14 Established 1961 Sports Tuesday, March 6, 2018 Dadonov scores twice as Panthers defeat Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 Nashville rally past Colorado in Denver

FLORIDA: Evgenii Dadonov scored twice as the DUCKS 6, BLACKHAWKS 3 completed a 6-0-0 win streak, defeat- Jakob Silfverberg and Corey Perry each scored ing the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 on Sunday afternoon at twice and goalie John Gibson made 37 saves as host the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla. The Panthers are 13-3- Anaheim scored the first four goals and cruised to a 0 in their past 16 games, making them the hottest team victory over Chicago. Rickard Rakell and Marcus in the league since Jan 30. Florida’s win, at the moment Pettersson-with the first of his NHL career — also the game ended, put the Panthers in playoff position for scored for the Ducks, who are on a roll with a 6-1-1 the first time all season, and they have games in hand in mark in their last eight games. Rakell opened the scor- their battle with all of their closest competitors, includ- ing with a power-play goal just 2:23 into the affair, an ing the and Columbus Blue Jackets. early sign it was going to be yet another long game for The Flyers lost their third the struggling Blackhawks. consecutive game, but they are still 26-10-4 since Dec GOLDEN KNIGHTS 3, 4. They are in second place DEVILS 2 in the Metropolitan Division, Marc-Andre Fleury had 33 but they might have been Marc-Andre saves and David Perron had a worn down on Sunday, play- goal and an assist as Vegas ing their second game in 24 Fleury had snapped a three-game losing hours. streak with a victory over 33 saves host New Jersey. Tomas Tatar BLUE JACKETS and Deryk Engelland also 4, SHARKS 2 scored for Vegas, which scored improved to 18-11-3 on the twice as Columbus nearly road and 7-5-1 against ANAHEIM: Corey Perry #10 of the Anaheim Ducks defends against Vinnie Hinostroza #48 and Connor Murphy let a three-goal lead slip Metropolitan Division teams. #5 of the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period of a game at Honda Center in Anaheim, California. away before holding on for a 4-2 win over host San Taylor Hall extended his league-leading points streak The Anaheim Ducks defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 6-3.—AFP Jose. Columbus netminder Sergei Bobrovsky made 33 to 18 consecutive games with a goal and an assist for saves, 14 in the third period, for the win at SAP Center the Devils. Hall, who missed three games with a thumb which snaps his team’s two-game losing skid. Blue injury, has scored in 25 straight games overall. NHL results/standings Jackets captain Nick Foligno opened the scoring 9:12 JETS 3, HURRICANES 2 into the affair, as the visitors turned the tables on the Nashville 4, Colorado 3 (OT); Florida 4, Philadelphia 1; Anaheim 6, Chicago 3. hosts for failing to score on a power play. Foligno came Patrik Laine scored twice and assisted on newcomer out of the box and finished an odd-man rush by Paul Stastny’s goal as Winnipeg defeated host Carolina. Eastern Conference Western Conference wristing a shot from the top of the left circle past Stastny, who was in his second game with the Jets, also Atlantic Division Central Division W L OTL GF GA PTS Nashville 42 14 9 214 168 93 Sharks goalie Martin Jones. posted an assist. Teuvo Teravainen and Jordan Staal scored for the Hurricanes, who had a two-game win- Tampa Bay 45 17 4 240 182 94 Winnipeg 39 17 9 220 175 87 ning streak snapped. Boston 40 15 8 209 158 88 Minnesota 37 22 7 204 190 81 PREDATORS 4, AVALANCHE 3 (OT) Toronto 39 21 7 220 190 85 Dallas 37 23 5 193 171 79 Filip Forsberg scored 1:07 into overtime as Nashville Florida 32 25 6 189 199 70 Colorado 35 24 6 205 193 76 WILD 4, RED WINGS 1 Detroit 26 29 10 170 193 62 St. Louis 35 26 5 180 176 75 won its eighth straight game, rallying past Colorado in Jason Zucker scored two third-period goals, Devan Montreal 25 29 11 167 200 61 Chicago 28 30 8 188 195 64 Denver. It was the 18th goal of the season for Forsberg, Dubnyk stopped 28 shots and host Minnesota defeat- Ottawa 22 32 10 174 225 54 Pacific Division who beat Semyon Varlamov with a wrister as Nashville Buffalo 20 34 11 154 211 51 Las Vegas 42 18 5 225 180 89 ed Detroit. Zach Parise fired in the go-ahead goal in Metropolitan Division San Jose 35 22 9 196 184 79 closed out a perfect 4-0-0 road swing. The Predators the second period for Minnesota, which lost its previ- Washington 37 21 7 203 193 81 Anaheim 33 21 12 186 183 78 also won their ninth consecutive game against ous two games following a five-game winning streak. Philadelphia 34 21 11 197 193 79 Los Angeles 36 25 5 192 165 77 Colorado, dating back to April of 2016. Nashville Eric Staal had the other goal for the Wild, and Ryan Pittsburgh 37 25 4 215 200 78 Calgary 32 25 9 185 195 73 forced overtime when Ryan Ellis tallied his sixth goal at New Jersey 33 25 8 193 199 74 Edmonton 27 34 4 183 216 58 Suter collected two assists. Justin Abdelkader scored Columbus 33 28 5 176 186 71 Vancouver 24 32 9 176 214 57 18:54 on a slapper with a sixth attacker on the ice. Ellis the only goal for the Red Wings, who have lost six of Carolina 29 26 11 176 198 69 Arizona 20 34 10 155 209 50 finished with a goal and two assists, including the pri- their last eight games. Jimmy Howard was credited NY Rangers 30 30 6 189 209 66 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings mary helper on Forsberg’s game-winner. with 23 saves. — Reuters NY Islanders 29 29 8 213 237 66 and are not included in the loss column (L)

