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Associated Press
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Evander Kane's physicality helps Oilers push Golden Knights to brink of elimination
This isn't the first time Evander Kane has been a pain to the Golden Knights, and he has helped bring a physicality to the Edmonton Oilers that has them one game from eliminating Vegas. It's similar in the Florida-Toronto series, where the heat is rising as the stakes get higher. In other words, it's the NHL playoffs. For the Golden Knights, this is like a throwback — but not in a good way. Former Vegas enforcer Ryan Reaves had a long-running feud with Kane when the latter played for San Jose, which helped bleed into contempt between the teams. The fact they were Pacific Division rivals that also met in the playoffs in 2018 and 2019 took their games up a level. The Golden Knights won the 2018 series and the Sharks got revenge in a memorable seven-game victory the following year. So, of course, Kane is playing another big role role against the Golden Knights. He has two goals and two assists and has helped bring a key physical element to the Oilers, especially in Monday night's 3-0 Game 4 victory. 'It wears other teams down and it keeps guys on their toes,' Kane said of the physicality. 'We got some turnovers off of that. I thought we were able to create some offensive opportunities. We didn't take our foot off the gas.' Kane missed the entire regular season because of two surgeries to repair a number of issues, but hasn't needed much time to transition his way back into the lineup. 'He likes the competition,' Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch said. 'He likes the level of intensity, and the game means more this time of the year. He rises to that occasion where you see other guys maybe wilt.' The Florida-Toronto series is tied — and heated. The Maple Leafs won Games 1 and 2 on their home ice, the Panthers won Games 3 and 4 on their home ice, and that span has seen both good play and bad blood. The Panthers are waiting to see if forward Evan Rodrigues — the recipient of a high hit from former teammate Oliver Ekman-Larsson in Game 4 — will be cleared to play in Game 5. That wasn't the end of the Game 4 shenanigans, either. Toronto's Max Domi appeared to blindside the Panthers' Aleksander Barkov with a hit at the end of regulation that led to four misconduct penalties, along with a suggestion from Florida's Matthew Tkachuk to the Leafs' William Nylander that a response would be coming from the defending Cup champions on Wednesday. 'He probably didn't even hear him,' Leafs coach Craig Berube said of Nylander. 'He doesn't hear me.' Edmonton Oilers at Vegas Golden Knights When/Where to Watch: Game 5, Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. EDT (ESPN) Series: Oilers leads 3-1 Edmonton goalie Stuart Skinner was benched after the first two games in the opening round series against Los Angeles before Calvin Pickard came to rescue before reeling off six consecutive victories. That included the first two games of this series. But with Pickard day to day with a lower-body injury, it's Skinner's turn to play hero. He recorded a 23-save shutout on Monday to put the Oilers on the brink of advancing to the Western Conference final. 'Stuart made some big saves, especially early in the game when there were some times Vegas had the opportunity to get back in the game,' Knoblauch said. 'He has a lot of pride. He puts pressure on himself to have success, and it was nice to see him get that shutout.' Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs When/Where to Watch: Game 5, Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDT (ESPN) Series: Series tied 2-2. The series is tied. Games, 2-2. Goals, Florida leads 14-13. The Panthers are delivering more hits, the Maple Leafs are blocking more shots. Add hits and blocks up, and it comes out basically even — 60 a game for Toronto, 59 a game for Florida. 'It's a best-of-three now,' Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky said. Welcome to the swing game. In NHL history, when a best-of-seven series is tied 2-2, the Game 5 winner has gone on to prevail 79% of the time. That goes up to 100% so far this postseason; four series were tied 2-2, and the Game 5 winner has won them all — all in Round 1 in the Western Conference. The Vegas-Minnesota, Edmonton-Los Angeles, Winnipeg-St. Louis and Dallas-Colorado series were all tied 2-2; Vegas, Edmonton and Dallas all won Game 5 and closed those matchups out in six games, while Winnipeg won Game 5 and went on to win Game 7 in an overtime thriller. Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz, who was injured in Game 1 of the series, returned to practice Tuesday. Berube, however, said he didn't know when Stolarz would play again. ___ AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds contributed to this report. ___ AP NHL playoffs: and
