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A few managers were in the running when Chelsea were looking for a replacement for Mauricio Pochettino in May 2024. It was an extensive process and involved the club talking to Thomas Frank before they settled on Enzo Maresca.

The feeling was that Marescaâ€s positional game and focus on possession made him most suited to Chelseaâ€s squad of technicians. Frank, who had performed brilliantly at Brentford, had to wait for his next opportunity. Overlooked by Manchester United after they fired Erik ten Hag, it arrived when Tottenham hired the Dane after sacking Ange Postecoglou last summer.

Now Frank and Maresca meet with both in big jobs. Theirs is not a rivalry yet but they had some close duels last season. Frankâ€s Brentford were unfortunate to lose 2-1 at Stamford Bridge last December and had the better chances when they drew 0-0 with Chelsea in April.

Those were two decent games, made more interesting because of the tactical differences between the coaches. Frank is more of a pragmatist, more willing to be direct, play on the break and wait for opportunities to unveil an array of clinical set-piece routines, whereas Maresca veers towards dogmatism. The Italian comes from the Pep Guardiola school; he prizes dominance of the ball.

Chelseaâ€s average of 59.7% possession this season is bettered only by Liverpool in the Premier League. Frank mixes it up more. Spurs are not instinctively a defensive side – they are seventh in the possession rankings, ahead of Manchester United and Newcastle – but it is telling that their best performances have come in games where they have ceded the initiative. They were excellent with a back five in the Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain, implemented an outstanding counterpress when they won 2-0 at Manchester City and destroyed Everton with set pieces last Sunday.

Those experiences suggest Spurs should sit back when they host Chelsea. Tottenham, after all, have one win from their past seven home league games. The numbers are awful. Spurs†record of 13 points from their past 18 home outings is the worst of any team to have been in the top flight throughout that period.

This is a hard game to read. Spurs are five points off first place and unbeaten in the Champions League. Chelsea are world champions and reached the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup this week. However, fans of both sides remain unconvinced by Frank and Maresca. Spurs supporters have grumbled about a lack of creativity when the onus is on their team to attack; Chelseaâ€s moan about their young sideâ€s immaturity, indiscipline and toils against low blocks.

The reality is that both managers are doing fine. Chelsea could slip to 12th if they lose to Spurs but there is context to their indifferent results. Injuries to Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill have taken a toll. A disrupted pre-season, caused by the club going all the way at the Club World Cup, cannot be overlooked.

Chelsea have won their last four league games against Tottenham, including 4-3 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Yet there is room for improvement, especially when it comes to keeping 11 players on the pitch. Liam Delapâ€s ludicrous dismissal during Wednesdayâ€s Carabao Cup victory against Wolves was Chelseaâ€s sixth red card in nine games, including Marescaâ€s banishment from the touchline during the win over Liverpool.

Maresca was furious with Delap, who is banned for the trip to Spurs. But he is also pondering how to make his team more incisive against low blocks. The goals have dried up for João Pedro and more consistency is required from Chelseaâ€s young wide players.

Frustration mounted during last weekendâ€s 2-1 home defeat by Sunderland. Chelsea had 68.4% possession, their highest of the campaign, but their xG was 0.97. Sunderlandâ€s switch to a back five flummoxed Maresca. Régis Le Bris had done his homework. Statistics showing it is one win from the six league games when Chelseaâ€s possession has been at its highest this season suggests their core identity is being weaponised and turned on them.

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This is not a new issue. It was no wins from the four league games in which Chelsea had their most possession last season, highlighting a weakness when Marescaâ€s quest for control is taken to extremes. The danger is drifting into sterile domination, to borrow Arsène Wengerâ€s phrase. José Mourinhoâ€s line about the team with the ball having the fear also comes to mind.

Maresca disagrees but it is worth recalling that Chelsea had 33.5% possession when they produced their best performance under the Italian and thrashed PSG in the Club World Cup final. Variety is a strength. Chelsea have plenty of fast attackers and are pulsating when they have space to attack.

