THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014 SPORTS

Song out of Nations Cup Rangers suffer new blow Khedira eyes Real contract CAMEROON: Cameroon have left in-form West Ham United midfielder Alex Song GLASGOW: Fallen Scottish giants Rangers suffered a fresh blow yesterday with MADRID: Germany midfielder Sami Khedira has indicated he out of their 23-man squad for next month’s African Nations Cup finals in Equatorial the announcement by the Scottish Football Association (SFA) it has refused a would be happy to extend his contract with Real Madrid beyond Guinea which was named on Tuesday. request from the club to permit Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley to increase June 2015 if an agreement can be reached. Song had asked the English Premier League club to be released for the tourna- his shareholding. Khedira, whose season has been disrupted by injuries, is not a ment despite fears over the Ebola virus but is not in the plans of coach Volker Finke, The SFA held the talks on Tuesday-over Ashley wishing to raise his permitted first-choice starter under coach Carlo Ancelotti, with Germany who has ignored the 27-year-old since this year’s World Cup in Brazil. stake from the limit of 10% he apparently agreed with the SFA originally to just team mate Toni Kroos, Croatia international Luka Modric and Song was sent off for elbowing Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic in a 4-0 group under 30% — despite the Newcastle chief and Rangers facing a total of five dis- ciplinary charges over his recent moves to strengthen his influence at the club. Spain playmaker Isco all ahead in the pecking order. stage World Cup defeat and handed a three-match ban from competitive interna- Media reports have speculated Khedira could move to Bayern tionals by FIFA. Song’s omission will be a relief for West Ham manager Sam That hearing is due to take place on January 27. The SFA said its board had Munich and that several English clubs including Arsenal, where Allardyce, who is expected to lose defensive duo Diafra Sakho and Cheikhou “unanimously” rejected the application to raise the stake. “The Scottish FA board Kouyate for the tournament, with Senegal’s squad scheduled to be convened on Tuesday, 23rd December to hear a submission from the board of his close friend Mesut Ozil plays, are also interested in secur- announced on Friday. Finke has retained just eight players from the Rangers Football Club,” read a statement from the SFA released on Wednesday. ing his services. Khedira, who joined Real from VfB squad that crashed out of the World Cup at the group stage without “This meeting was arranged in respect of a request set out in an application to Stuttgart in 2010, told Germany’s Stuttgarter earning a point and having scored one goal while conceding nine. consent to an increase in MASH Holdings Limited’s shareholding in Rangers Nachrichten he was back to a good level of fitness The Nations Cup team is likely to be captained by Sevilla mid- International Football Club to a maximum of 29.9 per cent of the issued share and hopeful he would see more playing time. fielder Stephane Mbia. The Indomitable Lions were among the capital. “If we can find a solution I am happy,” he said most impressive qualifiers for the Jan. 17-Feb. 8 finals, thrashing “The board has now carefully considered the application and has decided, about his contract situation. “I am a friend of Ivory Coast 4-1 in September, as Finke brought in younger unanimously, that the application should not be granted. strong competition. He (Kroos) is doing players. Cameroon have been drawn in Group D at the “The board, under article 13 of the Scottish FA articles of association, is things outstandingly well and after six tournament along with Ivory Coast, Guinea and Mali, and required to have due regard to the need to promote and safeguard the interests months is already a focal point of our open their campaign against the latter on Jan. 20 in and public profile of association football, its players, spectators and others play.”— Reuters Malabo. —Reuters involved with the game.” —AFP Lightning snap losing streak

TAMPA: Tyler Johnson scored three goals and the Tampa Bay Lightning snapped a 10-game losing streak to the Pittsburgh Penguins with a 4-3 win Tuesday night. Tampa Bay, 3-5-1 in the last nine games, also got a goal and two assists from Nikita Kucherov. Ondrej Palat had three assists in the Lightning’s first win over Pittsburgh since Nov. 17, 2011. Johnson scored twice in the first and extended the Lightning’s lead to 4-0 at 2:37 of the second with a 2-on-1 goal against Jeff Zatkoff, who replaced Marc-Andre Fleury earli- er in the period. Patric Hornqvist, Chris Kunitz and Kris Letang scored for the Eastern Conference-leading Penguins, who have 13 players out due to illness or injury. It was Pittsburgh’s first regulation loss to an Atlantic Division team (16-1-5) since a 5-1 defeat Jan. 20 against Florida.

