26 Established 1961 Sports Thursday, March 5, 2020 DeBrusk, Bruins edge Lightning

Lehner, Golden Knights shut out Devils

TAMPA BAY: Boston’s Jake DeBrusk scored the scored and Evgeni Malkin had four assists for game-winning goal in his 200th NHL game Tuesday Pittsburgh. Goaltender Matt Murray made 23 saves. night, sending the Bruins to a 2-1 win the host Jayce Hawryluk, Brady Tkachuk and Connor Brown Tampa Bay Lightning in a matchup of the Eastern scored, and Craig Anderson made 28 saves for Ottawa, Conference’s top two clubs. Brad Marchand notched which had won two straight. his 28th marker, and Torey Krug, David Pastrnak and Charlie Coyle assisted on goals for Boston, which GOLDEN KNIGHTS 3, DEVILS 0 earned its league-best 42nd victory and has won 14 Robin Lehner notched his first shutout of the season, of 17, including three in a row. Tuukka Rask stopped and William Karlsson and Max Pacioretty each had a 20 of 21 shots to go to 12-3-1 in his last 16 games. goal and an assist to lead Vegas to a victory over New Tampa Bay’s Mitchell Stephens scored, and Tyler Jersey in Las Vegas. Ryan Reaves also scored a goal for Johnson and Barclay Goodrow recorded helpers. Vegas. It was the ninth win in the past 10 games for the Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy posted 33 saves for the Golden Knights. Lehner, playing in his 300th career Lightning, who fell to 1-5-1 in their past six games NHL game and second with Vegas after being acquired since an 11-game win streak. from Chicago at the trade deadline, finished with 27 saves for his 15th career shutout. Mackenzie Blackwood CANADIENS 6, ISLANDERS 2 made 29 saves for the Devils, who had a six-game point Brendan Gallagher scored to start a first-period flur- streak snapped, tied for their longest of the season. ry for visiting Montreal, which cruised past New York. Jeff Petry and Charles Hudon also scored in the first BLACKHAWKS 6, DUCKS 2 period, and Paul Byron scored in the second. Jordan Dylan Strome had two goals and an assist, and Weal and Joel Armia added goals late in the third for Patrick Kane and Alex Nylander each had a goal and an the Canadiens, who have won two straight and four of assist as host Chicago earned its third straight victory six (4-1-1). Goalie Carey Price made 20 saves. Brock with a rout of Anaheim. David Kampf and Drake Nelson and Ryan Pulock scored in the third period for Caggiula also scored for the Blackhawks, who got two the Islanders, who have lost four straight (0-2-2) and assists from Adam Boqvist. Corey Crawford, who has eight of 10 (2-6-2). allowed two goals or fewer in 11 of his past 16 starts for Chicago, made 37 saves for the win. Anaheim’s John BLUES 3, RANGERS 1 Gibson stopped 19 of 24 shots before Ryan Miller Brayden Schenn scored the tiebreaking goal with entered in relief and stopped 15 of 16 shots. The Ducks NEW YORK: Jordan Eberle #7 of the New York Islanders skates against the Montreal Canadiens at the Barclays 10:04 remaining in the third period, and surging St. started a two-game road back-to-back with their sixth Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Canadiens defeated the Islanders 6-2. — AFP Louis extended its winning streak to eight games with a loss in eight games. win over host New York. Schenn scored for the fifth straight game and reached 25 goals for the fourth time JETS 3, SABRES 1 Paul, Minn. Luke Kunin returned from a five-game for the Oilers, who have won three in a row. in his career by scoring on a fluky play. Colton Parayko Kyle Connor recorded two goals and an assist to injury absence to score his 14th of the season for the Defenseman John Klingberg scored a power-play goal had a power-play goal in the second period and an lead Winnipeg over visiting Buffalo. Connor’s 34th and Wild, who have won six of eight and are amid a 10-4- and Anton Khudobin finished with 25 saves to fall to 6- assist for St. Louis. Schwartz added an empty-net goal 35th goals of the season set a career high for the 1 stretch while moving one point ahead of the 1-1 at home this season for the Stars, who have with six seconds left. Mika Zibanejad scored a power- Winnipeg forward, who has scored in each of his past Predators in the race for playoff position in the dropped three in a row following a 7-1-1 stretch. play goal in the first period for the Rangers, who four games. Tucker Poolman scored a short-handed Western Conference. Alex Stalock made 37 saves for dropped their third straight game. goal for the Jets, and Connor Hellebuyck saved 25 of 26 his fifth victory in his last six starts for Minnesota. SHARKS 5, MAPLE LEAFS 2 shots to earn the win. The Sabres, who got a goal from The Predators have dropped three straight following Evander Kane scored two goals, and San Jose PENGUINS 7, SENATORS 3 Rasmus Ristolainen, have lost four consecutive games, a 6-1-1 stretch since last March. Craig Smith scored stretched its winning streak to three games with a victory Bryan Rust had a hat trick as Pittsburgh topped vis- all during a nightmarish road trip. Buffalo has been for Nashville. over visiting Toronto. Antti Suomela and Stefan Noesen iting Ottawa to end a six-game losing streak. outscored 15-7 over that 0-4-0 stretch. each had a goal and an assist, and Martin Jones made 25 Pittsburgh’s top line combined for eight points: Sidney OILERS 2, STARS 1 (OT) saves for the Sharks, who have won three in a row for the Crosby and Jason Zucker each had a goal and two WILD 3, PREDATORS 1 Alex Chiasson scored 1:08 into overtime to lift visit- first time since November. Radim Simek contributed an assists, and Conor Sheary had a goal and an assist. Kevin Fiala had a goal and an assist for his fifth ing Edmonton to a victory over Dallas. Ryan Nugent- empty-net goal. The Maple Leafs got a goal and an assist Crosby’s second assist made him the sixth fastest in straight multi-point game, and Zach Parise scored in Hopkins celebrated his 600th NHL game by scoring a from Auston Matthews plus a goal from Mitchell Marner. NHL history to 800, in 980 games. John Marino also his third straight as Minnesota beat Nashville in Saint power-play goal, and Mikko Koskinen made 42 saves Jack Campbell stopped 33 shots. — Reuters

