Latest news with #MarcAndreFleury
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘Disappointed' Sidney Crosby: ‘We Couldn't Get It Done Here Tonight'
When Sidney Crosby said he'd play for Canada, followed by Nathan MacKinnon, Marc-André Fleury and others, it was supposed to be 2015 all over again … or, at the very least, the team was supposed to be playing for a medal this weekend. Instead, Crosby was left trying to figure out what happened at the end of Thursday's 2-1 quarterfinal loss to Denmark. 'Disappointed,' the Canadian captain said. 'I mean, we got better as the tournament went on. I don't think tonight was necessarily our best but we still found a way to give ourselves the lead. Trying to play a road game with the lead, I liked where we were at but … disappointing. We had a great group here.' The Canadians outshot Denmark 30-11 through two periods but the game remained scoreless. 'They did a good job of keeping us to the outside,' Crosby said of Denmark's defensive-zone play. 'We had a few bounces, pucks lying there that we couldn't get sticks on. We've gotta find a way if we want to win games like this one here.' Denmark came out strong to start the third period, outshooting Canada 6-1 early in the frame but when Crosby set up Travis Sanheim for the game's first goal with 14:43 remaining, it felt like that might be what turned the game in Canada's favor. But the Danes kept coming. Nathan MacKinnon On Sidney Crosby, Gabriel Landeskog Nathan MacKinnon is, not surprisingly, one of the most popular targets for interviews among journalists covering the 2025 IIHF World Championship Group B in Stockholm. The Hockey News' Remy Mastey spoke to him before Canada's first game of the tournament, with the memories of the Game 7 loss to the Dallas Stars and Mikko Rantanen's amazing performance still fresh in his and everybody's minds. With the goaltender pulled for an extra attacker late in the third, Nikolaj Ehlers shot long shot beat a screened Jordan Binnington to tie the score with 2:17 remaining. And then … 'Obviously they got some momentum from that tying goal and … just a broken play,' Crosby said of Nick Olesen's game-winner with 49 seconds remaining. 'They pressed pretty hard in the third and it turned pretty quick.' Crosby has won a lot of big games, both for the Pittsburgh Penguins and for Team Canada, so this isn't going to be a defining moment in his career. In 10 months, he will embark on a quest to win a third Olympic gold. Asked what he'd take away from this tournament, he answered, 'Just the group of guys, like I said. I think we had all the things to make a deeper run than we did, we got better as it went on, built off that game against Sweden, but it's unfortunate we couldn't get it done here tonight.' Photo © Eric Bolte-Imagn Images Sidney Crosby & Macklin Celebrini Making Magic Together Ever since they were put on the same line for Canada's first game of the 2025 IIHF World Championship, hockey fans were excited to see what kind of magic Sidney Crosby and Macklin Celebrini – the NHL's first overall draft picks in 2005 and 2024, respectively – could create together.
New York Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Will the Wild's Gustavsson-Wallstedt goalie tandem be ‘rivalry' or partnership?