Hamilton Spectator
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
After a stint with the Marlies, Ryan Reaves is ready to help the Maple Leafs in the playoffs however he can
It's fair to say that veteran forward Ryan Reaves felt a little bit blindsided, and maybe even a tad humiliated, after being sent to the AHL Marlies to finish out the regular season. After all, the 37-year-old Maple Leafs tough guy last saw the minors in 2012-13, to stay active during a lockout. But he handled the assignment with grace. 'It was (pause) ... well, I got to play, which is what I really wanted to do,' Reaves said recently. 'A great group of guys down there. They welcomed me and I had fun practising with them. Went down there and played more than I usually do. 'It was an experience, for sure.' He got to know Marlies forward Kyle Clifford, whom he'd battled as an opponent over the years in the NHL. He hung out with goalie Matt Murray, who was once a teammate with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He taught some of the younger players the finer points about fighting. 'One guy told me he felt old on the team and he was 27,' said Reaves. 'I'm like: You don't know anything about being old. Yeah, it was definitely a different experience. But it was fun.' Reaves scored in the first of his three games and the Marlies secured a spot in the Calder Cup post-season. With no salary-cap limitations on NHL rosters in the playoffs, Reaves is back with the Leafs. He'll likely spend most of the time as a healthy scratch, but will be available with no strings attached if the situation calls for it. Coach Craig Berube appreciated what Reaves did after the demotion. 'I thought he did a great job,' Berube said. 'He understood the situation, worked extremely hard, went down, played some games. That's not easy to do, a guy that's been around the NHL for a long time. But you know, he's handled it extremely well and he's back and ready to go.' Leafs general manager Brad Treliving had a conversation with Reaves near the March 7 trade deadline to lay out the plan. The Leafs needed his roster spot with trades for centre Scott Laughton and defenceman Brandon Carlo on the horizon. 'It was either go down there or see if another team wanted to pick me up, and I might get an opportunity to go play somewhere else,' said Reaves. 'The goal is winning a Stanley Cup. The teams that were calling weren't in that position.' The veteran got his wish to stay in the Leafs organization when he cleared waivers. Perhaps out of respect, they never took the nameplate down from his locker. 'It feels good to be back,' said Reaves. 'A little weird, but it's good to be back with the guys and I'm excited for see what they do on ice. Playoffs are always a fun time of year.' Reaves has one year left on his contract at a cap hit of $1.35 million (U.S.). He didn't get a lot of action this season: just one fight and two assists in 35 games. He's played 912 NHL games with 63 goals, 74 assists and an astounding (for this era, anyway) 1,100 penalty minutes. That's 325th on the all-time list, but seventh among active players. Among those who played this season, Tom Wilson is the leader with 1,532 penalty minutes, followed by Corey Perry (1,487), Evgeni Malkin (1,202), Evander Kane (1,186), Matt Martin (1,168) and Brad Marchand (1,115). But Reaves left his mark in other ways. He helped Matthew Knies and Bobby McMann learn what it's like to drop the gloves. This season, 13 Leafs earned fighting majors and the team did a better job of sticking up for itself. Much of that can be attributed to Reaves' influence over the past two seasons. 'Everybody who's dropped the gloves this year has held their own and done really well,' said Reaves. 'Confidence in fighting comes with practice — and eating a couple, for sure. You want to learn quickly before you eat too many. But I thought guys did really well. 'If they want to pick my brains, I could help them.'