RANGERS 4, CAPITALS 2 Rick Nash and Martin St. Louis each scored twice, Henrik Lundqvist made 30 saves and New York extended its winning streak to seven games with a victory over Washington. The game matched two of the NHL’s hottest teams in their final outing before the Christmas break. Washington had won three in a row, picking up points in nine straight games (7-0-2). Mats Zuccarello and Derick Brassard had two assists apiece for the Rangers. Evgeny Kuznetsov and Alex Ovechkin scored for the Capitals in the first meeting of the season between the Metropolitan Division NASHVILLE: Kevan Miller No. 86 of the Boston Bruins checks Craig Smith No. 15 of the rivals. SUNRISE: Patric Hornqvist No. 72 of the Pittsburgh Penguins shoots during a game in this Nashville Predators. — AFP file photo. — AFP BRUINS 5, PREDATORS 3 beat Schneider with a forehand. Khudobin is since Dec. 7. Tatar’s second goal came in the Loui Eriksson and Brad Marchand scored 1-8-2 in 11 starts. final minutes. Stephen Weiss, Danny DeKeyser Grebe kicks Navy to two goals apiece and Patrice Bergeron had and Henrik Zetterberg also scored for Detroit, three assists for Boston in a win over Nashville. FLYERS 5, WILD 2 which got 10 saves from Petr Mrazek. Nicolas David Krejci also scored for the Bruins, who Wayne Simmonds scored the go-ahead Deslauriers, Chris Stewart and Andre Benoit Poinsettia Bowl win held the Predators to 10 shots through the goal late in the second period, lifting had goals for the banged-up Sabres, who were first two periods. Tuukka Rask made 22 saves Philadelphia over Minnesota for its third missing eight regulars due to injuries or ill- for Boston. Calle Jarnkrok and Taylor Beck each straight win. ness. Michal Neuvirth returned from an illness SAN DIEGO: Pardon coach Ken Niumatalolo defense gave us a chance. We put our had a goal and an assist for Nashville. Beck’s for being perhaps a bit befuddled amid the defense in some bad spots with turnovers on Vincent Lecavalier, Claude Giroux, Sean and had 33 saves. goal 6:48 into the third period pulled the Couturier and Michael Raffl also scored for the euphoria of Navy’s 17-16 Poinsettia Bowl vic- offense, but they didn’t flinch. They played Predators to 4-3, but Rask didn’t let anything tory against San Diego State on Tuesday phenomenal. “We pride ourselves in trying Flyers, who have won the first three games of COYOTES 5, OILERS 1 else by him as Boston won for the third time in an eight-game road trip that spans 15 days. Sam Gagner had two goals and two assists night. “I have no idea how we won the game,” not to turn the ball over and not make penal- four games. Niumatalolo said.The Midshipmen won it by ties,” he said. “To our kids’ credit they just kept Marco Scandella and Charlie Coyle scored against his former team as Arizona handed not being the last team to make a critical mis- battling. Things looked ugly there. We put our for Minnesota, losers of four in a row. Edmonton its eighth consecutive defeat and CANADIENS 3, ISLANDERS 1 Simmonds broke a 2-all tie with his team-lead- 19th in 20 games. take in a game full of them. Navy’s Austin defense in some bad spots but they didn’t Carey Price made 37 saves, and Andrei Grebe kicked a go-ahead, 24-yard field goal flinch. They made some big plays to keep ing 15th of the season at 15:22 of the second Martin Erat, Keith Yandle and Brandon Markov and Brendan Gallagher scored sec- period, beating goalie Darcy Kuemper high Gormley also scored for the Coyotes, who won with 1 minute, 27 seconds left. them out of the end zone.” ond-period goals as Montreal cooled off New The Midshipmen won it after Donny Reynolds ran for two touchdowns, extend- after teammate Brayden Schenn battled along for the third time in their last 13 games - with York. Markov, in his 800th NHL game, and the boards to secure the puck. The Flyers are all three victories coming against Edmonton. Hageman was wide right on a 34-yard field ing his own NCAA record for scores by a quar- Gallagher beat backup goalie Chad Johnson goal attempt with 20 seconds left. Hageman terback to 64. He scored on a 1-yard