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Filip Gustavsson knew he had something special, something unique, in Marc-Andre Fleury. It wasn't just that Fleury is a future Hall of Famer. A legend. One of the best teammates ever. An all-time prankster. Fleury was also the right mentor at the right time for the 26-year-old Swedish goaltender in his rise to becoming the Minnesota Wild's No. 1 goalie. Advertisement A backup who backed him up. They shared jokes, rides, advice. They were friends and each other's biggest fans. 'Usually, you have more of a rivalry between goalies because only one guy can play,' Gustavsson said. 'It felt like (Fleury) was very happy when I played and vice versa a little bit more. That's something that's very rare. I'm trying to get into this league and be more established all the time. He's on his way out a little bit.' With Fleury retiring this season, Gustavsson knows the dynamic going forward will change. 'It's going to be more of a rivalry again,' he said. That figures to be between Gustavsson, now the entrenched starter who could sign an extension this summer, and fellow Swede Jesper Wallstedt, the anticipated 'goalie of the future' who has a lot to prove. How the dynamic plays out, and how they perform, could go a long way in determining the Wild's fate. 'It's going to be really interesting,' said Linda Blomquist, who spent time as both Gustavsson's and Wallstedt's goalie coach in Sweden. 'Filip is a really relaxed, down-to-earth, really chill, funny guy. I hope he can hand that off to Jesper. 'Jesper, on the other hand, has a lot of pressure on his shoulders, being a top prospect. I'm hoping (Gustavsson) can be a Fleury to Jesper.' For the past 11 years, from when Gustavsson was 15, he has trained with Blomquist in Lulea, about an hour south of his hometown. Wallstedt joined Blomquist when he was around 15, too, having played for Lulea in the Swedish Hockey League until he turned pro in North America in 2022. One notable element in the pairing is that the goalies are pretty similar in their technique — how they play the position. That could help them. Blomquist said Gustavsson's rough 2023-24 season and Wallstedt's struggles this past season were both partly because they were getting away from the simple approach that's made them successful. Gustavsson, at times, tried to be too much like Fleury in net. Advertisement Blomquist said she plans to talk to Gustavsson this summer about his approach to working with Wallstedt. 'Filip is a really nice guy, and it doesn't surprise me that he really likes the partnership part of it,' Blomquist said. 'He doesn't want to fight with anybody. If he has to, he's super, super competitive, but I feel he's more competitive directed internally toward himself and not so much what other people think, say or do. 'Jesper has been more competitive at a younger age and in a different way than Filip. Filip has been, for a long time, 'I love hockey, I want to play.' Jesper's mindset has been, 'I want to show them I'm the best.' Filip would never say that; he'd show you. I think the last two years in the (AHL) have changed Jesper a little bit in a positive way. He's been humbled. That's been really good for him.' Gustavsson, of all people, knows there's a business side to this game. He's already been traded twice — from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Ottawa Senators in 2018, and then to the Wild in the summer of 2022. Then he found himself in trade rumors again last season, with the Wild open to moving him. Now, just 12 months later, there's talk of Minnesota approaching Gustavsson about an extension this summer, when he's one year removed from free agency. 'This business is very quick,' Gustavsson said. 'It's a weird job to have. They can like you, they don't like you and then they can like you again.' Filip Gustavsson's gesture Tuesday spoke to both his character + his relationship with Marc-Andre Fleury. With Gustavsson growing into #mnwild No. 1, exploring bond that's shaping franchise future in net. 'I love 'Gus',' Fleury says. 'Whatever he needs.' — Joe Smith (@JoeSmithNHL) April 18, 2025 That's why Gustavsson isn't necessarily expecting contract talks to start this summer. He'd be open to them. He'd love to stay. And he'd like more time playing with Wallstedt. Gustavsson said they once briefly shared an apartment in Sweden, and he got to spend more time with Wallstedt last summer in Minnesota, playing golf and video games. But they're not close like he is with Fleury. Advertisement 'It's going to be good,' Gustavsson said. 'I get my own personal opinion on how he is as a guy and all that stuff.' When Gustavsson said it was going to be a 'rivalry,' it didn't mean he expected acrimony. But they're two young goalies competing for the same net. It's not a new situation for Gustavsson, but it will be different than with Fleury. 'It's gonna be a little quiet, I think,' Gustavsson said. 'Usually I am not the most talkative person and, you know, having (Fleury) talking and coming up with a lot of things, giving advice and having that very big smile coming into practice every day and competing every Monday morning at 9 o'clock in the morning, he's gotta be missed for that.' Wallstedt has mostly watched Gustavsson from afar this season, and he has been impressed. He seems open to learning from him. Wallstedt went through an extremely rough season with AHL Iowa, calling it 'terrible,' and said he's hoping for a similar 'reset' to Gustavsson's last summer. Get away from hockey for a little bit, be around family, then work your butt off to be ready. 