WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2015 SPORTS Kane says he’s innocent amid sex crime investigation

BUFFALO: Sabres forward Evander Kane Sunday at a downtown hotel, where Kane is aware of the allegation. Bylsma said Kane the Buffalo area this year. In November, pros- time, that’s what it is at this in time,” was calm and brief in saying he looks for- living, after he and the Sabres returned to would be in the lineup against Capitals. ecutors cited a lack of credible evidence after Gionta said. “And until things change, he’s ward to having his name cleared in connec- Buffalo following a 6-3 win at Boston. Police Without going into detail, Bylsma said Kane reviewing an allegation against Chicago our teammate and that’s about it.” tion with a sex crime allegation. issued a statement that was limited to saying addressed the team before practice and Blackhawks star Patrick Kane, who was The 24-year-old Kane is in his first full sea- “I just want to say I’ve done nothing that no report or charges had been filed. added the player appeared happy to be on accused of assaulting a woman at his offsea- son in Buffalo after he was acquired in a mul- wrong,” Kane said Monday morning follow- The investigation is in its preliminary the ice with his teammates. Bylsma otherwise son home outside Buffalo in August. ti-player trade with the in ing Buffalo’s pre-game skate before hosting stages, according to a person with direct declined comment by referring to a state- Sabres Brian Gionta said the alle- February. He did not play for the Sabres last the . “I respect the legal knowledge of the details who spoke to The ment the team released on Sunday. “We take gation against Kane shouldn’t be a distrac- year because he was recovering from sea- process. And unfortunately at this time, Associated Press on the condition of the allegation made today against Evander tion. “It’s one of our teammates obviously, son-ending shoulder surgery. there’s not much more I can talk about.” anonymity because officials are not publicly Kane very seriously,” the Sabres said. “We are but the bottom line is, when we’re in this This year, the hard-hitting forward has Kane spoke for about 30 seconds in front commenting about the case. The person said gathering facts and have been in touch with room we have to worry about hockey,” eight goals and five assists in 25 games. Kane of a large gathering of reporters in a corner police searched Kane’s room at the hotel and the NHL and Evander’s representatives.” Gionta said. “Lots of things happen, and is in his seventh NHL after being select- of the Sabres locker room. He did not take towed his vehicle, describing that as stan- that’s for him to deal with. Part of being a ed fourth overall by the then- any questions in his first comments since The dard practice in such cases. LACK OF EVIDENCE professional is trying to separate things.” in the 2009 draft. He has scored 19 or more Buffalo News reported that Buffalo police Kane rejoined his teammates after being Kane, who is from North , Gionta referred to the team statement goals three times, and enjoyed a career-best were investigating a claim made against the given a personal day off on Sunday, when , is the second NHL player to when asked how the team will support Kane. season in 2011-12, when he had 30 goals, 27 player. The alleged incident occurred early coach Dan Bylsma said the Sabres were made be investigated for a sex offense by police in “It’s a serious accusation, but at the same assists for 57 points in 74 games. — AP Calm leaves Sydney-Hobart handicap honours wide open

SYDNEY: A battle was under way yester- two days, eight hours, 58 minutes and 30 day in becalmed waters for the overall seconds. winner of the Sydney to Hobart race after American supermaxi Comanche took line DAMAGED HULLS honours in Australia’s gruelling classic. A savage southerly battered the 108- After some of the roughest conditions strong fleet after leaving Sydney Harbour for years turned almost breezeless, local on Saturday on the journey south down boat Ragamuffin 100 arrived second in Australia’s east coast. Punishing winds the Tasmanian capital during the morn- shredded sails, damaged rudders and hulls, ing, just seconds ahead of another US and broke one yacht’s mast. contender Rambler. Comanche hit an unidentified sub- Italian challenger Maserati, skippered merged object which broke one of her by Giovanni Soldini, was expected to twin rudders and a daggerboard, but after cross the finish line in fourth around mid- initially considering retirement the crew day with Australian entries Chinese made repairs and continued on. Whisper and Ichi Ban further out. Two other strong contenders for line The breathless arrival meant Rambler honours-eight-time fastest finisher Wild lost any hope of lifting the Tattersall Cup Oats XI and supermaxi Perpetual