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Oct 17 '17
LONDON, Ont. Zach Strief Jersey . -- Antoine Bibeau bought the Val-dOr Foreurs valuable time at the Memorial Cup with his 51-save shutout Friday. Val-dOr didnt have a full tank mentally or physically in a 1-0 win over the host London Knights to kick off the tournament. Theyd won the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League title in a Game 7 on Tuesday in Baie-Comeau, Que. But Bibeaus heroics allow the Foreurs to rest on that important first win of the tournament for two days before facing the Ontario Hockey Leagues Guelph Storm on Monday. "It really was Bibeau who made the difference tonight," Foreurs forward Anthony Mantha said. "Winning this game gives us a little break, gives us two days off and we come back strong on Monday. Its just a confidence-builder for our team in general." Mantha, a first-round draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings, scored in the first period for his 82nd goal in as many games for the Foreurs this season. Among Bibeaus pivotal saves was getting his blocker on a penalty-shot attempt by London forward Bo Horvat early in the third period and stopping Knights captain Chris Tierney on a breakaway in the first. The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect faced an average of 40 shots a game in the final four games of the QMJHL final series against the Drakkar, which set him up for Fridays performance. "In the last couple of weeks I was used to receiving lots of shots, so I think I was just ready and I was just trying to give the team a chance to win tonight," Bibeau said. "We wanted to get the first win as quick as possible." The Memorial Cup has been awarded to Canadian junior hockey champions since 1919 in memory of those who died in the First World War. The tournament includes the Ontario, Western and Quebec champions as well as the host team. The Western Hockey League champion Edmonton Oil Kings face the OHLs Storm on Saturday. The team with the best record after the preliminary round earns a bye to the final May 25. The second- and third-place teams meet in the semifinal May 23. If two teams are tied for third, a tiebreaker game is played. The Foreurs guaranteed themselves at least a tiebreaker game with their win Friday. This years tournament opener featured the least-rested team against a hockey club playing its first game in five weeks. The Knights were eliminated in the second round of playoffs by Guelph on April 11. The hosts Knights held the Foreurs scoreless on a pair of two-man advantages in the first two periods and outshot them 51-28. London goaltender Anthony Stolarz played his first game in over seven weeks because of an eight-game suspension in the post-season. Stolarz played well in stopping all but one shot in front of a capacity crowd at Budweiser Gardens. The weary Foreurs sometimes reached for a pass instead of skating for the puck. "We need to play a little bit better defensively," head coach Mario Durocher said. "I think at one point we were mentally tired and we started to run all over in our defensive zone." London was one of three teams who scored over 300 goals in the OHL this season. But the Knights didnt recover their scoring touch despite three power-play chances, the penalty-shot opportunity and pulling Stolarz for an extra attacker with almost two minutes to go. London also shot the puck wide of the net several times when they had a shooting lane. "Its definitely a critical moment and Im definitely kicking myself for not scoring on that," Horvat said of his penalty-shot attempt. "Theres not much you can do about it now. Learn from it and not dwell on the past. "Yeah, missed nets. We probably had 10 missed nets. I think we could have had 60 shots. Maybe thats something we have to start thinking about and starting burying out chances." The Knights face the Oil Kings in their next game Sunday. This is Londons third straight trip to the Memorial Cup after winning the OHL championship the previous two years. The Knights lost to Shawinigan in overtime in the 2012 final and were eliminated in last years semifinal by the Portland Winterhawks in Saskatoon. Bibeau, a 20-year-old from Victoriaville, almost had a goaltenders worst nightmare in the first period. While waiting for the puck to drop for a faceoff at the far end of Budweiser Gardens, he looked up at the scoreboard a little too long and looked down just in time to close his legs on the puck. "The 200-foot (save) was easy. It was just me. I wasnt ready," Bibeau said. "I saw the puck at the last second. It was an easy save, but a key save I think." Mantha, six foot five and 204 pounds, swooped from Stolarzs left and tucked the puck under the Knights goaltender on his stick side at 16:20 of the first period. The game was scheduled for 7 p.m., but the puck dropped 34 minutes later because of pre-game ceremonies that included the song "Highway of Heroes" by The Trews. Rickey Jackson Jersey . In the last race before the Sochi Olympics, Bjoergen followed up her win in the 10-kilometre classical race on Saturday by beating World Cup sprint leader Denise Herrmann of Germany by 0.43 seconds for her fifth victory of the season. Alex Okafor Jersey . Louis against the Blues. The Canucks picked up their second straight victory in the swings opener on Tuesday in Calgary before getting routed in Minnesota last night, 5-1.MONTREAL - No one needs to tell Troy Smith or Kevin Glenn they have to step up their games following disappointing Week 1 losses in which both quarterbacks