keeper 6-1-3 in their last 10 games. Arizona (12-18-4) swept the five-game season 5:17 apart to erase a 1-0 deficit. Montreal has series. The Coyotes extended their point streak had made his first three field goal attempts for for the game’s first score and then somersault- won five of six, with Price allowing two goals the Aztecs. The winning drive was set up ed into the end zone at the end of a 6-yard MAPLE LEAFS 4, STARS 0 against Edmonton to 18 games, the longest in or fewer in each game during that span. David Jonathan Bernier made 43 saves for his sec- franchise history against one opponent. Their when Navy’s Chris Johnson forced and recov- run to give Navy a 14-13 lead midway through Desharnais scored with 1:11 left to make it 3-1 ered a fumble by Donnel Pumphrey, who ear- the third quarter. ond shutout of the season as Toronto beat last loss in regulation to the Oilers came on for the Canadiens, who mustered only 21 Dallas. James van Riemsdyk had a goal and Jan. 25, 2011. lier set San Diego State’s single-season rush- “It wasn’t pretty but we were able to pull it shots. Kyle Okposo scored in the first period ing record. out,” Reynolds said. “That’s football. A win is a two assists for the Maple Leafs, who snapped a Justin Schultz had a goal for the plummet- for the Islanders. Johnson made 18 saves as three-game losing streak. ing Oilers (7-21-7), who fell to 1-17-6 against Fullback Chris Swain converted on a win. “Our defense came up huge for us,” he No. 1 goalie Jaroslav Halak took a mainte- fourth-and-1 and Ryan Williams-Jenkins took said. “Hats off to those guys. If they didn’t play The Stars’ four-game winning streak ended Western Conference opponents. nance day and didn’t dress for the game. New when they were shut out for the first time a pitch and ran 28 yards to help set up the as well as they did we wouldn’t have had a York, which had won four straight overall, fell game-winner by Grebe. chance.” since Jan. 9 at New Jersey. Nazem Kadri AVALANCHE 5, BLUES 0 to 13-4 at home and 10-2 in its last 12 at opened the scoring with a goal 55 seconds Semyon Varlamov returned from an injury “Honestly, I wasn’t thinking I was going to The Midshipmen won their fourth straight Nassau Coliseum. have to kick it because whenever we get that and for the sixth time in seven games. They’ve into the game, and assisted when van and stopped 26 shots in his second shutout of close, Keenan scores,” Grebe said, referring to won consecutive bowl games for the second Riemsdyk scored at 6:21 of the second period. the season, leading Colorado past slumping JETS 5, BLACKHAWKS 1 Phil Kessel had two assists, the second on St. Louis. Jarome Iginla, Alex Tanguay and quarterback Keenan Reynolds. “I was just glad time in history. They were playing just 10 days Mathieu Perreault scored two goals while to make it and send our seniors out on a posi- after beating Army for the 13th straight time. Tyler Bozak’s power-play goal at 10:30 of the Ryan O’Reilly each had a goal and an assist for extending his point streak to eight games, and second. Mike Santorelli finished the scoring Colorado, which has won three in a row and is tive note.” Leading 16-14, SDSU went for it on fourth- Winnipeg routed the listless Chicago San Diego State then got to the Navy 17 and-5 from the Navy 12 but Quinn Kaehler’s with an empty-net goal.Bernier’s save total 4-0-2 in its last six games. The Avalanche (13- Blackhawks. was one short of his season high. He has nine 13-8) reached .500 for the first time this sea- before Hageman missed. Hageman earlier pass to Mikah Holder was incomplete. Bryan Little also had his team-best 13th made field goals of 43, 37 and 30 yards. His “If we score points down there then it career shutouts. son. Varlamov, who had missed six straight goal as Winnipeg stopped Chicago’s eight- games with a groin injury, faced only seven third field goal gave SDSU a 16-14 lead late in doesn’t come down to a field goal,” SDSU game home winning streak. The Jets are the third quarter. coach Rocky Long said. “You’ve got to give RED WINGS 6, SABRES 3 shots in the first period and