The Irish Sun
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Female hockey fan turns heads with risky outfit spotted on live TV broadcast at Stars-Avalanche
A HOCKEY fan has captured attention for her risky outfit choice. A female spectator sitting behind the Dallas Stars bench caught the eye during their 5-1 loss to Colorado Avalanche. 2 One Dallas fan caught the eye with a NSFW shirt 2 The customized tee drew attention from fans It was a bad start to the Western Conference playoff series for the Stars and the fan, who have Stanley Cup aspirations this season. But the silver lining for the fan is that she has garnered a bit of fame. That is because of her interesting choice of clothing. The unidentified fan wore a NSFW t-shirt that read "My cup size is Stanley". The customized tee also featured two Dallas Stars club logos. Fans loved the look as the supporter sparked a discussion on social media, with some online calling her "my spirit animal" and an "absolute icon". One fan reacted saying: "Great shirt." Another added: "I love her and want to be her." Most read in Sport A third wrote: "This is hilarious." And another commented: "She's a legend." Ryan Reaves and Mathieu Oliver in 'hockey fight of the year' as NHL rivals swing punches before being dragged apart
New York Times
12-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
How to fix quiet atmosphere at Maple Leafs games? Take lessons from soccer
After the 2016-17 Maple Leafs season — my first covering the team full-time — a vacation to watch soccer in Germany opened my eyes, and my ears, to the importance of fan involvement. On the evening of April 29, 2017, I fell asleep with ringing in my ears: the remnants of a rabid crowd refusing to go quietly into the night. Advertisement The 81,360 in attendance at Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park earlier weren't treated to a banger; few highlights exist of the 0-0 draw between Borussia Dortmund and FC Koln. But it didn't matter. The stadium's 'Yellow Wall' of supporters led the way with near-constant singing and chanting. It was the best atmosphere I've experienced at a club soccer game. That trip revealed how wide the gulf can be between Toronto Maple Leafs home games, criticized for years for being relatively quiet affairs, and other sporting events. Even before covering the Leafs, I'd heard Scotiabank Arena's patrons weren't as vociferous as those in other NHL rinks. Having witnessed the atmosphere up close, some of the cliches feel true: Extremely high-priced lower bowl seats rarely go to hardcore fans and are often more an opportunity for ticket holders to entertain corporate clients — a scenario that doesn't exactly lend itself to enthusiastic behaviour. Players notice, too. 'I would've liked a little more energy from the crowd after that (fight),' captain Auston Matthews said following a January loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets in which then-Leafs forward Ryan Reaves fought Mathieu Olivier in the first period. 'I thought it was a little quiet tonight, especially after two guys like that go at it.' The debate over how to make Scotiabank Arena louder was brought back into focus Friday, reading James Mirtle's examination of how to fix quieter in-game atmospheres at NHL games. That piece offers good suggestions from experts in the hockey world. But inspiration might be found in soccer stadiums, as well. I've been fortunate to run the gamut of soccer experiences across the world. Almost every time, I leave stadiums with the same thought about the Leafs: How does one of the most storied franchises in North American sports consistently play in one of the quietest arenas in the game? Advertisement Obviously, 80,000-plus fans in German stadiums will almost certainly make for a louder, better atmosphere than the 19,000 or so who fill Scotiabank Arena. Still, there are some fun potential fixes from soccer stadiums and fan culture — even if some of the following suggestions are unlikely to happen in Toronto anytime soon. A ticket to watch a game in the aforementioned Yellow Wall this season — What Borussia Dortmund call 'Standing Place,' so the instructions can't be misconstrued — is €18.50. That's just under $30 Canadian. Stop yourself if you're muttering 'that's nuts!' while reading that number. Heavily reduced ticket prices to supporters' sections inside soccer stadiums are par for the course across Europe. Of course, these tickets come with an assignment. Fans are expected to sing, chant, stay on their feet and fuel the atmosphere. They're never allowed to wear the opposition team's colours. They are the heartbeat of the stadium. Could the Leafs install a supporters' section at one end of Scotiabank Arena with heavily reduced ticket prices? Toronto FC has this setup in the south end at BMO Field. And when TFC wasn't the tire fire of a team it is now, it didn't take long for fans to understand the assignment and propel the team with