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Straits Times
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Ice hockey-Canada suffer first loss at worlds in shootout defeat by Finland
May 18, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) and forward Mitch Marner (16) take to the ice for warm up before game seven of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Florida Panthers at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images REUTERS May 18, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Florida Panthers forward A.J. Greer (10) celebrates a goal by forward Jonah Gadjovich (12) as Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (60) lies on the ice during the second period of game seven of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images REUTERS Ice hockey-Canada suffer first loss at worlds in shootout defeat by Finland Canada's perfect start to the men's World Championship came to an end when the pre-tournament favourites lost 2-1 to Finland in a penalty shootout on Monday after their preliminary round match ended 1-1 following overtime. Both sides had already made the top four in Group A to qualify for the quarter-finals. Finland goaltender Juuse Saros was in sensational form, and not only with his shootout saves, conceding one of 38 shots from the Canadians. The opening goal fell to Canada in the second period, with Ryan O'Reilly scoring despite Finland holding the power play advantage, but Patrik Puistola's goal in the third period took the sides to overtime. Kent Johnson was the only Canadian to beat Saros in the shootout while Puistola and Eeli Tolvanen netted for Finland. Canada, 28-times champions who last won gold two years ago, are second in the group and can still snatch top spot when they take on leaders Sweden on Tuesday in their final preliminary round game, with the Swedes two points ahead. Finland, who last won the gold medal in 2022 when they beat Canada in the final, are third in the standings, three points behind Canada. They play already-eliminated Slovakia on Tuesday. Latvia are fourth, two points ahead of Austria, who they face in the final game. In Group B, Czech Republic, Switzerland and the United States have already made the knockout stages. Denmark, co-hosts along with Sweden, will battle with Germany on Tuesday for fourth place with the sides level on nine points. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
If This Was Mitch Marner's Final Home Game With The Maple Leafs, What A Way To Go Out
John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images If this ends up being Mitch Marner's last home game as a Toronto Maple Leaf, what a way to go out. It's one thing to lose 6-1 to the Florida Panthers. It's another to get booed off the ice. Or play so poorly that jerseys are tossed on the ice. Advertisement Even worse is when the fans get so tired of watching that they just get up and leave — with more than half the third period remaining. 'It is what it is. I'm not focusing on that,' Marner said of how Leafs' fans reacted in the lopsided loss to the Panthers in what was a pivotal Game 5. 'You're focused on the team and what you can do out there. It wasn't good enough from our standpoint and that's what happens.' For Marner, who is one more loss away from heading into free agency as a UFA, it was a sombre sendoff. Not that he was thinking that this might have been the last time he plays in front of the home crowd. 'No, no thoughts about it at all,' he said. Advertisement Indeed, there's still a chance that the Leafs, who are down 3-2 in the series, will force Game 7 with a win in Florida. There's also a chance that Marner will sign an extension in the summer to remain in Toronto. But more and more, both are looking unlikely. If so, he really has no one else to blame but himself. Marner, like Auston Matthews, was held off the scoresheet for the second consecutive game on Wednesday. In the the second period, it was Marner's defensive-zone giveaway that led to a goal. Marner finished the game minus-2, with one shot on net. 'It wasn't close to good enough,' he said. 'Flush it down the toilet.' Advertisement That's becoming a familiar refrain as the Leafs continue to pull a Jekyll and Hyde routine. The Leafs outscored the Panthers 13-12 in the first three games of the series. But they have been outscored 8-1 in the past two games. Marner, who had a goal and three assists in the first three games of the series, had zero points in Games 4 and 5. That somewhat tired narrative of how he doesn't show up when the stake get high has returned. And it's gaining merit. The Panthers Are Playing Like Champs. The Maple Leafs Are Playing Like Chumps The Panthers Are Playing Like Champs. The Maple Leafs Are Playing Like Chumps When a team goes to the Stanley Cup final in successive years and captures it once, you'd have to believe it has learned a thing or two about winning in the playoffs. Advertisement Marner also had no points in the final two games in last year's first-round loss to the Bruins. He had no points in Game 7 against Florida in 2023. In 2021, he was held off the scoresheet in the final two games against the Canadiens. See a pattern here? Yes, Marner was a top-5 scorer with 102 points in the regular season. And yes, he does have 12 points in 11 playoff games this year. But if he cannot produce when the games truly are the most meaningful, then why bother keeping him around? John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images That's a question for GM Brad Treliving this summer. Unless, of course, Marner and the other Core 4 can step in Game 6 on Friday and force another game in Toronto. Advertisement If so, Marner will have another chance to redeem himself. And to prove to the fans — and to management — that he deserves more games in a Leafs jersey. 'It's obviously not the spot that we want to be in, but you can't do anything about it,' said Marner. 'We knew it was going to be a roller coaster of a ride. We know it's not going to be easy. Like I said, we have to have the mindset now to go into Florida and take it shift-by-shift (in Game 6) and win a hockey game.'