eight halfway responsible for two of the Blackhawks’ four Tomas Tatar had a pair of power-play goals through the game. He made 12 saves in the Pumphrey gained 112 yards on 21 carries Navy a lot of credit. We had so many opportu- regulation home losses, also winning 1-0 at to set SDSU’s single-season rushing record nities in the red zone.” Navy punted on its next in the third period and Detroit ended a six- third to earn his 15th career shutout. Jake the United Center on Nov. 2 in their first meet- game slide with a victory over Buffalo. Allen allowed five goals on 31 shots before with 1,867 yards. The old record was 1,842 possession but got the ball back after ing of the season. yards by George Jones in 1995. Pumphrey fumbled. The Midshipmen rushed Tatar’s 13th goal of the season gave the being replaced by Martin Brodeur to start the Winnipeg (18-10-7), one of the NHL’s Red Wings the lead for good with 8:20 to play. third period for the Blues, who have lost three “It’s great but we didn’t get the win,” he for 254 yards, led by Swain with 72 yards on biggest surprises, won for the third time in said. Navy (8-5) lost four fumbles. SDSU (7-6) eight carries. Navy improved to 2-2 in the Johan Franzen scored a few minutes later to straight. Erik Johnson and fellow defenseman four games, bouncing back from an overtime pad the lead for Detroit, which hadn’t won Zach Redmond also scored for Colorado. — AP had three turnovers. “We played really, really Poinsettia Bowl. It avenged a 35-14 loss to loss to Philadelphia on Sunday. well on defense,” Niumatalolo said. “Our SDSU here in 2010. — AP It was the Blackhawks’ worst loss of the sea- son; they have only three losses by more than NHL results/standings one goal. Chicago (23-10-2) had won 14 of 17 overall. Marian Hossa scored his seventh goal in the Boston 5, Nashville 3; Carolina 2, New Jersey 1 (So); Montreal 3, NY Islanders 1; NY Rangers 4, second period, but the Blackhawks struggled Washington 2; Philadelphia 5, Minnesota 2; Toronto 4, Dallas 0; Detroit 6, Buffalo 3; Tampa to generate quality chances. Jets goalie Bay 4, Pittsburgh 3; Arizona 5, Edmonton 1; Colorado 5, St. Louis 0; Winnipeg 5, Chicago 1. Michael Hutchinson finished with 38 saves. Western Conference Eastern Conference Pacific Division Atlantic Division HURRICANES 2, DEVILS 1 WL OTLGFGAPTS Montreal 22 11 2 95 84 46 Chris Terry scored the only goal of the Tampa Bay 21 11 4 117 96 46 shootout and Anton Khudobin came up big Anaheim 23 8 5 104 98 51 Detroit 18 8 9 100 87 45 late in winning for the first time this season as San Jose 19 11 5 99 90 43 Toronto 20 12 3 118 102 43 the goal-starved Carolina Hurricanes defeated Vancouver 20 11 2 99 91 42 Boston 18 14 3 91 91 39 New Jersey. Los Angeles 17 11 7 97 88 41 Florida 15 9 8 73 82 38 Ottawa 14 14 6 90 94 34 Ron Hainsey scored in the third period to Calgary 18 15 3 104 98 39 Buffalo 13 19 3 69 115 29 tie the game for Carolina, which won for only Arizona 12 18 4 80 112 28 Metropolitan Division the second time in 10 games (2-7-1). The Edmonton 7 21 7 75 121 21 Pittsburgh 22 7 5 108 80 49 Hurricanes have just 13 goals during that Central Division NY Islanders 23 11 0 105 94 46 NY Rangers 18 10 4 97 83 40 stretch and Hainsey’s appeared to go in off his Chicago 23 10 2 107 72 48 leg on a night when Carolina fired 33 shots at Washington 17 11 6 99 90 40 Nashville 22 9 2 95 70 46 Cory Schneider. Philadelphia 14 14 6 97 101 34 Stephen Gionta scored for the Devils, who St. Louis 21 10 3 100 86 45 Columbus 14 16 3 80 107 31 Winnipeg 18 10 7 88 81 43 New Jersey 12 17 7 78 104 31 are 3-8-5 in their last 16 games. Schneider Carolina 10 20 4 70 93 24 made 32 saves. Khudobin, who had 18 saves, Minnesota 16 13 3 93 89 35 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one SAN DIEGO: State Rashaad Penny returns a kick against Navy during the first half of stopped Scott Gomez, Mike Cammalleri and Colorado 13 13 8 90 101 34 point in the standings and are not included in the Poinsettia Bowl NCAA college football game. — AP Adam Henrique in the shootout before Terry Dallas 14 14 5 95 113 33 the loss column (L).