struggled as the Alouettes welcome the Lions to Montreal for their home opener.The Heisman Trophy-winner replacing future Hall of Famer Anthony Calvillo at quarterback completed fewer than half his passes as the Montreal Alouettes offence fired blanks in its CFL season opener last week in Calgary.Smith hopes to start clicking with his receivers and moving the ball when the Alouettes (0-1) take on the B.C. Lions (0-1) in a bounce-back game for both teams at Percival Molson Stadium on Friday night.It falls on my shoulders as a quarterback, said Smith, who put up only 154 passing yards in a 29-8 loss to the Stampeders. I have to do a better job of decision-making and distributing the ball.We have weapons all over the field, but if we dont protect and get the ball out on time, these weapons mean nothing. So its on me.The Lions 35-year-old pivot Kevin Glenn may be thinking the same. His team took an early 14-0 lead but he then threw four interceptions in a 27-20 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos. It was only the third time the Lions lost at home since 2011.And this week the Lions go into the game with the virtually unknown Ryan Cave playing the key position on the offensive line, left tackle. Cave was rushed in this week after Andre Ramsey fractured an ankle, Cave had only two practices with his new team.The upside is that Cave spent most of training camp with the Alouettes and knows the players he will be trying to block.Everyone knows theres a new guy on the offensive line whos had two days of practice, but hes a very intelligent guy, very football smart, said Glenn. Hes picked up the scheme and blocking assignments very quickly.Well see what happens in a game but I have confidence hell do well.The Alouettes got a break on Thursday when CFL disciplinarians elected to give linebacker Kyries Hebert a fine rather than a suspension for his clothesline tackle on Calgarys Jon Cornish.So the stage is set for yet another in a long history of close battles between the Alouettes and Lions in Montreal. Last season, a last-play Sean Whyte field goal gave Montreal a 39-38 win.B.C. coach Mike Benevides played film of that game to his players as a reminder.What happened last year was BS, said Benevides. We had multiple turnovers and didnt score off it.We became unglued somewhat and, at the end of the game, theres a quarterback that hadnt played a lot (Tanner Marsh) who finds a way to get into field goal range and beat you. You cant let that happen.Smith was tabbed as the Alouettes starter going into their first season since 2000 without CFL al-time passing leader Calvillo behind centre.He had an impressive array of receivers led by S. Larry Warford Jersey. J. Green, but wasnt able to find them consistently, often overthrowing them. The teams lone touchdown by running back Steven Lumbala came on the final play of the game after pair of Calgary roughing calls put the ball on the one.More reps, more practice, was Smiths answer to what he needs to find his groove. As a quarterback, I think staring down the eye of adversity and understanding that only you can surface yourself out should be fun.Anybody who is worth their weight in marbles would not want to dig themselves into a situation like this, but would love to dig themselves out.How long first-year coach Tom Higgins will stick with Smith if the offence doesnt click remains to be seen. Marsh is the backup, and third stringer Alex Brink has CFL experience.When asked about it, Higgins didnt rule it out. But he expects that Smith only needs time and experience with CFL football to succeed.I dont know if were going to a two-quarterback system, he said. Im hoping thats not the case.But Troy has been under pressure before. Its about production. Its about us giving him an opportunity to be successful. I think we have the ability to run the football. We need to do that. We need to get the ball out of Troys hand quicker in certain situations, but also give him an opportunity to air the ball out.The Alouettes will be without key receiver Duran Carter, as well as safety Mike Edem, with ankle injuries.The Lions have started the season without No. 1 quarterback Travis Lulay, who is on the six-game injured list with a shoulder injury. The 35-year-old Glenn completed 18 of 28 passes for 251 yards against the Eskimos, including 102 yards to Andrew Harris.Cutting down on turnovers will be the top priority, although that will be a challenge against a ball-hungry Montreal defence.Theyre an attack defence, said Glenn. They come after you.They want to disrupt the offence and cause turnovers, and thats one thing we learned last week, that we cant turn the ball over and win.Former Lions defensive end Chris Wilson will likely line up across from Cave, but linebackers like Hebert and Chip Cox will no doubt also test the newcomer as he tries to play one of the most difficult positions on the field with little practice time.Benevides is confident the six-foot-five 345-pound Cave wont be trampled.With the challenge a very good Montreal defence presents, at least his advantage is that hes seen those men and what they can do, said Benevides. Yeah, its not an ideal world to have a professional player playing after two days with the program, but thats the challenge we have to face.Hes done a good job. Hes a smart player, a big player. In three days of knowing him, I like him a lot.Note to readers: CORRECTS Smiths passing yards to 154 sted 148 in fourth graf. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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