chants. The Leafs could learn something from their MLSE brethren. Consider section 114 at the end of the ice in Scotiabank Arena where the Leafs shoot twice. It doesn't always offer the most optimal view, but it's perfect for fans who want to lose their minds. The Leafs should not sell season tickets to a supporters' section in the first season. They should ensure fans understand — with clear instructions on the ticket — that by buying a ticket in this section, the purchaser is expected to stay on their feet and sing throughout the entire game. Advertisement Of course, the economics of this likely don't make sense. MLSE would have to convert one immensely profitable section into something far less so. Still, what's lost in ticket revenue could potentially create an experience the Leafs could market to fans. I bought my tickets to that aforementioned Dortmund game on the secondary marketplace. And with my pick, I spent more money so I could be close to the Yellow Wall. The ticket prices reflected the proximity to the wall. The Leafs could likely justify jacking up prices to nearby sections, so fans could get closer to the Blue Lake, or whatever they want to call it. Looking for proof of concept? Supporters' sections exist at some European hockey games, too. It would be a long play, but one that could pay off for MLSE. Or maybe this would be a more practical idea in the event the Leafs one day build a much larger arena. I couldn't take a few steps within the Bundesliga stadiums without bumping into a fan's beer. And that's with good reason: According to the Bundesliga, the average price for a half-litre of beer inside a top-level Germany stadium this season was just under €5.20, or approximately $8 Canadian. Yes, beer arguably has more of a cultural foothold in Germany than Canada. But at those prices, grabbing a beer and giving into the song and dance that comes afterward is far easier to do. (Personal research confirms this). Now, no one here is foolish enough to think MLSE is going to lower its food and beer prices just because. As in any establishment that sells food and beverage, it's the markup on alcohol sales that often keeps the doors open. But do you ever wonder why Scotiabank Arena sounds so quiet at the start of games? Anecdotal research suggests it's because fans are often still eating and drinking at nearby restaurants. Good luck finding a table on Front Street at 6 p.m. on game nights. Advertisement It's not uncommon to have fans show up late to the party. Why not try to get those same fans into the building before a game? The Leafs should lower beer prices, with a catch. I'm going to steal an idea from the Canadian Premier League's Forge FC: The club sells cans of beer for $5 before kickoff, before prices go back up. I suspect that's part of the reason fans are loud and active from kickoff and don't need vocal cues from in-game hosts to make themselves heard. Imagine it at Scotiabank Arena: $5 beers and sugar-laced soft drinks from 6 p.m. to puck drop. Those are drink sales MLSE might not have made otherwise. And those are drink sales that could help fill the arena earlier and create a loosened-up, louder atmosphere. If you've been to a Leafs game, you know the setlist: Stompin' Tom Connors' 'The Hockey Song' will be played. So, too, will a Tragically Hip song (justifiably so). And if you've been to, say, an English Premier League game or even a TFC game before your first Leafs game, you're probably thinking: Why isn't anyone singing along? Crowds at Leafs games don't just sit on their hands. They remain quiet — even when there are hockey anthems right there to sing. They're missing out. At soccer stadiums, singing along is a rite of passage. Sometimes songs are written by fan clubs and are tailored to taunt that day's opponent. Sometimes they're more chants than songs and are born out of club-specific events. Come the 24th minute of every Toronto FC game at BMO Field, for example, fans sing and chant Danny Dichio's name, commemorating the club's first ever goal, which the English forward scored in the 24th minute of a 2007 match. Sometimes popular songs are adopted by fans as their own. I've been to one Liverpool game and I learned the words to the Gerry and the Pacemakers 1963 hit 'You'll Never Walk Alone' beforehand. There was no way I was missing out on one of the sport's most honoured fan traditions. Below, you can see just how different a fan experience can be between soccer stadiums and Scotiabank Arena. Seeing fans united in song is as spine-tingling and rousing an experience as you can have inside a stadium. Now, Liverpool fans singing 'You'll Never Walk Alone' was the result of a horrific stadium disaster. But it has united generations of fans. Hockey has examples, too. Colorado Avalanche fans inside the Ball Arena in Denver adopted Blink-182's 'All the Small Things' for a time, don't forget. If the Leafs in-game production crew wanted to improve the atmosphere, it would