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Make-or-break time for Nick Ritchie on Maple Leafs’ top line

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10 months ago

November 18, 2021

TORONTO – As recovering left winger Ilya Mikheyev circled the Scotiabank Arena ice Thursday morning, each stride sounded like footsteps coming for a run at a top-six left-wing spot.

The fleet-footed Russian’s return is not imminent.

The pins were only recently extracted from Mikheyev’s broken thumb. He is now stickhandling with lightweight orange pucks and there is no pep on his shot.

To paraphrase the old Bruno Caboclo line, he’s probably two weeks away from being two weeks away. And with the Toronto Maple Leafs winning nine of 10, there is no need to rush.

At some point, however, a healthy Mikheyev will take someone else’s job.

“We haven’t seen Ilya Mikheyev yet this season. He was a guy that had a tremendous camp for us and preseason, and we were really excited about where he was at before his injury,” coach Sheldon Keefe said.

“So, we’ve got some things to sort through there.”

Ilya Mikheyev (thumb) is now handling the orange, lightweight pucks. No strength in his shot yet. pic.twitter.com/ssmjTyIOZq
— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) November 18, 2021
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What needs sorting is the same issue that needed sorting during training camp and early in the season.

As was the case in 2020-21 with Joe Thornton and Jimmy Vesey, the left wings that began in the top six were unable to hold that position throughout.

Michael Bunting has shown flashes, yet has slipped to the fourth line.

Nick Ritchie — in whom the club has investing $5 million for two seasons — is now entering his second extended trial alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.

This despite registering zero goals, two assists (both on the power play), and a minus-4 through 17 games a Leaf.

Surely the contract is the reason everyone involved is trying so hard to make him stick up top.

“That is an important role. They are two good players,” Keefe said. “It’s important minutes. You’re gonna play against tough matchups.

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“Right now, it’s Ritchie’s opportunity, and we’re looking to give him a chance here to take hold of it. It hasn’t happened here quite yet, and we’re going to try to stay with it and see what we can get out of it. But we believe we have some options there. We knew coming in that was going to be something [to figure out].”

Bunting and Ondrej Kase have each had looks alongside the big boys, but Keefe loves the consistency he’s getting from the Kase–David Kampf combo on Line 3.

With reacquired veteran Kyle Clifford set to tune up his game in the AHL, and a wild card such as Josh Ho-Sang putting up seven goals and 10 points through his first 11 games with the Marlies, there are other hungry options.

The pressure is on Ritchie to perform sooner than later.

“He would’ve liked to get off to a better start,” Jason Spezza said. “He’s a guy who, when he gets a little more production, it’ll give him more confidence. Hopefully, we can get that for him because the guy’s had a great attitude.”

The biggest Maple Leaf at least stood out in Tuesday’s win.

When he crushed Preds defenceman Mattias Ekholm into the glass, he freed Matthews and Marner for a Grade-A rush and ignited a fight with Michael McCarron.

“I was wound up,” Ritchie said. “Just a little bit adrenalin kind of thing.”

But Keefe benched him for a few shifts later in the game as punishment for committing brain-fart slashing minor.

“Not a very smart penalty,” Ritchie conceded. “A little bit of frustration, maybe, but I know not to do that anymore. … You can’t take penalties where you’re not saving a goal or something like that.”

Keefe said he spoke with the penalty-prone Ritchie before the season began about curbing the bad habit.

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“It’s really more about the team, frankly, than it is about Nick, in that case, because I do sympathize with the type of game he has to play to be engaged. And at times you cross that line a little bit, and that’s part of what you get,” Keefe explained. “But you do need to control it there. It’s a very tight game, and retaliatory penalties like that don’t really help the team in any way.”

Moreover, they don’t help the bench or the front office with feeling like they’ve found a top-line left wing.

And if a forward doesn’t seize that gig internally, there is no doubt Kyle Dubas will go shopping for one come late winter.

Would Filip Forsberg be available for rent by then? Andrew Copp? Robbi Fabbri? The impact left wings could be few and far between.

It’s a topic we’ll surely revisit down the road.

For now, it’s Richie’s time to shine.

“Just got to keep plugging away and shooting and trying my best and getting to the front of the net,” Ritchie said. “Hopefully something falls soon.”

