CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to falter in their own end as they have done for the past three seasons under overrated head coach Mike Babcock.
Although they are a game above .500, they are certainly no Stanley Cup threat at this point with or without high-scoring John Tavares. Making the playoffs is no guarantee.
The Leafs and the Winnipeg Jets are desperate for a quality stay-at-home defenceman and it puzzles me why they are not pursuing Cornwall’s Adam McQuaid, who I am told now has a clean bill of health. Adam is likely looking at a one-year deal, a signing that could be a steal if he stays healthy.
Another Islander that could help some teams would be Dion Phaneuf and while Toronto is out of the question, he just might help the high-scoring Jets.
UPEI
On the local front, the UPEI hockey Panthers (1-4-1) entertain first-place Acadia Axemen, who were 6-1 before Friday’s tilt with Saint Mary’s, tonight at MacLauchlan Arena.
The Panthers lost to the Axemen 4-3 a week ago in Wolfville, N.S. Panther Kyle Maksimovich scored twice and earned second star honours in that one. Kris MacDonald of Orwell is an associate coach on Darren Burns’ Acadia staff.
The women’s hockey Panthers, under head coach Bruce Donaldson, entered Friday tied for first place in the conference with Saint Mary’s at 5-1. UPEI is in Fredericton, N.B., tonight to meet the Tommies.
In the past, the Panthers have played well defensively but lacked scoring but that is not the case this season. UPEI is led by Jolena Gillard (three goals and three assists, six points) and she has a great supporting cast with players like Jenna Pellerin (1-4, 5), Maria Clinton (3-2, 5), Faith Steeves (3-2, 5), Kelly Clements (2-2, 4) and Delaney Boehm (3-1, 4).
Goaltender Camille Scherger from Alberta has allowed just five goals and was tied for the best goals-against average in the conference.
Baseball
Fifty or so years ago, a popular major league baseball saying went like this, “Washington: first in war, first in peace, last in the American League.”
Today, that saying could be flipped, as Washington, the old Montreal Expos franchise, is on the brink of baseball history, a World Series crown for that city.
Houston and Washington feature outstanding pitching and after winning the first two games in Houston, the Nationals are certainly favoured right now. An omen in Wednesday’s Game 2 had Jose Altuve attempting to steal third base while trailing 2-0, a no-no in my books.
With great pitching on both sides, the team that plays smarter baseball and avoids brain cramps will win this series.
Minor Hockey Gear
George Halliwell, the former president of Charlottetown Minor Hockey Association, informed me the free hockey equipment program has expanded to Morell as Tim O’Flaherty is opening an equipment bin at the Morell rink in the near future. I can see a rink in the Tignish area coming on board making equipment available for kids who want to play hockey, an Island-wide venture. What a great idea.
Harness racing
Live harness racing continues today at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park with a 12-dash card beginning at 12:30 p.m.
The $2800 feature goes in Race 11 with the likes of Screen Test, Burn Out Hanover, J J Powerball, Three Truths, Woodmere Ideal Art, and Rockin Indy. Also on the card is a $12,100 Maritime Breeders two-year-old trot and a three-year-old event at $10,700.
Mohawk hosts the Grand Circuit Breeders Crown events at 7 p.m. tonight with most of the top pacers and trotters in North America in action. Warrawee Ubeaut, Greenshoe and McWicked are likely heavy favourites in their respective divisions and I would think the miniature monster Bettors Wish will get the job done in the three-year-old $786,000 race against Jug winner Southwind Ozzi and eight others. James MacDonald drives Covered Bridge in here and he was a fast-closing third against the same last week. James also has Courtly Choice, Ideation Hanover and the trotter Seaside Bliss in other races.
The race game lost another big fan with the passing of former Charlottetown MP George Proud, a familiar and enjoyable figure in his political days and a former horse owner. One of the most popular politicians of his day and a great sports fan. He’ll be missed for sure.
Pigskin picks
Let’s take a closer look at Sunday NFL games:
Green Bay Packers (6-1) at Kanas City Chiefs (5-2) – Aaron Rodgers is red-hot, the defence is solid and they’ll meet a Chiefs team without Patrick Mahomes. Packers will cover the three-point road spread.
Denver Broncos (2-5) at Indianapolis Colts (4-2) – Colts offensive line gives QB Jacoby Brissett great protection and he’s another star in the making. Colts are six-point home favourites and that I like.
Seattle Seahawks (5-2) at Atlanta Falcons (1-6) – Seahawks QB Russell Wilson threw his first pick last week against Baltimore in a rare home loss. The Falcons have a poor offensive line and rivals are pounding QB Matt Ryan. The defence is porous, too. Seattle wins easily.
Philadelphia Eagles (3-4) at Buffalo Bills (5-1) – As I said at the outset, the Bills are a playoff team with a great defence, as they showed in a close loss to the Patriots, and QB Josh Allen is another young star. The Eagles turned the ball over five times against Dallas and QB Carson Wentz was running for his life throughout the game. The Eagles are a Dr Jekyll-Mr Hyde type club, losing three of four on the road but beat Green Bay. I love Allen, Bills prevail as 1.5-point home favourites.
New York Giants (2-5) at Detroit Lions (2-3-1) – The Lions are the best under .500 club in the NFL. They lost winnable games to Green Bay, Minnesota and Kansas City early and they were robbed at Green Bay two weeks ago. QB Matt Stafford is playing like a Pro Bowl QB and the Lions are far superior to the Giants.
If you’re looking at another game, how about L.A. Chargers at Chicago Bears. The Chargers haven’t won at Soldier Field since 1970.
Fred MacDonald's column appears every Saturday in The Guardian. He can be reached at fiddlersfacts@hotmail.com.