Rubin Kazan, seemed doomed. Accustomed to weekends glued to one of the other European leagues Russia’s club European football after upsetting Barcelona at the on TV. Things got so bad that according to UEFA’s lat- Nou Camp in 2009, the plucky side from oil-rich est review, Russian teams received an average of 1.8 Tatarstan lost their prized French international Yann million euros in TV rights in 2016 — less than those in Brazil superstars football limps M’Vila. It was a forced decision in return for which Poland and Romania. “Increasing TV revenues is our Rubin got nothing: the 27-year-old triggered a release priority,” said Russian Premier League President to hit the beach into World Cup clause in his contract after going unpaid for three Sergei Pryadkin. months. The financial straits were so dire for Amkar Perm, an upstart from the Urals, that manager Gadzhi SUBSIDISED CHAMPIONSHIP for World Cup MOSCOW: Ranked sixth best in Europe by UEFA and Gadzhiyev at one stage doubted the club would be Lacking ticket sales and unable to count on the TV infused with shiny new stadiums for the fast- able to finish the season. “I spoke to Perm’s regional cash cow, teams sell their more promising players and approaching World Cup, Russian club football should leaders and received (financial) guarantees,” said rely on the goodwill of sponsors-many of them operat- SOCHI: Brazil’s squad of superstars will spend the be brimming with optimism. But beneath the glitter of Gadzhiyev, who once worked with the Soviet national ed by the government. World Cup in luxury staying at an exclusive beach- wealthy teams such as Spartak Moscow or Zenit Saint team. “But we need a new approach to lift doubts over “We are not really talking about sponsorship but front hotel built by Stalin for the Communist Party Petersburg lies a league still searching for a business next season.” And on the outskirts of President the injection of money by state-run companies,” said elite in the “Soviet Riviera”. model, plagued by unpaid wages and player strikes. Vladimir Putin’s native Saint Petersburg, the players of players’ union boss Leonchenko. This has been partic- The five-star Swisshotel Sochi Kamelia is a gated A season that pauses for three months in the winter newly-promoted Tosno spent a part of February on ularly the case with Zenit Saint Petersburg, which has property hidden from fans and reporters by the Black Sea on one side and a lush private park with firs and only adds to the difficulties of clubs trying to strike it strike. “I will not hide it-we have a problem with paid big transfer fees for international stars thanks to palm trees on the other. rich in big-money European tournaments, which culmi- financing,” said Tosno president Maxim Levchenko. the financial windfall of natural gas giant Gazprom. The entrance is protected by armed guards in nate in the spring. Tosno’s budget of $12 million “has a hole,” he said. Most other Moscow area teams have similar bene- fatigues. Guests in evening gowns and bespoke suits Russian sides routinely get knocked out early due to factors, including Lokomotiv (the RZD state railway mingle on a marble terrace overlooking a cascading rustiness caused by a lack of training, losing out on TV RIGHTS company) and CSKA Moscow (the national power pool. Jewels the size of small rocks are on sale near a one of the main sources of income for the “Big Five” After the collapse of the rigid Soviet system in company Rosseti). But even some of these government waterfall in the lobby and a blood-orange sunset illu- European leagues. Empty coffers mean the Russian which clubs were backed by either the army, police or investors are thinking twice before committing more minates the spacious rooms before giving way to the Premier League champion is rewarded with a bonus of a ministry, Russian clubs found themselves caught in a funds. Dynamo Moscow, a club backed by the police in sparkle of crystal chandeliers. Hotel manager Gregory $5 million (4 million euros), less than a tenth of the downward spiral. Teams inherited bleak all-purpose the Soviet era, switched allegiance to Russia’s second- Gregoriyev said he was sure the setting would be going transfer fee rate for a big star. “The Russian stadiums that were open to the elements and lacked biggest bank VTB. But after seven frustrating years, conducive to some great performances from the five- Premier League is effectively bankrupt,” said players’ amenities. VTB sold its stake in Dynamo back to the club in 2016 time world champions. “We will do everything to union leader Vladimir Leonchenko. Few people turned out for matches except for hard- for the nominal sum of one ruble, complaining that its make sure they leave happy and without a worry,” he core fans who often stirred up trouble. Stadiums investment “brought us no good”. told AFP. “We will help them win the World Cup.” NEW APPROACH became even less profitable, leading