Sports FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

Toulon lead heavyweight charge into Europe PARIS: French heavyweights Toulon the six pool winners and two best run- for their jersey, the town of Toulon, the said King. begin the defence of the European Cup ners-up qualify for the lucrative knock- fans. “An Englishman, a South African, a “We know what to expect. Castres are at home to Glasgow this weekend in out phase. Scot, all give their passion and their bod- the French champions, they’ve got a very what is likely to be the last such tourna- Toulon’s star-studded side, bolstered ies for Toulon!” Exeter and Cardiff com- good pedigree and good players, and ment in the current format. by the likes of Springbok Bryan Habana, plete Toulon’s Pool 2, with the French now we’re looking forward to it. Leading clubs in England and France All Black Ali Williams and proven match- club big favorites to advance. Arguably “We want to win away from home. If have served notice of their intention to winners Matt Giteau and Jonny Wilkinson the toughest draw was for Pool 1, pitch- you can win in France it sets you up very quit the existing set-up when the agree- are a match for any outfit on their day. ing Top 14 champions well in the pool, so that’s been our focus ment governing the running of the They host Glasgow, unbeaten in the Castres against in-form English giants this week.” European Cup expires at the end of the Celtic League, on Sunday fresh from a 25- Northampton, three-time winners Toulouse will likely battle Saracens to and set up their own separate 19 victory in the Top 14 over last season’s Leinster and Ospreys, perennial under- top Pool 3, and with minnows Connacht competition, to which other teams from beaten finalists Clermont. achievers in Europe. and Zebre making up the quartet, the the continent have been invited. Ex-Springbok flanker Joe van Niekerk, Northampton travel to Castres and first two both have a chance of progress- Quite how the protracted debate over in his sixth season with Toulon, dismissed Saints coach Alex King, who spent six ing should they ramp up enough bonus how next season will pan out might allegations that the Mourad Boudjallal- seasons at Clermont, admitted that they points against the weaker opposition. affect this season’s competition is any- financed team were a bunch of merce- were under no illusions as to the chal- Last year’s runners-up Clermont will one’s guess. naries. lenge facing them. have to disperse with the inconsistent But it will surely add extra spice, espe- “I’m proud to say that this image is “We’ve had three tough trips away in run they have shown domestically if they cially from the Celtic and Italian sides, to false,” Van Niekerk told L’Equipe newspa- the Aviva Premiership and French teams are to have a fighting chance of safely a cut-throat tournament in which only per. “People have seen that the boys play at home are notoriously difficult to play,” negotiating Pool 4.—AFP Sharks pound Rangers

SAN JOSE: Tomas Hertl scored four goals, skate or body, in any manner, the shall be Matthew Nieto had his first NHL goal and added allowed.’ Good goal Colorado,” the NHL said in two assists and the beat the explaining the call. Avs rookie Nathan 9-2 Tuesday night. MacKinnon, the 18-year-old first overall pick in Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Dan Boyle, Logan the draft, got an assist - his fourth - on Couture and Justin Braun also scored for the Parenteau’s third goal of the season. Cory Sarich Sharks, who won their third straight of the also scored for Colorado, which got another ter- young season. They have outscored their oppo- rific start from Semyon Varlamov in net. Joffrey nents 17-4. and Joe Pavelski each Lupul scored for Toronto. had three assists. Brad Richards and Derek Dorsett scored for the Rangers, who were com- ISLANDERS 6, COYOTES 1 ing off a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings scored his first two goals of the on Monday night. season and defenseman Matt Donovan added San Jose goalkeeper Antti Niemi needed to the first of his NHL career to lift New York over stop 18 shots for the win while Rangers goal- Phoenix. Peter Regin and Tavares scored in the keeper