'He's been exceptional this year,' Wallstedt said of Gustavsson. 'I remember all you guys (media) ripping him from last year, not being as good as possible, and see what a bounce back year he had? That's something I can take away as well. The way he has worked, it's paid off for him. Maybe he's learned a lot of things from other experiences. It's not even about hockey. It could be stuff that goes on the outside as well. There could be a lot of things that your life throws at you.' Blomquist said Gustavsson being a first-time dad during the 2022-23 season impacted him — mostly in a positive way, in putting the game in perspective, but also there was an adjustment to Gustavsson's routine. 'The job is very demanding,' Gustavsson said. 'That takes time to figure out what to do, when to be available, when I've got to go to sleep.' Advertisement As for the trade rumors last summer, Blomquist said it wasn't something Gustavsson spoke about. All he knew was that the Wild weren't happy with how that past year went, and neither was he, and he was determined to show he'd get better. 'It affects everybody, they read and hear things,' Blomquist said. 'I don't know if the rumors per se affected him. He knew Minnesota wasn't happy, and he came to realize how much of a business the NHL is and how much of a trading item he is. He's someone you pay a lot of money to, but if you don't, someone else can have his job. He's pretty aware of that. He just wanted to stay in Minnesota. He liked it there. He was focused on being the best version of himself.' The Wild are planning on Wallstedt being Gustavsson's backup to start next season, though they're going to try to find an experienced No. 3 to have in AHL Iowa (or be able to step in at the NHL level if either gets hurt). Can Wallstedt put in an effective 20 or 25 games as an NHL backup? That remains to be seen. But how Gustavsson and Wallstedt work together will be telling. Jesper Wallstedt isn't making excuses. Last season was "terrible." But it hasn't cracked the faith of the touted #mnwild prospect – or the team's brass. A very candid 1-on-1. "I've not been good enough. But that doesn't change what I can become." — Joe Smith (@JoeSmithNHL) May 14, 2025 'I think you always have to help each other in that way,' Gustavsson said. 'When you're at this level, you can just do so much with the technique. But it's all about your headspace. If you had a bad year, I don't think it's as much about technique or that; it's all about mindset and space. Having a summer reset and all that stuff can be positive and pushing each other next year. It's going to be good.' Will the two resume Gustavsson and Fleury's tradition of coming up with animals, fruits, etc., from letters A-Z during timeouts and intermissions? Maybe they'll find their own thing. But it'll be important for the goalie of the present and future to connect. 'I'm hoping they're going to support each other,' Blomquist said. 'I called a lot of goalies when they've had top prospects on my team here at home, and they worry about the competition and the rivalry between someone who is almost as good as you. I tell them they don't have to worry about the competition; they both can be successful in the long run. Advertisement 'Instead of putting a lot of energy into being bitter about someone else's success, same with Jesper and Filip, you've got to support them. (Fleury) is the best example of that kind of person you can have. I don't think there are a lot of Fleury's out there. But I hope they can bring the best out of each other.' (Top photos of Jesper Wallstedt, Filip Gustavsson and Marc-Andre Fleury courtesy of the Wild and by Nick Wosika / USA Today)
CBC
19-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Tolvanen nets SO winner as Finland hands Canada first loss of men's hockey worlds
Social Sharing Eeli Tolvanen scored the shootout winner as Finland handed Canada its first loss of the world hockey championship 2-1 on Monday in Stockholm, Sweden. Patrik Puistola scored the game-tying marker for Finland at 7:01 of the third period. Juuse Saros stopped 37 shots. Ryan O'Reilly opened the scoring for Canada at 7:47 of the second period for Canada, which got 20 stops from Marc-Andre Fleury. WATCH | Canada drops 1st game at IIHF worlds in shootout loss to Finland: Canada drops 1st game at IIHF worlds in shootout loss to Finland 33 minutes ago Duration 1:13 Canada entered the contest at 5-0, having outscored its opponents 28-2 in those preliminary games. Meanwhile, the Finns had only lost to co-host Sweden and had a plus-10 goal differential (18-8) coming into the matchup against Canada. The Canadians (5-0-1-0) are second in Group A standings with 16 points, two behind Sweden (6-0-0-0). Finland (3-2-0-1) is third with 13 points. Canada will close out the preliminary round against Sweden on Tuesday. Other results In Herning, Denmark, defending champion the Czech Republic shut out Germany 5-0 to stay unbeaten. The sixth win lifted the Czechs to the top of Group B, one point ahead of Switzerland and three more than the United States in third. The Czechs complete the group stage against the Americans on Tuesday. Germany and Denmark also meet on Tuesday and will decide the fourth team from the group to reach the quarterfinals. The Czechs' Jakub Flek scored twice and David Pastrnak rifled a one-timer from the left circle and set up Lukas Sedlak in the middle period. Jakub Lauko added a short-handed goal. Daniel Vladar shut out the Germans with 19 saves. In Stockholm, newcomer Slovenia beat France 3-1 to avoid relegation at the expense of the French. In Herning, Norway beat Hungary 1-0 also to avoid relegation.
