Canucks, Rossi poised for healthy finish after Olympic break
VANCOUVER – For the Vancouver Canucks, the greatest benefit of the Olympic break is simply time.
The mini-training camp that started Tuesday at the University of B.C. should help the team’s many young players better understand coach Adam Foote’s system. And certainly, a three-week break between National Hockey League games gives older players time to process the Canucks’ stunning plunge in the standings, and return with positive attitudes as the franchise undertakes its deepest rebuild this century.
But the biggest benefit to February’s NHL hibernation could be seen in the two, small practice groups of non-Olympians who skated Tuesday.
Marco Rossi (lower body), Brock Boeser (concussion) and Nils Hoglander (lower body) were full participants, as were Filip Chytil (neurological issues) and Zeev Buium (broken facial bone), although the latter two wore red, non-contact jerseys that exempted them from media availabilities.
Boeser also did not speak to reporters, a team official citing illness, which is also why winger Conor Garland was not a Day-1-of-the-rest-of-the-season participant.
With five players at the Olympics in Milan, the Canucks’ full lineup could be seen only as a projection on paper.
But with these injured players having time to heal and be ready for the resumption of the Canucks’ NHL schedule, Feb. 25 against the Winnipeg Jets at Rogers Arena, Vancouver should finally have something close to a full team – albeit with starting goalie Thatcher Demko done for the season due to hip surgery.
More than two months since his inclusion in the biggest trade in Canucks history, Rossi told reporters he is only now fully healthy.
“It feels really good to be back to 100 per cent,” the 24-year-old centre said. “That’s how I feel right now for the first time since I’ve been here. So yeah, I feel really good and I’m happy to be back.”
Acquired from the Minnesota Wild in the Quinn Hughes blockbuster, Rossi played eight games for the Canucks before leaving the lineup after a Dec. 30 game against Philadelphia.
He revealed Tuesday he was unable to skate anything close to his best during those 16 days.
“That’s a huge part, especially for me,” he said. “I try to go left, right, left, right, and it’s hard when you can’t do that.
“But, of course, when you get traded, you’re so pumped up, you know? You want to show the team right away that I want to be here and, you know, I just want to play for this team. But sometimes, especially when you’re young, you think maybe differently (than you should). You just want to play. And, like I said, looking back, maybe it wasn’t the best decision. But I’m good now.”
Before the Dec. 12 trade, Rossi hadn’t played since Minnesota’s game against the San Jose Sharks on Nov. 11. He had been playing hurt before then.
Including what will be an eight-week absence for the Canucks, the second-line centre has played only 25 games this season, managing just 15 points – two of them for Vancouver.
How certain is he that he is ready for the Canucks’ final 25 games?
“One hundred per cent,” Rossi said. “The last two years before, I played all the games. I didn’t miss one game. So that’s the same mindset I have now. You know, anything can happen; it’s a sport. But the last 25 games, I can’t wait to play every game.
“I’m really happy to be back and, you know, to not just show the fans, but also for myself. You want to be back to 100 per cent, and that’s how I feel right now.”
What he is returning to, however, is profoundly different than what Rossi left behind in Minnesota.
Turbo-charged by acquiring Hughes, the former Canuck captain and Norris Trophy winner, the Wild have gone 17-5-5 since the trade and are fourth in the NHL at 34-14-10. Minnesota is a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
The Canucks won their first four games after the trade, but are 3-16-3 since then and have plummeted to the bottom of the standings at 18-33-6. Vancouver is on pace for its worst season since 1999.
“Yeah, for sure, it’s different,” Rossi said. “In Minny, you’re trying to go for the playoffs and, obviously, try to go as far as you can. Here, I mean, it is what it is, right? It’s a different situation for me; my first time (in a rebuild). But I think it’s important that we’re together as a group. We just have to keep building our game and try to get better day by day.
“Even as a team, you know, we can’t think about the standings and stuff. All we have to (do) is stay positive and just try to play our game and try to learn as much as we can as a group.”
