Sports FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014 Rangers stretch winning streak

NEW YORK: Henrik Lundqvist stopped 30 shots and came within 1:53 of his second NHL Results/Standings shutout in three games as the New York Rangers stretched their season-best winning 5 Minnesota 2; NY Rangers 3 streak to five games with a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia 1; Anaheim 3 Calgary 2. Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday. The second-place Rangers moved three WESTERN CONFERENCE points ahead of third-place Philadelphia in the PACIFIC DIVISION Metropolitan Division race by winning what W L OTL GF GA PTS could be a playoff preview. New York has eight San Jose 47 18 9 227 177 103 games remaining, and the Flyers have 10 left. Anaheim 47 18 7 231 182 101 Derek Dorsett scored in the first period, Los Angeles 42 25 6 182 155 90 defenseman Ryan McDonagh added a goal in Phoenix 35 26 12 202 207 82 the second, and Dominic Moore made it 3-0 in Vancouver 34 30 10 181 198 78 the third against Steve Mason, who made 26 Calgary 30 36 7 185 214 67 saves. The Flyers’ Jakub Voracek scored his Edmonton 25 39 9 180 241 59 21st goal off a faceoff with 1:53 to go to make CENTRAL DIVISION it 3-1. St. Louis 49 16 7 233 163 105 SAITAMA: ’s performs during the ladies’ short program at the world fig- Chicago 42 16 15 244 188 99 ure skating championships. — AFP CANUCKS 5, WILD 2 Colorado 45 21 6 221 198 96 David Booth scored two unassisted goals Minnesota 37 25 11 182 183 85 and Eddie Lack made 29 saves to lead Dallas 34 27 11 203 207 79 Asada breaks Vancouver. Zack Kassian, Daniel Sedin and Nashville 31 31 11 177 218 73 Ryan Kesler also scored for Vancouver as the Winnipeg 32 32 9 202 213 73 Canucks try to make a late push to overtake Phoenix and Dallas for the Western EASTERN CONFERENCE Conference’s final wild-card playoff spot. world record ATLANTIC DIVISION Minnesota outshot Vancouver 31-19 and Boston 49 17 6 230 153 104 got goals from Charlie Coyle and Nino Montreal 41 26 7 190 184 89 Niederreiter, but lost its third straight at home. SAITAMA: Japan’s Mao Asada broke the pushed me so much,” she said. “Of course, Tampa Bay 39 24 9 214 193 87 short programme world record in a bid for it would have been very great if I could do Booth scored for the second consecutive game after going scoreless in his previous 32. Detroit 33 25 14 191 204 80 a third women’s title at the world champi- this at the Olympics. You never know what Toronto 36 30 8 216 231 80 onships Thursday, putting her disastrous is awaiting you in life.” DUCKS 3, FLAMES 2 Ottawa 29 29 14 205 243 72 Olympic performance behind her. About her , Asada, the only Andrew Cogliano scored the go-ahead goal Florida 27 38 8 178 237 62 Skating to Frederic Chopin’s “Nocturne woman who regularly attempts the diffi- at 14:41 of the third period as the Anaheim Buffalo 20 44 8 138 212 48 in E Flat major” in what could be the last cult 3.5-revolution triple axel, said: “My Ducks picked up an important two points. METROPOLITAN DIVISION competition of her career, the 23-year-old mission here is to perform both pro- Stephane Robidas’ shot from the blue-line Pittsburgh 46 21 5 224 180 97 nailed her trademark triple axel in her grammes perfectly.” was kicked out by Karri Ramo but the puck NY Rangers 41 29 4 197 179 86 opening element, followed by a clean Sotnikova, 17, has skipped the worlds went right to Cogliano at the face-off circle, Philadelphia 38 27 7 206 204 83 triple flip and a triple-double loop combi- and Kim has retired from competition after who quickly fired in his 21st goal of the season. Columbus 37 29 6 204 196 80 nation. , amid controversy in which the free- Nick Bonino and Mathieu Perreault also Washington 34 27 12 212 218 80 She also hit a maximum level-four in all skate judging was accused of favouring scored for Anaheim, which kicked off a three- New Jersey 31 28 13 175 187 75 three spins and a to pick up the hometown girl. game road trip to Western Canada with its Carolina 31 32 9 181 205 71 78.66 points in front of a roaring capacity “It all happens so fast,” said Kostner, 27. sixth road win in its last eight games away NY Islanders 28 35 9 202 243 65 home crowd at the 18,400-seat Saitama “This is my 13th championship in a row from the Honda Center. Super Arena. and I kept on saying to myself ‘You have so The Ducks moved to within two points of Note: Overtime losses (OTL) a re worth one Her result topped the previous world much experience. You don’t have to be so the Pacific-leading San Jose Sharks. Anaheim point in the standings and are not included in mark of 78.50 points scored by her long- nervous.’ But it’s each time the same.” still holds two games in hand. Brian McGrattan the loss column (L) time rival Kim Yu-Na of South Korea when About her free skate, she said she would and Jiri Hudler scored for Calgary. — AP she beat Asada into second spot at the try to “enjoy the movement, have fun and 2010 Vancouver Olympics. It also beat her put all the heart I have into it”. Lipnitskaia, five-year-old personal best of 75.84. the European champion, said: “I was able ’s , the 2012 world to show my level after the disappointing champion who grabbed the bronze performance in Sochi.” behind ’s and Kim She contributed to Russia’s gold medal at last month’s Sochi Games, trailed in sec- in the inaugural Olympic team competi- ond spot at 77.24 points going into the tion in Sochi by topping both pro- final free skate on Saturday. grammes. But she cracked under pressure Russia’s 15-year-old Julia Lipnitskaia to finish fifth in the individual competition. came in third on 74.54 points. Both “Obviously I hope to have a medal after Kostner and Lipnitskaia improved their the free skating.” In the pairs, double personal best scores. Olympic bronze medallists “While I skated I kept remembering how Aliona Savchenko and disappointed I was in Sochi,” said Asada, bowed out on a high with a fifth world title the 2008 and 2010 world champion, rating in their final competition before retirement. her result at “100 out of a possible 100”. In the absence of Olympic champions In Sochi, she botched a triple axel and and main rivals, Russia’s Tatiana other jumps to be 16th after the short pro- Volosozhar and , the gramme but sprang back in free skating to German pair topped the table for a second finish sixth overall. straight day with 145.86 points in the free “I usually don’t care about my score but skate. Russia’s and Fedor I feel great for scoring the world’s best,” Klimov, second at last month’s Sochi said Asada, who has said her chance of Game, moved up from overnight third continuing to compete after this Olympic spot to grab more silver medals. Meagan season was “50-50”. Duhamel and of Canada CALGARY: TJ Galiardi No. 39 of the Calgary Flames looks for a wrap-around as Jonas Hiller No. “I think this disappointment may have slipped to third spot. — AFP 1 (left) and Ben Lovejoy No. 6 of the Anaheim Ducks defend during an NHL game. — AFP