not like he stunk the joint out. His departure seemed somewhat sudden, like they made no effort to retain him. Did they perhaps feel he was too distracted playing at home?' RW: Yes, I've actually reported previously that a couple of people who would know had told me when Banton signed with Boston that playing at home hadn't been great for him and he could thrive elsewhere. It didn't work with the stacked Celtics, but he's had some nice stretches in Portland. It's too bad he didn't get to have a long tenure with the Raptors, but he's definitely still an inspiration to kids from his area, as he'd hoped to be. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Could be good for Dalano to get a new start elsewhere. Had heard being at home brought some distractions. Still think there's an NBA player there. — Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) July 3, 2023 Steve: 'Are you rooting for OG or Pascal? Or perhaps Shai?' RW: My rooting days are behind me, but I cheer for the best story. That would be SGA winning the title. He can cap his MVP win and Oklahoma City's 68-win regular season with a remarkable Finals to really become a household name in Canada and beyond. People are still sleeping on Shai a bit too much. I enjoyed covering both Pascal and OG, so happy to see them thriving but don't think the Pacers or Knicks have any shot of winning more than a game against this Thunder juggernaut. And since many think OKC might have to unload Montreal's own Lu Dort, the all-world defender who also shot 40% from three in the regular season, to keep its payroll under control moving forward, all the more reason to want to see the Thunder win now. I covered fellow Montrealers Joel Anthony and Chris Boucher winning titles (whether they actively participated or not, they got the rings) and Khem Birch just won EuroLeague. Dort would join them. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Darrell Samuels: 'Given (MLSE president Keith) Pelley's comments regarding (outgoing Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan) Shanahan – where do you see the future of Ujiri within the MLSE umbrella?' RW: Many are thinking this will be Masai's last season with Toronto. I'm not convinced. Yes, the organization appears to be phasing out team presidents, but Ujiri could surely be grandfathered in if he wants a new deal. You can bet Rogers will want him to take a pay cut though, since the Raptors have basically done nothing in recent years and the championship is a while away at this point. Ujiri badly wants to bring another title here, but even with the East being way worse than the West and likely to stay that way with Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper joining teams in the West, the Raptors are presently nowhere close to competing for anything more than maybe squeezing out a first round win if they can play the third or fourth seed. Maybe. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Masai has kids that have only known life in Toronto. Would he want to move his family at this point, or maybe see what happens on one more deal and go from there? I'd bet on the latter, but he's not saying one way or the other. 'How likely is another reset if they don't make the playoffs and what does Masai's future with the team look like either way?' RW: To add on to the prior question, if they somehow miss the playoffs (lose in play-in or don't make it in all), then I could see Ujiri not coming back by mutual decision. But I just can't see that happening if they stay reasonably healthy. The East stinks, Toronto is more talented than all but maybe five teams in the conference. How would they even reset again? Let Jakob Poeltl walk in free agency for nothing and deal RJ Barrett maybe? If things go wrong Ingram wouldn't have much trade value. No, they're pretty committed to this group for now. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 40 & Dunking? @MidlifeVertical: 'Thomas Sorber or Carter Bryant?' Dan: 'Who do you think the Raps should draft? Or perhaps should they trade the pick for talent?' RW: Don't think it makes sense to trade the ninth pick for an established player because it would likely put them into the luxury tax. They still have a tiny bit of flexibility for now and I'd actually consider going the other way, like trading Agbaji for an expiring contract and a pick in the late teens (otherwise they could lose him for nothing, or would be into the tax). As for who to take, I really like Jeremiah Fears, but he probably doesn't make it to Toronto's pick. Ideally they'd get someone who has a chance to be a star, but more likely they'll be angling for a rotation piece. Bryant could be that, maybe Collin Murray-Boyles or Khaman Maluach or Kasparas Jakucionis one day. I'd consider trading down and picking up an asset or two as I am intrigued by a bunch of prospects considered out of the lottery types (like Sorber, Rasheer Fleming, Nique Clifford, or Cedric Coward). I'm no draft expert, but coming away with a big wing or power forward and a backup centre like Sorber or Ryan Kalbrenner or Maxime Raynaud could set the Raptors up nicely. Would Brooklyn give Toronto 19 and 26 and 36 for 9 and 39? What about Atlanta dealing 13 and 22 for 9 and 39 or OKC giving 15 and 24 for 9 (though Ujiri and Sam Presti have never made a deal during their long careers)? Might Ujiri tempt his close friend Jeff Weltman of Orlando with 9 for 16 and 25? There are some possibilities if Toronto likes multiple prospects and if all of its top choices are gone by nine. Read More Toronto & GTA Crime Canada Columnists Columnists

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