find a song by a Toronto-based artist with lyrics that are easy to sing. It would play the song without lyrics and literally tell fans to sing along. The Leafs are seemingly unable to develop any traditions organically, so they should maybe just tell people what their goal is and try to hook young fans in the process. There is nothing prohibitive about creating songs that can be tied to a fan experience inside Scotiabank Arena. It's a potential free, quick fix. They just have to find the right song. The Leafs missed a prime opportunity to turn Ronnie Hawkins' 'Peace and Quiet' into a sing-along. This remains the best — actually, maybe the only good — piece of in-game content the Leafs have created recently. Even in summer-like temperatures, the majority of fans I saw in Germany wore team-themed scarves. There were scarves made for specific past games. Others made to honour players. Others to celebrate team achievements. Other generic ones for newcomers. The Leafs should adopt scarves. Collecting scarves throughout seasons becomes a badge of honour for fans. They're conversation starters. You don't sit in isolation. Live sports events are at their best when the viewing is a communal experience. Advertisement And when the national anthems are played, fans can raise their scarves high for an impressive visual experience. It's an easy way to get involved and create a buzz early in games. So many Leafs games take place in the middle of winter, when you'd be silly not to wear a scarf anyway. It's an easily marketable piece of clothing. One that could differentiate the Leafs from other teams and arena atmospheres. Not every fan in Germany wore a jersey to games. But even the most stylishly dressed wore their scarves over dark, tailored jackets. In that sense, scarves could find a home even among the corporate crowd at Scotiabank Arena. I fondly remember the 20-minute walk from the train station in Leverkusen to the BayArena to watch Bayer Leverkusen being filled with stands selling scarves of every sort. It was an experience in itself — and an easy way for first-timers to buy a piece of clothing to help them feel like they belonged at the game. Toronto should take note.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ryan Reaves Skates With Flipped-Up Visor In AHL Marlies Debut After Demotion From Maple Leafs
Ryan Reaves returned to the American Hockey League for the first time in over a decade on Wednesday, making his Toronto Marlies debut in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Utica Comets. However, it wasn't his first AHL appearance since the 2010-11 season that drew attention. A longtime enforcer and veteran of 1,025 combined NHL regular-season and playoff games, Reaves had been one of the last remaining players in the NHL to go without a visor before his demotion from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Advertisement In the AHL, visors are mandatory, and league rules state they must cover a player's face. Yet, Reaves appeared to strategically find his way around the rule by flipping his visor up, leaving his face fully exposed – not being penalized. Photos from the game show Reaves playing with the visor tilted far out of his line of sight. In the game, the 38-year-old forward was placed on the left wing of the Marlies' second line, playing alongside Jacob Quillan and Alex Nylander, while being held off the scoresheet. His return to the AHL came after the Leafs placed him on waivers just before the NHL trade deadline to create cap space. He cleared waivers on March 7 and was assigned to the Marlies, where he has been practicing with the team since March 25. The move allowed the Leafs to make deadline acquisitions, including Scott Laughton and Brandon Carlo. Advertisement Reaves had just two assists in 35 games for Toronto this season, falling out of the lineup in the second half of the year. He is currently in the second year of a three-year contract worth $1.35 million per season. Ryan Reaves Takes Part In Marlies Practice But Status For Games Since Maple Leafs Demotion 'To Be Determined' Ryan Reaves Takes Part In Marlies Practice But Status For Games Since Maple Leafs Demotion 'To Be Determined' Before being loaned to the Marlies, Reaves had two assists in 35 games this season with the Maple Leafs. The Leafs have $195,332 in available cap space at the moment. However, he could return to the NHL once the playoffs begin, and the salary cap is no longer a factor. Other players like Max Pacioretty and Jani Hakanpaa are also candidates planning to re-enter lineup conversations for the postseason. Advertisement For now, Reaves can bring a certain element of veteran leadership to the Marlies, who are looking to make a postseason run of their own in the AHL for the Calder Cup. The team currently holds a 33-22-4-6 record, ranking third in the North Division. Stay updated with the most interesting Maple Leafs stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