Will Frank grant them freedom? Chelsea punished Postecoglouâ€s gung-ho tactics on their past two trips to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Frank will surely be smarter. Is a switch to a back five on the cards? Chelsea have conceded from three long throws this season. Spurs could have Kevin Danso chucking balls into the box. They will note that Chelsea have improved at offensive set pieces but are conceding too many chances.

Being so direct does not necessarily fit with Spurs†traditions. But with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski missing there is a heavy creative burden on Mohammed Kudus. Xavi Simons, targeted by Chelsea last summer, has not done enough since joining from RB Leipzig. Spurs are predictable in open play. Their forwards remain inconsistent.

But this is one game where the ends may justify the means. Spurs fans will not mind if a defensive approach ends a four-game losing run against Chelsea. Victory would ignite Frankâ€s reign. How he would love to win this duel with Maresca.

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VANCOUVER — It can get dark so early around the Vancouver Canucks that it feels sometimes like youâ€ve missed the clock change and itâ€s suddenly December.

Instead, it is three games into an 82-game National Hockey League season. But here we are again with dusk apparently closing in.

The West Coast can get wet and gloomy in a hurry once summer ends, but it has actually been a beautiful autumn out here, and Tuesday was blue-sky sunny and 14 degrees.

The Canucks, however, are 1-2 through three games and coming off TWO STRAIGHT LOSSES! And after last season — and especially after one of the most positive and encouraging training camps and pre-seasons in a couple of decades — that feels ominous.

“Just from everything, you know, thatâ€s happened the last couple years, it probably feels a little bit more urgent than maybe if we were a team that was in the playoffs last year,†Canucks captain Quinn Hughes said after Tuesdayâ€s practice at Rogers Arena. “But we haven’t deserved that right to kind of be 1-2 and say, you know, ‘We’ll be good.†We have to go prove it.

“There’s a mental challenge, sure. But it’s our job to be positive throughout the whole season no matter what’s going on. So we tried to have fun today at practice. Definitely, there’s waves (of ups and downs) and I felt it last night. But for myself, just be positive and bring your best every game. So that’s what I need to try to do, and everyone needs to do.â€

The urgency, usually a precursor to desperation and then panic, that always seems to lurk near the Canucks was ramped up by the holiday weekend losses, 5-2 Monday at home to the St. Louis Blues, and 3-1 Saturday in Edmonton against the Oilers.

The Canucks werenâ€t nearly good enough in either game. But as usual, in a market scarred by disappointment over many years and wary of being fooled again, emotions are outracing reality.

The Canucks were sloppy in both games, especially against the Blues, but were still in position to salvage points had they executed better at the end.

Their top players arenâ€t producing but, in most cases, have underlying numbers that are less discouraging than their point totals.

Hughes, for example, is stuck on a single assist and is minus-two through three games, but his expected-goals-for share at five-on-five is 59 per cent. Elias Pettersson has just one assist and three shots on target, but his xGF is 68 per cent. Conor Garland has only one assist but co-leads Vancouver with nine shots.

The Canucks need to finish, and their power play that surged through the pre-season needs to offer something better than 0-for-7. The team also must earn more chances with the man-advantage, and stop turning over pucks and yielding quality scoring chances when theyâ€re chasing games.

They need to play tighter and sharper, like they proved they could do in a pre-season that had them (and many fans) brimming with optimism.

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“The thing for me,†goalie Thatcher Demko told reporters Tuesday, “is the things that have been lacking are things that are super correctable. We can address those things, and we have in video and things like that. But, yeah, those are easy things to fix. We had so much momentum going for us in the pre-season games, and I don’t think itâ€s going to take much to kind of get back to that level and have that swagger as a group.â€

And as for any darkness closing in for Game 4 Thursday in Dallas?