ICE CHIPS — After splitting their small lineup for Day 1 in order to give players more puck touches and coaching support after nearly two weeks off, the Canucks will practise in one main group on Wednesday. . . With Demko out and backup Kevin Lankinen with Finland’s Olympic team, the Canucks recalled minor-league goalie Aku Koskenvuo to partner fellow callup Jiri Patera for the mini-camp. The franchise’s third-string goalie, Nikita Tolopilo, has been left for now with the Abbotsford Canucks to get in more American League games.
Arbeloa: 'Ride together, die together' after Vini Jr racism claim
Vinicius Jr scored the winning goal and was booked for his celebration before Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni allegedly called him a monkey, according to Kylian Mbappé. Play was paused for 10 minutes as Vini reported the incident to the referee.
Arbeloa condemned racism, stating 'there has to be absolutely zero tolerance for racism' and insisting on Madrid's unity: 'We ride together and die together.' Prestianni denies the allegations, claiming Vini Jr misunderstood what he heard.
Donaldson scores Miami's last 15 points, scores 32 to lead Hurricanes past Virginia Tech 67-66
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Tre Donaldson scored Miami's last 15 points and finished with 32 to lead the Hurricanes to a 67-66 victory over Virginia Tech on Tuesday night.
Donaldson made a pair of free throws to pull Miami within 57-54 with 7:36 remaining, and his 3-pointer with 6:50 left sparked a 7-0 personal surge to give the Hurricanes a 61-59 lead with 4:40 left. The Hokies scored six straight points capped by Tobi Lawal’s dunk for a 65-61 advantage.
Donaldson hit a jumper and tied it 66-all with a 3-pointer with 1:18 left. He then made the first of two free-throw attempts with 12 seconds to go before Ben Hammond missed a jumper at the buzzer.
Donaldson shot 13 of 24 and made three of the Hurricanes' four 3s. Dante Allen scored 10 points for Miami (21-5, 10-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), which has won four straight and six of its last seven games.
Amani Hansberry scored 16 to lead Virginia Tech (17-10, 6-8). Jailen Bedford scored 12 points and Hammond 10. The Hokies have lost four of their last five games.
Virginia Tech shot 50% in each half and were 8 of 20 (40%) from long range but just 2 of 3 from the line. Miami was 9-of-13 shooting from the line.
Virginia Tech made 5 of 11 from 3 for a 34-31 halftime lead.
Up next
Virginia Tech hosts Wake Forest on Saturday.
Miami plays at No. 14 Virginia on Saturday.
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MSU basketball bounces back, dominates UCLA in blowout win
Michigan State basketball took out some of its recent frustrations out on a good UCLA team on Tuesday night.
The Spartans simply dominated a NCAA Tournament quality team in UCLA on Tuesday, winning by the final score of 82-59 from the Breslin Center. Michigan State came into this game in the midst of slump, with losses in three of their last four games, including a 20-plus point loss at Wisconsin last Friday. But there was simply no signs of a slump for the Spartans on Tuesday, putting forth an impressive dominant performance.
Michigan State put on an incredible defensive display in the first half, that led to a 20-point advantage at the break. The game started off tight and back-and-forth, but then the Spartans put the defensive clamps down, holding UCLA scoreless for eight minutes. That led to an 18-0 run, which fueled the 43-23 Spartans lead at halftime.
Things didn't get better for UCLA in the second half, as Michigan State never let their lead go any lower than 16 points, and leading by as many as 31 points in the blowout win.
Michigan State got stellar performances from a number of players, with six different Spartans scoring nine or more points in the win. Jeremy Fears Jr. and Coen Carr ended the night leading the Spartans in scoring with 16 points each. Fears Jr. also recorded 10 assists for another double-double on the year.
With the victory over UCLA, Michigan State improves to 21-5 overall and 11-4 in Big Ten play this year. UCLA will fall to 17-9 overall and 9-6 in Big Ten games this year with the defeat.
Michigan State will play a second straight home game, with Ohio State set to come to the Breslin Center on Sunday. Tipoff for this matchup between the Spartans and Buckeyes is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET and will be televised on CBS.
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This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Michigan State basketball bounces back, dominates UCLA in blowout win
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