One-Timers Ondrej Kase needed imaging and missed Wednesday’s practice after his gutsy dying-minutes shot block during Tuesday’s win over Nashville left a mark. He had a positive morning skate and will be a game-time decision … . Kirill Semyonov will also take the warmup skate, just in case … . Timothy Liljegren will be healthy scratched for a consecutive game, as the defence rotation continues … . Jack Campbell (and his silly-good .943 save percentage) gets the start again because why wouldn’t he … . New York Rangers coach Gerard Gallant refused to announce his starter, but after Igor Shesterkin’s 40-save show in this rink a month ago, it’s gotta be him, right?

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SEC college football picks, odds in Week 5: Arkansas stays tight with Alabama, Georgia takes out frustration

Published

5 hours ago

September 29, 2022

nigemord@gmail.com

The calendar will flip from September to October as the Week 5 college football action takes center stage on Saturday, which means that SEC division title races are starting take shape. No. 2 Alabama will head to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to take on No. 20 Arkansas in a battle between SEC foes. It was anticipated this could be a battle of undefeated title contenders, but the Razorbacks’ loss to Texas A&M last week erased that possibility. No. 7 Kentucky will travel to Oxford, Mississippi, to take on No. 14 Ole Miss in a clash of cross-division, undefeated teams that are looking to break through on the national stage.

There are intriguing games for other reasons, too. Auburn will take on LSU at Jordan-Hare Stadium in a game that could determine the future of Tigers coach Bryan Harsin. The second-year coach was rumored to be on the brink of receiving a pink slip had the Tigers lost to Missouri last week, but they escaped in overtime in one of the sloppiest games of the year.

What else is going on around the conference in Week 5? Let’s take a spin around the league and make some picks in this week’s edition of SEC Smothered and Covered.

Hurricane Ian hitting the East Coast has forced changes to SEC games in Week 5. Keep up to date with all of the movement at this link here.

Appetizer: Drew Sanders, the double agent?

Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders has established himself as one of the best players in the conference regardless of position. The former five-star prospect out of Denton, Texas, has 31 tackles on the season and is tied for third in the SEC in tackles for loss per game (1.63). He’s also a former member of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Could he be a secret agent? Well, not officially, but Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman knows that his star transfer isn’t going to be surprised by anything he sees.

“I would assume, for him, there would be some familiarity with what Bama is doing,” Pittman said. “We’ll try to downplay that as much as possible, because it is about shedding blocks and tackling and doing his assignment.”

This was shaping up to be a battle of undefeated teams prior to last weekend, but a reeling Texas A&M squad and a Hogs’ field goal attempt off the top of the goal post put an end to that plan. It didn’t erase the interest level in this game, though. Pittman’s squad absolutely has to win Saturday’s game vs. the Crimson Tide, otherwise its hopes of winning the West will disappear like a rack of ribs at a tailgate party.

Main course: Chris Rodriguez’s impact

Kentucky is typically a juggernaut at developing stud offensive linemen who are effective as run and pass blockers. This year … not so much. The Wildcats have given up more sacks than any other team in the SEC (16) and allowed Northern Illinois to sack quarterback Will Levis five times last weekend. Nothing against the Huskies, but that shouldn’t happen.

They will get running back Chris Rodriguez back from his early-season suspension this week, though, and he should at least provide more of a threat in the running game to help Levis work off play-action. The preseason All-SEC selection rushed for 1,379 yards and nine touchdowns last season while adding three touchdowns as a receiver out of the backfield. Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said Monday that Rodriguez has prepared to make an impact over the last couple of weeks.

“For Chris, it was just a matter of managing him while he was out. Just getting him the reps that we needed to. The last week or two, as I mentioned last week, he was getting reps with the first and second team — mainly the second team or different quarterbacks just to make sure he wasn’t totally removed from practicing our plays, along with staying in shape, being on the scout team, doing whatever was necessary for staying in good shape.”

Dessert: Do or die for Bryan Harsin

Reports surfaced last week that Harsin could be fired as early as the day after the Missouri game if his team lost to the visiting Tigers. That didn’t happen; Auburn used a Missouri missed field goal at the end of regulation and a walk-off touchback in overtime to escape with a win. Or a “non-loss,” considering how sloppy the game was.