“I mean, I think no one’s talking about it,†Demko said. “I think guys are fine. I mean, if you guys (in the media) are chatting about it. . . I don’t know. But I don’t get that sense in the room, to answer your question. I don’t think there’s a panic level or anything like that. We know we have to address some things. Weâ€ve got to clean some things up, for sure. We’re not turning a blind eye to that. But I think that we’re the same group we were a week ago. I feel good about our group, and I think guys are excited to get on the road.â€

The five-game trip opens with back-to-back contests against the Stars and Chicago Blackhawks, then moves to Washington for a Sunday matinee against the Capitals, then to Pittsburgh and Nashville for games next week.

The Canucks canâ€t make the playoffs even with an outstanding tour, but they can ease the pressure around them and make things a little brighter.

“I think you have to have adversity throughout the season; I don’t care what team you are,†winger Kiefer Sherwood, the best Canuck so far, told Sportsnet. “You think we have a good camp and it’s just going to be smooth sailing? Like, that’s not how a season works. If anything, it’s good to go through growing pains earlier, so that we know how to respond, how we can grow, how we stick together and we learn from it. At the end of the day, it’s what you do with those losses that can propel us to more wins.

“We have to flip the switch from training camp mode and, you know, summer happiness to lock in here. Itâ€s going to be hard, and I think youâ€ve got to embrace the hard, right? You can’t try to avoid it. It’s a long, grueling season, especially with our (condensed) schedule this year, so we have to embrace it. The urgency has to be now. It canâ€t be 10 or 15 games in. We did this to ourselves, and now it’s time for us to move forward and, like I said, put our work boots on and grow from it.â€

 â€œJust rely on our teammates and rely on each other,†Hughes told us. “The guys in this room are going to get us out of it. I actually feel bad talking this much about it because I just want to go out there and play, and just let the actions (speak).â€

The first Canuck campaign by an 18-year-old in 35 years ended Tuesday at three games when centre Braeden Cootes was sent back to his junior team in Seattle.

“We’re proud of what he’s done,†Canucks coach Adam Foote said of the first-round draft pick who made the opening-night roster out of training camp. “It’s not been his play at all; he’s a smart hockey player. We just think it’s the right thing for his development. This is going to be a condensed, long, heavy season. And you know, we have a young team. . . so it’s hard to have a lot of support around him for his age at this moment. So I think it’s the right thing for his development.â€

In three regular-season games, Cootes did not register a point nor shot on net while averaging just 10:47 of ice time. At five-on-five, the Canucks were outshot 20-7 with Cootes on the ice and high-danger scoring chances were 10-0.

Clearly, Cootes isnâ€t ready for the NHL. Yet. But he was — is — a great story for them and one of the brightest pieces in the Canucks†future.

Foote said the team was recalling minor-league centre Max Sasson, who is seven years older than Cootes and probably would have made the Canucks last week had he been subject to waivers. Sasson could play Thursday in Dallas while veteran checking centre and penalty-killer Teddy Blueger gets close to returning from a knee injury.

Blueger and defenceman Pierre-Olivier Joseph (groin), who is on injured reserve, practised Tuesday in red jerseys but fully participated in contact drills.

Apart from swapping fourth-line centres, Foote said he was “leaning towards†playing Pettersson between wingers Garland and Evander Kane, while elevating Filip Chytil to a line with Brock Boeser and Jake DeBrusk.

DeBrusk-Pettersson-Boeser
Kane-Chytil-Garland
Bains-Raty-Sherwood
Oâ€Connor-Cootes-Lekkerimaki

Hughes-Hronek
Pettersson (Jr)-Myers
M. Pettersson-Mancini

Karlsson, Blueger, Joseph

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OTTAWA — For a long time in the hockey universe, Brady Tkachuk, his Senators and the city of Ottawa were an afterthought.Â

That all changed last season. Tkachuk took part in one of the most memorable fights in hockey history at the 4 Nations Face-Off, scored in the final, dragged his Ottawa Senators to the playoffs for the first time in eight years while being mercilessly booed by Leafs fans. Now, heâ€s one of the stars of Amazonâ€s “Faceoff” documentary and shared the cover of NHL 26 deluxe edition with brother, Matthew, and father, Keith.Â

The goal posts in hockey are the same this season, but they have changed for Tkachuk.