Loyal- as handicap winner for the vessel that were forced to withdraw with a ripped performs best according to size. The mainsail and rudder damage respectively. gales and high seas over the first night Comanche co-owner Kristy Clark, the first and day put 32 yachts out of the race, female owner to take Sydney-Hobart line leaving the smaller boats changing honours, said there were many emotions places for the handicap lead in windless at sea, including “pure terror at one stage”. conditions on the Bass Strait. The wind It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done,” was expected to pick up off Tasmania lat- she added in Hobart late Monday, where er Tuesday, pushing the mid-sized yachts she was met by co-owner husband, home by evening. The 88-foot Rambler Netscape founder Jim Clark. Comanche, had been the only big boat in the overall the first American entry to take line hon- top 10 before being becalmed and ours since 1998, was runner-up to Wild pipped at the post by 100-foot Oats XI in her first Sydney-Hobart last year. Ragamuffin, skippered by 88-year-old She had been hot favourite for 2015 after Australian Syd Fischer. Archambault 13 setting a new 24-hour monohull record of Teasing Machine from France was 618.01 nautical miles in July.Her biggest Tuesday morning in the handicap lead, a competition for line honours had come position she had held for at least 12 from Rambler which also hit an object in hours, race organisers said. the water on Saturday, sustaining similar French 35-footer Courrier du Leon has damage. Ragamuffin 100 on Monday was also been in the overall lead group and revealed to be the latest of the supermaxis the JPK 1080 yacht will be hoping to to be damaged, with the port daggerboard make it two majors in a row after victory sheared off in the blue water event organ- in the Fastnet Race. ised by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia. Comanche was first across the finish The race record, set by Wild Oats XI in 2012, line Monday night in the 71st edition of is one day, 18 hours, 23 minutes and 12 the 628-nautical-mile Sydney-Hobart in seconds. — AFP Russia unlikely

to compete in Rio BUFFALO: goaltender Linus Ullmark, of Sweden, gets beat for a by Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday in Buffalo, NY. — AP LONDON: European Athletics president change. They must get rid of all those Svein Arne Hansen does not expect people from before.” European Athletics, Russia to return to international competi- which oversees the sport in Europe, tion in time for next year’s Olympic works with the IAAF world governing Capitals beat Sabres Games in Rio de Janeiro. body on doping and medical issues. Russian athletes were banned indefi- However, the organisation will have nitely by the International Association of no influence on the decision to reinstate Athletics Federations (IAAF) after a World Russia as an IAAF member, which will Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) report only be made on the recommendation of for 8th straight win alleged widespread corruption and a the world ruling body’s inspection team. state-sponsored drugs culture in a sport- Norwegian Hansen believes that BUFFALO: Braden Holtby made 31 saves and ing superpower. Russia’s Athletic Federation (ARAF), which Alex Ovechkin scored to lead the Washington NHL results/standings An IAAF inspection committee is due has confirmed it will co-operate fully Capitals over the Buffalo Sabres 2-0 on to visit Russia in January to oversee the with the inspection team, will work hard Monday night for their eight straight win. country’s reform process and ensure the to change the culture. “We know some Ovechkin scored 19 seconds into the second Washington 2, Buffalo 0; Montreal 4, Tampa Bay 3 (SO); Nashville 5, NY Rangers 3; Minnesota 3, criteria set out by the sport’s ruling body good people in Russian athletics and I’m Detroit 1; Los Angeles 5, Vancouver 0; Colorado 6, San Jose 3. are met. The committee will report back sure they will be elected. We hope that period and Jay Beagle scored about 12 min- utes later to help the Eastern Conference- Western Conference Florida 20 12 4 98 83 44 to the IAAF Council at the earliest at its some new people will come in who really Central Division Detroit 18 11 7 93 94 43 meeting in Cardiff, Wales, on March 27, understand that this must be changed,” leading Capitals improve to 27-6-2, the best WL OTLGFGAPTS Boston 19 12 4 108 94 42 less than five months before the he said. Russian athletes will not be able start in franchise history. Washington has earned a point in 15 of its last 16 games and Dallas 27 7 3 129 91 57 Ottawa 18 12 6 108 105 42 Olympics. to compete in the world indoor champi- St. Louis 22 12 4 95 90 48 trails the Dallas Stars by one point for the NHL Tampa Bay 18 15 4 95 88 40 “For the moment they have to fulfil onships in Oregon