In essence, it was the worst possible scenario for all parties. Harsin’s incredibly ugly win against Missouri the week after getting blown out by Penn State made it impossible for the powers-that-be to get rid of him last Sunday, which also gave him another week to “coach back into” his job if he can figure things out. Could that start this week against LSU? Harsin’s Tigers are nearly double-digit underdogs, which suggests that there isn’t much faith in him surviving beyond this weekend. Even if he does, Georgia looms next weekend prior to the bye week.

Simply put, Harsin needs to dominate LSU and upset Georgia to stay employed. Otherwise, those who staged the attempted coup in February will likely get their way and move into a new era of Auburn football.

Picks

Straight up: 38-8 | Against the spread: 19-21-1
*Previous picks were made on Instagram since SEC Smothered & Covered starts in Week 3

No. 7 Kentucky at No. 14 Ole Miss

Featured Game | Ole Miss Rebels vs. Kentucky Wildcats

The Rebels have settled on Jaxson Dart as their No. 1 quarterback, and he will provide a nice complement through the air and on the ground to a rushing attack that is second-to-none in the conference (280.75 YPG). That will wear down a Kentucky defense that isn’t as deep or consistent as it has been in previous years. The Rebels defense, which is third in the SEC in tackles for loss per game (7.0), will keep Levis in third-and-long situations — leading to an Ole Miss cover. Pick: Ole Miss (-6.5)

No. 2 Alabama at No. 20 Arkansas

Featured Game | Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Alabama Crimson Tide

The 17.5-point spread is interesting, due in large part to the hook. If a 17-point Bama win cashes an Arkansas ticket, I’m all in for the Hogs. Alabama has played one-score games in four of its last five true road tilts, and the combination of Hogs quarterback KJ Jefferson and running back Raheim Sanders will bust enough big plays to at least keep this game close into the fourth quarter. The Crimson Tide will win it by two touchdowns when all is said and done but won’t get the cover. Pick: Arkansas (+17.5)

Featured Game | Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Texas A&M Aggies

The Bulldogs are home favorites over a ranked Aggies team for good reason. Opposing quarterbacks are completing just 44.4% of their passes on third downs (17th nationally), which sets up well against an Aggies team that will be without star wide receiver Ainias Smith. Texas A&M topped Arkansas essentially because of a fumbled punt return and a freak fumble recovery/scoop-and-score, but even those won’t save them in the land of the cowbells. Pick: Mississippi State (-3.5)

LSU at Auburn

Featured Game | Auburn Tigers vs. LSU Tigers

Auburn’s offensive line has been a disaster this year, and now its quarterback position is an unmitigated disaster. Meanwhile, LSU’s defense has given up just 39 plays of 10 or more yards this season (tied with Georgia for third in the SEC). It’s going to make Auburn put together multiple sustained drives, and that’s unlikely considering Harsin forgot that running back Tank Bigsby exists during the majority of the Missouri game. The visiting Tigers will win by double-digits. Pick: LSU (-9)

No. 1 Georgia at Missouri

Featured Game | Missouri Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs

The Bulldogs have to be embarrassed after Kent State stayed within 10 points into the fourth quarter last week, and they’ll take it out on Missouri on Saturday night in Columbia. The Tigers average a league-worst 5.62 yards per play, and the way to hang with the Bulldogs is to capitalize on shot plays. Coach Kirby Smart’s crew will take out its frustration on Missouri and win by at least 30 points. Pick: Georgia (-28)

SEC teams vs. FCS opponents

*No lines have been published

Which college football picks can you make with confidence in Week 5, and which top-10 favorite will go down hard? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread — all from a proven computer model that has returned more than $3,100 in profit over the past six-plus seasons — and find out.

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Canada crushes Puerto Rico in FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup quarterfinal – Sportsnet.ca

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5 hours ago

September 29, 2022

nigemord@gmail.com

Canada has advanced to the semifinals at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup for the first time since 1986.

After going 4-1 in first-round play, Canada hammered Puerto Rico 79-60 in quarterfinal action on Thursday in Australia.

The Canadians will be heavy underdogs in the semis on Friday against the top-ranked United States. The Americans defeated Serbia 88-55 in the first quarterfinal.

The Americans have won 28 consecutive games in World Cup play since losing to the Russians in the 2006 semis — the tournament is held quadrennially.