“I think there’s just one goal in mind for everybody in this room, and that’s the Stanley Cup,†he said.

Tkachuk knows he needs to get better for that to happen, from improved conditioning, playing with a cooler head, fighting less and straight up producing more goals and points.

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In his first game of the 2025-26 season, Tkachuk embodied the drag-my-team-back-into-the-game style, producing three assists on the first three Senators goals — driving a comeback from down 3-1 to eventually winning 5-4 in Tampa. Also, no dumb fights for the captain.Â

“The maturity that we played with really showed. I think there’s times, probably in the past, where we tried to make a play at all costs,†said Tkachuk post-game.

If the captain doesnâ€t panic, the team wonâ€t either.

For the Senators to thrust themselves into the forefront of the NHL, theyâ€ll need to optimize Tkachuk.

His coach thinks he has the tools.

Heâ€s called hockeyâ€s unicorn.

“How many players are like that in the league?†asked Senators coach Travis Green, rhetorically. “If you have another one we can get, Iâ€d love to get him. I donâ€t think we have another 10 other Brady Tkachuks. I don’t think there are 10 others in the league.â€

Tkachuk is a blend of skill, power and fighting, with a vibrant personality. His ultimate attribute is his ability to beat you up in a fight and on the scoreboard. Early in his career, though, he let his emotions get the better of him.Â

To allow Tkachuk to focus on scoring, last week the Senators traded for heavyweight fighter Kurtis MacDermid. In the first game of the season, both MacDermid and Donovan Sebrango fought instead of Tkachuk.

“I feel like (Iâ€m) starting to realize the importance that I have of being out there,†Tkachuk on his evolution on fighting.

“There’s definitely been times in the past where (Iâ€d) lose control of the emotions and snap,†said Tkachuk. He added he’s done “a lot of work (on managing emotions) and trying to stay level-headed and even keel.â€

Tkachuk credited the two fights from his teammates for lifting the teamâ€s spirits against Tampa Bay. Itâ€s not his job anymore.

“I love what he is. I love who he is,†Green said. “Bradyâ€s done a good job at maturing as a player. Being in emotional control. Also, understanding that his play rubs off on other players as well. It’s hard to win in the NHL.â€

Since entering the league in 2018, Tkachuk leads the league in penalty minutes. But last season he fought only five times.Â

With a more grown-up Tkachuk, the Senators are primed to take a run at the Atlantic Division that some consider wide open, given a banged-up, brotherless-for-now Florida, Marner-less Leafs and aging Tampa Bay. Ottawa has every opportunity to seize the moment, and Tkachuk will be the biggest key in a Senators bid to rise up the standings.Â

But, of course, itâ€s not all on him. He has help.Â

“I donâ€t have to feel the need to have the weight on my shoulders,†Tkachuk said.

Part of the success of the Senators last season was that it was the best collection of talent Tkachuk has ever played with in Ottawa, with Jake Sanderson, Tim Stutzle and Shane Pinto taking a leap alongside veteran impact players Linus Ullmark, David Perron and Nick Jensen solidifying the teamâ€s play. The time is now for Tkachuk to win in Ottawa.Â

Despite all the winning in 2024-25, there wasnâ€t a gold medal or Lord Stanley’s cup for Tkachuk. Injuries hampered Tkachuk throughout the season and he finished with only 55 points, his lowest output since 2020-21.Â