to unmaintained “We have stadiums and infrastructure but we can- The winter break lacked cheer in Russia, where pitches that were difficult to play and painful to watch not attract investors,” Leonchenko lamented. “No one GOVERNMENT PROTECTION even clubs that have provided feelgood stories, such as on TV. Fans stayed home and spent their time on wants to buy a club in Russia.” — AFP Russia’s warmest upscale resort is surrounded by snow-capped mountains that won Sochi the right to host the 2014 Winter Olympics and restored the lustre career flourish in Asia, whose increasingly wealthy of its Soviet past to the city of 350,000. It is From Man Utd to leagues have attracted a steady stream of veteran President Vladimir Putin’s preferred working vacation players. This week he will return to Japan, where he spot and an important summit venue for visiting heads had an 18-month spell with Cerezo Osaka in 2014-15, of state. That means Sochi has ample experience of Hong Kong, Forlan organising security and Swisshotel will make sure that as Kitchee face Kashiwa Reysol looking for their first excited fans do not get anywhere near players like win in the AFC Champions league. Marcelo, Philippe Coutinho and, if he recovers from still going strong After losing 3-0 at Tianjin Quanjian in China and foot surgery in time, Neymar. 6-0 at home to South Korea’s Jeonbuk Motors in “Our hotel has no street access. The property is Group E, Forlan said the debutants “need to improve guarded and this will obviously be fortified with extra HONG KONG: Former Manchester United striker a lot”. “We know it’s a difficult competition, so we security during the World Cup,” Gregoriyev said. “I Diego Forlan said he hasn’t lost his passion for foot- hope we can do much better than the way we’ve done think it will also be protected at the government lev- ball and has no plans to retire as he embraces his lat- it in the first two games,” he said. el.” But what about those pesky reporters and the est challenge: firing Hong Kong’s Kitchee in the Asian “For the next game it’s going to be difficult,” added drones they use to sneak Champions League. Forlan, ahead of today’s match in Kashiwa, about 50 pictures of some of football’s most famous per- Uruguay’s Forlan, now 38, has shone on the sport’s formers? “We are not going to shoot anything down, kilometres from Tokyo. “Every game is difficult for us, of course, but we will inform certain government biggest stages with Manchester United and Atletico we know they have really good teams. “Going back (security) agencies that probably know how to fight Madrid, and also when he won the golden ball at the to Japan is going to be nice, I really enjoyed my time these things,” Gregoriyev said with a grin. 2010 World Cup. After ending a one-year stay with there with family.” Forlan twice topped the La Liga Brazil will fly 400 kilometres (250 miles) north for Inter Milan in 2012, Forlan has played for five clubs, scoring charts in Spain, with Villareal way back in their opening match against Switzerland in Rostov- including Mumbai City in the Indian Super League 2004-05 and Atletico Madrid in 2008-09. He on-Don on June 16. Their second group game against last year. But Forlan, who has now played for clubs in acknowledged that becoming the first Hong Kong Costa Rica is 2,000 kilometres away in Saint eight different countries, said he is enjoying a new club to reach the knockout stages of Asia’s premier Petersburg and their third five days later against lease of life with Kitchee, where he is regularly find- club competition is going to take a remarkable turn- Serbia will take them 1,300 kilometres north to ing the net. “It’s great. Great relationship, good guys around. Moscow. Travel is part of the Russian adventure for all from different countries, so I’m really enjoying my But Forlan has his sights set on a domestic treble 32 qualified teams and Brazil coach Tite has clearly time here,” Forlan said in an interview with AFP. focused on giving his men the best treatment possible with the reigning Hong Kong champions, who are 11 while away from game. The training ground is a five- “I really enjoy (it), it’s beautiful. It’s been my work points clear of Pegasus in the current domestic HONG KONG: In this picture taken on March 1, 2018, minute walk away and the ride to the airport along for almost 20 years and it’s been great. I don’t feel (it standings. “We hope we can win the league. We Uruguayan player Diego Forlan attends a team training Sochi’s modern roads takes 30 minutes. is) like working, it’s something that I enjoy playing, have a big lead over the second and third team,” he session with Hong Kong Premier League football club Then there is Sochi’s beach-something for which something that I’m privileged (to do), so that’s why I’ll said. “And then to see (if we can win) the FA Cup Kitchee in Hong Kong. Forlan has called for improve- Russia is otherwise not particularly famous. “Sochi’s keep going and keep playing.” and also the Sapling (League) Cup, that will be ment from his new Kitchee side after a torrid start to climate suits Brazil very well,” Gregoriyev said.—AFP Forlan isn’t the only footballer to enjoy a late- awesome for us.” — AFP their AFC Champions League debut campaign.—AFP