Canada goes for gold at the FIBA Women’s World Cup on Sportsnet

Team Canada, the No. 4 squad in the world, heads to Australia to compete for a medal in the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup. Fans can watch all of Canada’s games on Sportsnet and SN NOW.

Schedule and Standings

Everything you need to know about the World Cup

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Canada will try to win its first medal since capturing bronze in 1986. That result matched its previous best of third in 1979.

Kia Nurse led Canada with 17 points, one of five players to score in double figures for her team. Bridget Carleton had 15, while Laeticia Amihere and Natalie Achonwa had 12 apiece. Kayla Alexander had 13 rebounds for Canada.

Canada jumped out to a 26-11 lead after the first quarter and never was threatened.

China faces France and Belgium meets Australia in the other quarterfinals.

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College football odds, picks, predictions, best bets for Week 5, 2022: Proven model backing Oklahoma, Oregon

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5 hours ago

September 29, 2022

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Kentucky and Kansas are often known for their basketball prowess, but the Wildcats and Jayhawks both enter the Week 5 college football schedule undefeated. The Wildcats survived an upset bid from Northern Illinois last week and will now go on the road to face the Ole Miss Rebels in an SEC showdown. Kansas, meanwhile, notched its fourth win of the season after beating Duke 35-27 and will battle Iowa State at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. Before this season, the Jayhawks recorded three wins or fewer in each of the past 12 years.

The Week 5 college football odds from Caesars Sportsbook list the Jayhawks as 3.5-point underdogs against the Cyclones. The Wildcats are 6.5-point underdogs against the Rebels in an 12 p.m. ET kickoff in Oxford. Should your Week 5 college football picks include backing Kansas or Kentucky as underdogs, or should you look elsewhere on the CFB odds board for value? Before locking in any Week 5 college football picks on those games or others, be sure to see the latest college football predictions from SportsLine’s advanced computer model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past six-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of more than $3,100 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, it has turned its attention to the latest Week 5 college football odds from Caesars and locked in picks for every FBS matchup. Head here to see every pick.

Top college football predictions for Week 5

One of the college picks the model is high on in Week 5: No. 18 Oklahoma (-5) goes on the road and covers against TCU at noon ET on Saturday. The Sooners were upset by Kansas State, a team that has been very tough on the Sooners recently, in Week 4. But the Sooners have a much better track record against the Horned Frogs. Oklahoma has won eight straight against TCU, and all but two of those wins have come by more than five points. The last two wins in the series have come by an average of 20 points.

The model sees this as a great bounce-back spot for Oklahoma as it is favored by less than a touchdown against a relatively unproven TCU squad. Dillon Gabriel throws for 300 yards in the simulations, with Marvin Mims leading the way with more than 60 receiving yards for OU. The Sooners win more than 60% of the time, making them one of the teams to include in your Week 5 college football best bets.

Another one of the model’s top college football picks: No. 13 Oregon (-16) has no trouble with the double-digit spread against Stanford in Saturday’s 11 p.m. ET kickoff in Eugene. The Ducks are coming off a thrilling 44-41 come-from-behind victory over Washington State last week. Quarterback Bo Nix was the star of the show, throwing for 428 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Nix has now accounted for at least three touchdowns in each of his last three games. For the season, Nix has thrown for 1,100 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions, while also averaging 4.6 yards per carry.

Oregon is averaging 198.2 rushing yards per game this season, which ranks 29th in the nation. Stanford, meanwhile, is giving up 30.33 points per game this season. The Cardinal have also allowed 40 or more points in back-to-back Pac-12 games. SportsLine’s model is projecting the Ducks to rush for over 200 yards against Stanford on Saturday. That helps Oregon control possession and post 41 points in this one as they cover in almost 60% of simulations. See which other teams the model likes here.

How to make college football picks for Week 5

The model has also made the call on who wins and covers in every other FBS matchup in Week 5, and it says a top-10 favorite will go down hard in one of the week’s biggest games. You can only get every pick for every game at SportsLine.

So what college football picks can you make with confidence? And which top-10 favorite goes down hard? Check out the latest college football odds below, then visit SportsLine to see which teams win and cover the spread, all from a proven computer model that has returned more than $3,100 in profit over the past six-plus seasons, and find out.