To his credit, last season he improved immensely defensively. Tkachuk went from 695th in expected goals allowed at five-on-five in 2023-24 to 128th last season, according to Evolving Hockey. And, donâ€t forget, Tkachuk was clutch, scoring five game-winning goals, including a few down the stretch, notably the overtime winner against the New York Rangers that propelled his team into the playoffs.Â

However, Tkachuk admitted he wore down as the season progressed last year. In the off-season, Tkachuk worked on his conditioning. He now thinks heâ€s in the best shape of his life. Via the eye test, Tkachuk is leaner than last season. Stutzle, the teamâ€s star centre and one of Tkachukâ€s best friends, has noticed a change in Tkachukâ€s accountability, recently.Â

“He’s really taken it to heart that sometimes he’s got to be better,” Stutzle said. “He really did.â€

To win Cups, you canâ€t be 95 per cent in shape.

“I think all you guys know how I play,†Tkachuk said. “Itâ€s pretty demanding, just having the endurance to do it day in, day out, shift in, shift out. Playing with physicality, it takes a lot out of you.â€

Produce, stay conditioned, defend well and donâ€t fight. If Tkachuk does all of that, Ottawa will vault up the standings and deeper in the playoffs.

“Just got addicted to that feeling,†said Tkachuk, about finally playing in consequential games.Â

Meanwhile, off-ice Tkachukâ€s stature is growing, highlighted by the Amazon documentary.

“I’m an open book to begin with,” said Tkachuk about his first episode with brother Matthew.

Many Senators fans enjoyed that Ottawa became front and centre of Episode 1 of “Faceoff” but many were also miffed that the episode wasnâ€t squarely on Brady. Brother Matthew had almost as much airtime as Brady. Matthew is still the big brother on the ice, and off-ice in terms of fan appeal. Nevertheless, Brady got the spotlight, too.

But in Ottawa, Tkachukâ€s charm and warmth has been noticed for a while. Tkachuk signs every autograph he can and has opened philanthropic organizations in the city. In the midst of the tragedy of a diehard Sens fan losing their young child, Tkachuk privately wanted to help. When Tkachuk found out, without any publicity, he contacted the fan to relay his condolences. The stories go on and on.

Ask any Senators fan and Tkachukâ€s approval rating seems close to 100 per cent. He may be the second most-beloved Senator of all time, behind only Daniel Alfredsson.

When Tkachuk returns to Florida to play the Panthers on Saturday, he will have dinner with his brother Matthew to share stories and reconnect. For the first time Brady wonâ€t just be the little brother, heâ€ll be the other Tkachuk superstar.

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Now that heâ€s officially back in the fold, Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga is ready to build off his promising end to the 2024-25 NBA season.

Specifically, the 22-year-old hopes to refine the chemistry he cultivated with veteran star Jimmy Butler. Speaking to reporters during his media session on Thursday, Kuminga acknowledged the crucial experience he gained playing with Butler in Golden Stateâ€s Western Conference semifinal loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves last season.

“I think itâ€s very important that weâ€re here now, early, trying to figure each other out,†Kuminga said. “And I feel like we actually did [figure each other out] going through that series.â€

When Stephen Curry suffered an injury in Game 1 that ultimately ended his season, the Warriors called on Kuminga to help plug the gaping hole left in their offense. The Timberwolves prevailed in five games, but Kuminga led Golden State in series scoring and shot over 54 percent from the field, while Butler led the team in assists.

That duo figures to play a huge role in the Warriors†upcoming 2025-26 season, and Kuminga wants to do his part in helping his connection with Butler flourish even more.

“Itâ€s very easy and simple to play with Jimmy,†Kuminga said. “And we actually get to sit down more now. I get to go ask him certain questions. How does he like to play? What does he like? I feel like us having a lot of time together, me being healthy, him being healthy, him being here from day one training camp-wise…itâ€s going to help us figuring out certain things about each other going forward.â€

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WINNIPEG — Cole Perfetti is missing a special piece of hockey memorabilia.