in March. Russia has Minnesota 19 10 6 95 84 44 Buffalo 15 17 4 85 94 34 the conditions, but I cannot really see also lost the hosting rights to next year’s lead. Holtby got his 22nd career shutout and Chicago 20 13 4 97 89 44 them competing in Rio,” Hansen, whose race walking World Cup and the world second this season. He leads the NHL with 23 Nashville 18 12 6 97 92 42 Toronto 13 14 7 89 94 33 body includes Russia as a member feder- junior championships which were sched- victories and is 15-0-1 in his last 17 games. Colorado 18 17 2 106 102 38 Metropolitan Division ation, told Athletics Weekly magazine uled to take place in Cheboksary and Linus Ullmark made 24 saves for the Sabres. Winnipeg 16 17 2 93 104 34 Washington 27 6 2 110 72 56 yesterday. “They must have a cultural Kazan respectively. — Reuters Sabres forward Evander Kane played for the Pacific Division NY Rangers 20 13 4 107 98 44 first time since The Buffalo News reported that Los Angeles 22 11 2 93 79 46 NY Islanders 19 12 5 97 85 43 Buffalo police were investigating a sex crime Arizona 17 15 3 95 109 37 New Jersey 17 14 5 84 90 39 allegation against him. Vancouver 14 15 9 93 109 37 Pittsburgh 17 15 3 79 86 37 San Jose 17 16 2 96 100 36 Philadelphia 15 13 7 76 96 37 AVALANCHE 6, SHARKS 3 Calgary 17 16 2 96 116 36 Carolina 15 16 5 85 103 35 Nathan MacKinnon scored twice on power Edmonton 15 19 3 95 113 33 plays and added an empty-net goal, Carl Anaheim 13 15 6 66 87 32 Columbus 13 22 3 92 120 29 Soderberg and Blake Comeau also scored on Eastern Conference Note: losses (OTL) are worth one power plays and Colorado ended a 13-game Atlantic Division point in the standings and are not included in losing streak in San Jose.Matt Duchene also Montreal 21 14 3 110 95 45 the loss column (L). scored, and the Avalanche won their fourth straight on the road to improve to 6-1-1 over their last eight games. Patrick Marleau, Melker overtime for Montreal, while Tampa Bay’s Ben made 28 saves in a surprise appearance and Karlsson and Tomas Hertl scored for the Sharks. Bishop stopped 31 shots. Minnesota beat Detroit. Dubnyk suffered a cut San Jose owns the worst home record in the on his arm in practice Sunday and had to have league at 4-10 and has lost four straight at KINGS 5, CANUCKS 0 stitches. He was expected to sit, but Darcy home and seven of eight. Colorado’s Calvin Tyler Toffoli scored three goals, Jonathan Kuemper was announced out with an upper- Pickard stopped 35 shots for his first decision of Quick got the 40th shutout of his NHL career body injury about an hour before the game. the season and his first win in over a year. and Los Angeles beat Vancouver. The Kings Charlie Coyle scored for the third time in four Martin Jones saved 20 of 25 for the Sharks. won their second straight and snapped games for Minnesota. Koivu scored a power- Vancouver’s two-game win streak. play goal in the third and added an empty-net CANADIENS 4, LIGHTNING 3, SO The Canucks have yet to win three games tally for Minnesota, which had lost three of Max Pacioretty won it in the third round of in a row this season. Quick made 27 saves in four. Pavel Datsyuk scored his fourth goal of a shootout and Montreal beat Tampa Bay to his second shutout this season and was the season for Detroit. Petr Mrazek made 32 end a six-game losing streak.Brian Flynn also rarely tested. The Kings outshot the Canucks saves for the Red Wings. scored in the shootout for Montreal. Valtteri 38-27, leading 1-0 after one period and 3-0 Filppula had a shootout score for Tamp Bay. after two.Toffoli finished his hat trick on a PREDATORS 5, RANGERS 3 The Canadiens got goals from Tomas power play with 7:04 left. Derek Forbort got James Neal scored twice, Mike Ribeiro had Plekanec, Alex Galchenyuk and Dale Weise. his first NHL goal and Brayden McNabb also three assists and Nashville held off New York. Nikita Kucherov, Jason Garrison and Ryan scored. Anze Kopitar had four assists. Filip Forsberg, Craig Smith and also Callahan scored for the Lightning, who are 2- Vancouver was shut out for the fourth time scored for the Predators. Roman Josi added two KADIKOY: This file photo taken on June 12, 2009 shows Halil Ibrahim Dincdag, 33 pos- 1-1 on a six-game homestand. Tampa Bay cen- in its past 11 games. assists, Pekka Rinne had 26 saves and Nashville ing in Kadikoy, a quarter of Istanbul. A Turkish court yesterday ordered the Turkish ters Tyler Johnson and Brian Boyle both won for the third time in four games. Jesper Football Federation (TFF) to pay thousands of dollars in compensation after it revoked returned after being out with upper-body WILD 3, RED WINGS 1 Fast, Rick Nash and J.T. Miller had goals but New the refereeing licence of a local referee on the grounds that he was gay. — AFP injuries. Mike Condon made 36 saves through Mikko Koivu scored twice, Devan Dubnyk York lost its fourth in five games. — AP