New York Times
16-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
What Nathan MacKinnon can learn from Sidney Crosby, Marc-Andre Fleury in Sweden
STOCKHOLM — Plenty of big names and future Hall of Famers are participating in the World Championship this month. But there is only one Team Canada. Three names stand out on its roster — the three players who receive the loudest cheers from the hockey fans in Sweden. Sidney Crosby. Marc-Andre Fleury. Nathan MacKinnon. Advertisement The living legend. The Hall of Fame goalie with the personality to match. The superstar in his peak years. It's impossible to take your eyes off them. In an otherwise underwhelming tournament that understandably receives B-level attention in North America because it overlaps with the Stanley Cup playoffs, three of hockey's biggest draws are here, playing for the same team, receiving the Beatles treatment in every corner of Stockholm. Because of all that attention, it's easy to see MacKinnon is hurting. Not physically, but he's hurting. His Colorado Avalanche didn't just win the Stanley Cup in 2022, they did so with such conviction that it seemed hockey's new superpower had arrived. Then, the Avalanche somehow lost to the upstart Seattle Kraken in the first round of the 2023 playoffs. The following season, the Dallas Stars knocked them out in Round 2. In a meeting of titans this year, the Stars stunned the Avalanche in a classic Game 7, with MacKinnon's old running mate, Mikko Rantanen, doing the job. A couple of weeks later, MacKinnon scored twice against Austria in a half-empty building half a world away from Denver. After that game, he was perfectly polite with Swedish reporters when they asked about his experience here in Stockholm. He was even funny. Yet, his grumpiness was noticeable. MacKinnon's peak years are coming to an end. He turns 30 in September. What he surely thought was the beginning of a potential dynasty has instead resulted in one playoff series win in three years, leaving MacKinnon in Sweden. Do you like Sweden, Nate? 'We love it,' he said. 'We all might move here. Really nice, clean city. People are really nice. It's been a nice experience.' Then came the question he was dreading. Why did you decide to come? 'I have nothing else to do,' he said. 'I might as well play hockey.' Advertisement Ouch. I asked MacKinnon if his World Championship experience is fulfilling. After all, the Avalanche, because of a couple of stunning trades before the deadline, set themselves up nicely in the nasty Western Conference. They had become trendy Stanley Cup picks. They were rolling. They went into Dallas and destroyed the Stars in Game 1. Gabriel Landeskog knocked the hockey world on its collective backside with his inspirational return. Things were looking up in Denver. Then, just like that, another season quickly slipped through MacKinnon's fingers. So, about that trip to Sweden. 'It is fun,' MacKinnon said. 'I really love playing Worlds, honestly. It just feels like I can have fun again. The season is pretty stressful. It's more work. This is optional. So, it's a lot of fun. And, like I said, it's May. I have nothing better to do.' MacKinnon, of course, should have something better to do in May. His decorated teammates know the feeling. The visual was striking after Canada's win against Austria on Thursday. At one end of a hallway stood MacKinnon, surrounded by European reporters who were asking polite-but-redundant questions about playing in Sweden. MacKinnon handled it like a pro, but you could feel him seething from 20 feet away. He wasn't seething at the reporters. He was still wearing the pain of the Game 7 loss to Dallas all over his face. Crosby and Fleury stood a few feet to the right. Fleury was giving a comedy routine and had the European media cackling, as only he can. One reporter noticed that Fleury was giving air high-fives to players from afar after one of MacKinnon's goals. Fleury didn't understand the question at first, so he asked the reporter to repeat himself. After hearing the question again, Fleury explained that he's a man of many superstitions, and one of them is high-fiving people when they aren't nearby. Advertisement 'Good observation,' Fleury said. 