SUNDAY, MAY 14, 2017 SPORTS Ovechkin played through major injuries in playoffs ARLINGTON: Washington Capitals super- need surgery. The injury, specifically to his star Alex Ovechkin played through ham- hamstring, was bad enough to keep him string and knee injuries that hampered him from playing for Russia at the world cham- in the playoffs. Ovechkin said he felt some- pionships, which he has done 12 times. “I thing in his hamstring late in Game 3 of the talked to (Russia’s coach) and just said I’m second-round series against the Pittsburgh not able to help the team,” Ovechkin said. Penguins and needed injections to numb “If I can’t, I can’t. I wish him luck and I’m the pain the rest of the way. A hit by going to cheer for them. It’s time to recover. Toronto’s Nazem Kadri in Game 5 of the first It’s time to take a deep breath and take round caused the left knee injury that some time off and get back to work.” Ovechkin downplayed. Fellow Russian Capitals players Evgeny “You don’t want to play with any sort of Kuznetsov and Dmitry Orlov are heading to injury,” Ovechkin said at Capitals exit day Cologne, Germany, to play at the world Friday. “Of course, you don’t feel 100 per- championships. The 31-year-old captain cent, you don’t (have) strength in your leg, had eight points in 13 playoff games as but you play through that. Some players Washington was eliminated before the play with broken hand, broken leg because conference finals for the ninth time in as it’s the playoffs. You have to sacrifice your many chances. Ovechkin was moved to the body to get success and get the result.” third line midway through the Penguins Washington teammate Karl Alzner played series but said that had nothing to do with with a broken bone in his hand and Marcus the injuries. Ovechkin doesn’t know how Johansson with a broken finger. Several long his recovery will take but should be other players talked about not being 100 back for the start of next season.” I still have percent during the playoff run. three months until training camp,” he said. Ovechkin said there were no tears in his “Come back here healthy and strong and hamstring or knee and that he did not back on track.” — AP France beats Belarus, Germany loses to Denmark at ice hockey PARIS: Stephane Da Costa saved France in RISING STAR a tense 4-3 shootout win against Belarus “We were extremely tired, but Nik is one ANAHEIM: Cam Fowler #4 and Sami Vatanen #45 of the Anaheim Ducks defend the play to the net by Austin Watson #51 of the Nashville Predators that kept its quarterfinal hopes alive, while of the fastest skaters in the world and he during the first overtime period of Game One of the Western Conference Final during the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. —AFP co-host Germany lost to Denmark in over- somehow created a two-on-one for us,” time at the ice hockey world championship Regin said, describing his winner. “I was on Friday. With the top four from each lucky to get a break and put it five hole.” Neal’s OT goal puts Preds past group going through to Thursday’s quar- Germany did not start first-choice goalie terfinals, Germany was in fifth place in Thomas Greiss for the must-win game, Group A and France at sixth in Group B. despite Greiss making 42 saves last Friday Ducks 3-2 to open West final Belarus rallied from 2-0 down and led to help beat the United States 2-1. 3-2 in regulation before co-host France Germany is three points behind fourth- ANAHEIM: A few moments after James Neal equalized with about seven minutes place Latvia ahead of their crucial match on crumpled Anaheim’s Brandon Montour with a remaining to force overtime in front of a Tuesday at the Lanxess arena. vicious check, the Nashville forward took a nervous home crowd in Paris. France At least Germany will be strengthened A blast from the past: totally rode its luck, however, as Belarus by the arrival of rising star Leon Draisaitl, pass from PK Subban and ripped a shot past hit the post at the end of regulation and whose hat trick for the Edmonton Oilers three Ducks for the winning overtime goal. right at the start of overtime, and then against the Anaheim Ducks last Sunday Even in uncharted territory for this franchise, Vijay Singh in the hunt blew the chance to win the shootout was the first by a German-born player in the Predators are still rolling through the PONTE VEDRA BEACH: The last time Vijay putted the last hole, but that’s a strong part when France missed twice. With France the NHL playoffs. “Leon will help us a lot. He Stanley Cup playoffs with their distinct combi- Singh started this well in The Players of my game right now. If I keep putting like trailing 1-0 in the shootout, veteran goal- had an incredible year in the NHL for such a nation of smash and flash. tender Cristobal Huet saved from Andrei Championship was in 2006, when he was No. that, I’m going to be right there on Sunday.” young player,” Germany forward Felix Neal scored 9:24 into OT, Pekka Rinne made Stas and - after Da Costa kept France in it 2 in the world and still adding to his record of Schutz said. “He’s the best German player 27 saves and the Predators kicked off their first with an assured finish - made another most PGA Tour victories in his 40s. It felt like THE ISLAND we’ve ever had. He’s going to give us some appearance in the NHL Western Conference stop from Alexander Pavlovich to send old times Friday when he got within one shot A back pin on the island-green 17th is no offense and on the power play.” Earlier in finals with a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim the match into sudden death. Ducks on Friday night. Filip Forsberg and of the lead until a bogey on the 18th hole for bargain, especially when the greens are firm. Group B, center Roman Horak scored twice a 4-under 68 to finish three shots out of the No need telling that to Zac Blair, who put With the shooters reversed, Belarus Austin Watson scored in regulation for the as the Czech Republic beat Slovenia 5-1. lead. Chalk that up to practice, nothing new three tee shots into the water and made a 9. went first and Mikhail Stefanovich - who Predators, who improved to 9-2 in this NHL put Belarus ahead in the shootout - was Right winger Michal Repik, defenseman for the 54-year-old Singh. In this case, it was Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk celebrated his postseason. They also won their third straight foiled by the vastly experienced Huet. Up Michal Kempny and center Roman practice on the Players Stadium Course. 47th birthday on Friday by putting two shots stepped Da Costa and he confidently drew Cervenka also scored. series opener on the road, continuing their “I had quite a few rounds here before I left in the water, leading to a 7 that caused him goalie Kevin Lalande before slotting The win moved the 2010 champion into month-long run of relentless postseason play. for Wilmington, so I was quite familiar with to miss the cut. There were 29 balls in the through his legs for another composed second place in Group B, two points behind “It shows a lot of character,” Rinne said. “All the conditions,” Singh said. “It was a lot firmer, water on Friday, the second-most of any shot under pressure. The nerveless Da leader Canada, which is chasing a third night, we had a lot of chances and we didn’t but we knew that it was going to be really round since the tour began using ShotLink to Costa also scored the shootout winner straight title. Center Elias Lindholm scored give them a lot. ... I thought that we created a firm because of new greens. I’ve never played keep track in 2003. The record was 50 balls in against Switzerland on Tuesday. Germany his fifth of the tournament as nine-time lot, and eventually we were going to get one that many rounds before the tournament, so I the opening round in 2007. also led 2-0 in Cologne, scoring twice inside champion Sweden moved up to second in by him. I thought (Ducks goalie John) Gibson was kind of familiar with the winds.” It also a minute during the first period through Group A by crushing last-placed Italy 8-1. played a strong game tonight, but guys stuck helps that Singh finally won on the 50-and- BAGS PACKED wingers Patrick Reimer and Brooks Macek. Sweden’s other goals came from Victor with it. We’ve been doing that the whole play- older PGA Tour Champions, when he teamed Jordan Spieth missed the cut, and he But the Danes leveled before the end of the Rask, defensemen Philip Holm and Jonas offs. It’s a great sign for a team.” with Carlos Franco to win the Bass Pro Shops didn’t seem the least bit concerned. Spieth period through left winger Frederik Storm Brodin, Linus Omark, Carl Klingberg, Joel After finishing off St. Louis in the second Legends of Golf.