stopped 22 of 26 shots first period, and Donovan, Tavares and Colin during his nearly 30 minutes on the ice. McDonald connected in the second against Martn Biron took over in the net after the beleaguered goalie Mike Smith to turn it into a Sharks built a 4-1 advantage and saved 16 of 21. rout. Frans Nielsen earned the second of his The nine goals were one off the franchise three assists on the night when McDonald record. made it 5-1 with 2:36 left in the second. Evgeni Nabokov was the beneficiary of all the offense PENGUINS 5, HURRICANES 2 and made 33 saves for the win. The 38-year-old Jussi Jokinen scored his first hat trick in goalie has started all three games for the nearly six years to help Pittsburgh pull away Islanders. Martin Hanzal scored in the second from Carolina for the victory. Jokinen helped period for the Coyotes. the Penguins improve to 3-0, opening the scor- ing in the first period and adding two goals in FLYERS 2, PANTHERS 1 the third after Carolina drew even at 2-2. Paul Brayden Schenn and Braydon Coburn scored Martin and Tanner Glass also scored for to lead Philadelphia past Florida make Craig Pittsburgh, while Sidney Crosby picked up his Berube a winner in his coaching debut. first two assists of the season. Marc-Andre Berube was on the bench a day after Peter Fleury stopped 32 shots for the Penguins, who Laviolette was fired after a 0-3 start. With have not trailed through three games. Berube calling the shots, the Flyers scored their Pittsburgh has outscored opponents 12-3 while season high for goals. Steve Mason had 33 getting off to the franchise’s best start since saves for the Flyers. Brad Boyes scored for the 1994-95. Eric Staal and Nathan Gerbe scored for Panthers. the Hurricanes and made 32 saves. LIGHTNING 3, SABRES 2 CANUCKS 3, DEVILS 2 Alex Killorn scored 1:50 into to lift Jason Garrison scored at 2:18 of overtime as Tampa Bay to a come-from-behind victory over the Vancouver defeated New Jersey. Garrison’s winless Buffalo. Teddy Purcell had the tying from the through traffic beat Cory goal 5:43 into the third period and Tyler Schneider in the ’s first game against SAN JOSE: Tomas Hertl No. 48 of the San Jose Sharks celebrates after he scored his fourth Johnson also scored for the Lightning (2-1), who his former team. Daniel Sedin, with a goal and goal of the game during the third period against the New York Rangers. —AFP have two wins after regulation. Tampa Bay has an assist, and Alexander Edler scored for Minnesota in its home opener. ed Wednesday. Josh Harding replaced yet to hold a lead in regulation after coming off Vancouver (3-1-0), which got 21 saves from Eric Nystrom added his first career Backstrom and gave up the goal to Nystrom. a 3-2 shootout victory at Chicago in which the Roberto Luongo. Jaromir Jagr and Patrik Elias shot goal all in the first period for Nashville, Lightning overcame a 2-0 third-period deficit. each had a goal and an assist for New Jersey (0- matching the goals the Predators had totaled in AVALANCHE 2, MAPLE LEAFS 1 Jamie McBain and had a goal 1-3), which was playing its second game in as losing their first two games. Pekka Rinne made PA Parenteau scored early in the third peri- and assist each for Buffalo (0-3-1). Despite the many nights. 32 saves. Zach Parise scored a power-play goal, od to help Colorado edge Toronto. Tied 1-1 loss, Buffalo finally generated some offense by and Jared Spurgeon also scored for the Wild. going into the third, Colorado went ahead at doubling its season goal total. And the Sabres PREDATORS 3, WILD 2 Minnesota lost goalie Niklas Backstrom to a 2:30 on a two-on-one with Jamie McGinn set- also earned a point to avoid extending their Filip Forsberg and Colin Wilson scored lower body injury in the first when Nystrom ting up Parenteau. The goal stood up to video franchise-worst season-opening losing streak to power-play goals 39 seconds apart in the first crashed into him after being tripped on a break- review. “According to Rule 78.4 ‘if an attacking four games. Buffalo had previously never lost period to lead Nashville to victory over away. The Wild said Backstrom will be evaluat- player has the puck deflect into the net, off his more than two straight in regulation.—AP