'You were watching.' Everyone always seems to be watching Fleury. MacKinnon should, too. Once upon a time, the Pittsburgh Penguins, led by Crosby and Fleury, were the Avalanche. They didn't just win the Cup in 2009, but they toppled the mighty Red Wings, kind of like Colorado toppled the mighty Tampa Bay Lightning, winners of the previous two championships. Like the Avalanche, the Penguins were young, faster than everyone else, more talented than everyone else and poised to be the team of their generation. Then, the Penguins lost in the second round of the playoffs in 2010. They lost in the first round in 2011 and 2012. They lost in the conference finals in 2013, the second round in 2014 and the first round in 2015. Thud. Winning the Stanley Cup is so much more difficult than it might seem. Even when you're great — the best team, in your prime — you're usually not going to win it. It's that hard. Fleury and Crosby know. Crosby was done speaking with the media while Fleury was busy entertaining a new wave of reporters. Team Canada's captain walked behind the goaltender and gave him a playful punch while walking past. Crosby then turned around and grinned at Fleury. B-level tournament or not, they're having fun. It's good for the soul. MacKinnon, legendary for his uncommon level of intensity, followed his buddy Crosby a moment later. Even MacKinnon stopped and grinned at Fleury. 'Never played with him before,' MacKinnon said. 'Amazing person.' Crosby and Fleury, of course, are at a different point in their careers than MacKinnon. This is Fleury's victory lap and, apparently, his final hockey before retirement. Crosby isn't done yet, and he has an edge about him when he's reminded about the Penguins' recent struggles, but he's won the Cup three times. His legacy is safe. Advertisement MacKinnon is an all-time great, sure. But his legacy is still being written, and the last few years have hit him hard. Crosby and Fleury know all about it. Seven years separated their first title from their second (the third came a year after that). It seemed so easy, so predetermined for the 2009 Penguins. It felt that way for the 2022 Avalanche, too. Then hockey happened. And hockey can be cruel. MacKinnon may still be brooding, and he may still be furious. But he's smart to come to Sweden. You can learn a lot by being around Crosby and Fleury, who have seen it and done it all. You could almost see MacKinnon start to crack by the end of the evening. All the media here cared to ask about, of course, was the host city. 'Just walked around the area,' MacKinnon said. 'Old town. I can't pronounce all the areas. We covered pretty much everything. Walked a few miles the other day.' MacKinnon hasn't just walked a few miles around Stockholm. He has walked a few miles in the shoes once worn by Crosby and Fleury. It's not easy when you're in your prime and fail. But Crosby and Fleury have been there, and they never lost their ability to smile. This could be yet another lesson MacKinnon has learned from Crosby over the years. Having Fleury along for the ride can only help. I wouldn't expect MacKinnon to start high-fiving himself anytime soon. But a smile or two would do him good.
National Post
15-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
MacKinnon has two goals, assist as Canada beats Austria 5-1 at hockey worlds
Article content STOCKHOLM — Nathan MacKinnon scored twice and added an assist as Canada overcame a frustrating start to post a 5-1 win over Austria in world hockey championship action Thursday. Article content Article content Travis Konecny and Will Cuylle each had a goal and an assist, and Sidney Crosby also scored as Canada remained undefeated and tied co-host Sweden atop the standings with 12 points from four regulation wins. Article content Bo Horvat and Brandon Montour added two assists each. Article content Vinzenz Rohrer scored for Austria, which led 1-0 after 20 minutes despite being heavily outshot. Austria remained at two points with an overtime win and three regulation losses. Article content Marc-Andre Fleury made 15 saves for Canada. A very busy Florian Vorauer, stopped 47 shots for Austria, Article content Canada next faces Slovakia on Saturday. Article content Austria opened the scoring midway through the first period when the 20-year-old Rohrer was sprung on a breakaway and beat the 40-year-old Fleury. It was one of just four Austrian shots in the opening frame Article content The Austrians made that lead stand up through 20 minutes with some dogged defending. Canada peppered Vorauer with 23 shots in the period, but generated few real threats. Article content Then the floodgates opened. MacKinnon tied the game seven seconds into an early second-period power play. After Horvat won an offensive-zone faceoff, MacKinnon beat Vorauer with a shot through traffic. Article content MacKinnon scored his second of the game with Canada icing an extra attacker on a delayed penalty against Austria. Canada clinically kept control of the puck, and after a sustained stretch in the zone, MacKinnon buried a one-timer from Montour past Vorauer. Article content