The Winnipeg Jets forward scored a historic, game-tying goal in last season’s first round of the NHL playoffs that a local restaurant commemorated with a limited number of T-shirts.

The white shirt has Perfetti’s first name in blue capital letters and under it the time of 0:1.6, the initial seconds remaining on the clock in the third period when his redirection tied Game 7 against the St. Louis Blues 3-3.

Scorekeepers adjusted the clock to 2.2 and the Jets went on to win in double overtime with a goal from captain Adam Lowry. The league rounds up so the official scoresheet read 19:57 — the latest tying Game 7 goal in NHL history.

The shirt, which also has “We Believe” on it, kept the original 1.6 seconds.

Perfetti never did get his hands on one of the souvenirs.

“My parents and grandparents were here for that game. I think they did maybe get one or two, but I’m not 100 per cent sure, to be honest,” Perfetti said this week at Jets training camp.

“I know I never did. They were cool shirts, though.”

The forward from Whitby, Ont., doesn’t really need the memento. After all, he has the memory of the goal dubbed the “Manitoba Miracle.”

Perfetti also has the not-so-great memory of the Jets getting knocked out of the second round in six games by the Dallas Stars, ending a season in which Winnipeg won its first Presidents’ Trophy for having the top regular-season record.

The 23-year-old also reached personal highs last season, finally playing all 82 games and recording a career-best 50 points off 18 goals and 32 assists.

“Last year, that confidence was growing and growing throughout the year,” Perfetti said. “Going into the playoffs I was feeling really good about myself and the team.

“I definitely took that into the summer. I feel my confidence is at a good spot and I have very high belief in myself.”

Jets head coach Scott Arniel shares that belief.

“When it got to the playoffs, I thought he was one of our best forwards, most consistent forwards,” Arniel said of Perfetti. “Not so much scoring goals, but just getting inside and playing hard.”

Now he wants Perfetti to build off that growth.

“He’s a top-six forward on our hockey team, one of the best teams in the league, and he has something to bring every night and we’re seeing that,” Arniel said.

The coach has slotted Perfetti on the wing with future hall-of-fame centre Jonathan Toews and veteran free-agent signing Gustav Nyquist. Toews, who’s returning to the game after a two-year absence for health reasons, is 37. Nyquist is 36.

“There was a little bit of nerves, but more so excitement,” Perfetti said of skating with the duo. “Those are guys that have been doing this for a long time in this league at a high level and been impact players.”

Toews was one of his favourite players growing up.

“So now, to be able to be on a line with him, it’s pretty surreal and just exciting to get that opportunity,” Perfetti said of the former Chicago Blackhawks captain and three-time Stanley Cup champion.

Nyquist said Perfetti doesn’t seem like a youngster.

“He’s mature beyond his years by a lot,” said Nyquist, who split time last season with Nashville and Minnesota. “He’s a really good kid who works hard and gets open. Wise beyond his years.”

Perfetti, who will get time on the first power-play unit, was in the gym during the summer building his explosiveness.

“Working on the stuff that can translate to the first couple steps on ice, kind of out-of-the-gate speed,” he said. “I feel good on the ice from it, so I feel a little bit faster, a little quicker.”

Winnipeg’s second line last year featured speedster Nikolaj Ehlers, who signed with Carolina in the off-season.

While the new line won’t have that speed, Perfetti said the trio shares high hockey IQ and a similar style of play.

“I think we’re all passers,” Perfetti said. “At times, we’re going to have to adjust and one of us is going to have to be a little selfish and shoot.

“But that’s the beauty about that — everyone on that line has a little bit of a knack for scoring but also has that pass-first mentality and looking for the right play.

“When three guys think alike like that and play a similar style, I think it’s easier to build that chemistry. I think it’s going to be good.”

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At some point, the Dodgers hope, they will be able to field a fully healthy lineup.A late scratch on Wednesday…