expecting machinery and teams to be arriving from Melbourne today through to the end of the weekend. So we are almost at the point where everybody is going to be here within the next few days. confident F1 “But having said that, I recognise the situation is extremely dynamic and to some extent there are mat- French cycling season-opener ters that are out of control. There are decisions made by the (government) or might be made overseas. “I’m very hopeful and confident but I can’t say any- team Cofidis will go ahead thing about it with absolute certainty.” The Chinese Grand Prix scheduled for Shanghai on April 19 has quarantined in UAE been called off as a result of the virus, which emerged MELBOURNE: Melbourne’s major events chief is in the central Chinese province of Hubei late last year. confident the Australian Formula One Grand Prix will MotoGP cancelled its opening round in Qatar after until March 14 go ahead as scheduled next week but said he could the Gulf state imposed quarantine on visitors arriving offer no firm guarantees because of the dynamic nature from Italy. The inaugural Vietnam round of the cham- of the coronavirus epidemic. PARIS: The two French cycling teams kept in pionship, scheduled for April 5, is under threat after it the United Arab Emirates following the out- Albert Park is already undergoing its annual trans- Martin Pakula imposed quarantine periods on anyone who has come break of coronavirus that ended the UAE formation from inner city oasis to racetrack for the from, or been in, Italy during a two-week period pri- Tour, will be quarantined for 10 more days, March 15 season-opener despite the health crisis that or to entry. Australia has reported 42 cases of the coronavirus team officials said yesterday. has caused the cancellation of scores of events around Italy, home to Formula One powerhouse Ferrari, is - the bulk of those evacuees from a cruise ship “We have just learned that we are officially the Asia-Pacific. one of the countries most affected by the epidemic docked in Japan - and just three cases of local trans- quarantined, in theory until March 14,” “All of the indications from Formula One manage- with more than 50 deaths and more than 2,000 con- mission, where people who had not left the country Thierry Vittu, the president of Cofidis’ com- ment are that they are planning for the Grand Prix to firmed cases. Formula One’s motorsport managing were infected. petition team, posted on Facebook. The 12- go ahead,” Martin Pakula, minister for tourism, sport director, Ross Brawn, told Reuters on Tuesday that a Australia has imposed border controls on visitors member Groupama squad, which includes and major events in the Victoria state government, told world championship race would not go ahead in a from China and anyone who has been to Iran in the four riders, also remains under quarantine. reporters yesterday. country that denies access to any team due to coron- previous two weeks, but there are no restrictions on “We’re officially in quarantine with a prob- “The set-up is already occurring, we would be avirus restrictions. those travelling from Italy. — Reuters able return on March 14,” said Arnaud Demare, a one of the Groupama-FDJ riders. “We’ve learnt that some people who tested the new rankings. positive for coronavirus were occupying the India’s teen She is only the second Indian after Mithali Raj same floor as us”. to top the women’s T20 rankings and He said he has not ridden since Thursday Jamieson makes pushed New Zealand’s veteran Suzie Bates down evening and that would have an impact on sensation tops to second on the list. Verma is the third highest his racing. “Still waiting for a bike, sixth NZ ODI squad scorer at the World Cup where India play England day without being able to train. However, women’s rankings in the semi-finals tomorrow. the priority for us now is no longer to She has hit nine sixes in the competition so far resume training but to be quarantined on a for Australia — more than anyone else. Verma will face-off in different floor.” NEW DELHI: India’s 16-year-old women’s cricket the game against left-arm spinner Sophie There was no immediate comment from the other two teams which were in lockdown, WELLINGTON: New Zealand named rookie pace- sensation Shafali Verma shot to the top of the ICC’s Ecclestone of England who has just taken over as UAE Team and Russian-backed Gazprom. The man Kyle Jamieson yesterday in a 15-man squad for the T20 batting rankings yesterday after several match the world’s leading T20 bowler. UAE Tour was abandoned last Thursday after upcoming one-day series against Australia and kept winning performances at the T20 World Cup in She made headlines with her battle to get into two Italian staff members with one of the faith with underperforming seamer Tim Southee. Australia. cricket, cutting her hair like a boy so she could get teams tested positive for the disease. Jamieson shone in the recent ODI and Test series Verma, who has only played 18 internationals into the local academy to train. “At eight or nine, all On Tuesday the UAE announced six more sweeps over India, including a five- haul in the since her debut last year, is touted by many experts kids look the same. After the haircut, most didn’t related cases, saying that two Russians, two second Test against Virat Kohli’s men. as a major long term star for women’s cricket in even notice she was a girl and she started playing Italians, one German and a Colombian had “He’s had a great start to his international career India. The International Cricket Council (ICC) regularly at weekends,” her father Sanjeev told AFP been infected. On Monday, Vittu had tweeted and will be a real asset for us in Australia,” coach Gary called her 19-place rise “remarkable” as it released last October after she made her India debut. — AFP that the team was being “held hostage”. Stead said. Southee retained his spot despite strug- Yesterday he said the news of a definite date gling for in the one-day format, in contrast to was welcome. his strong Test form. “Of course the deadline is far away The Black Caps’ bowling attack has been bolstered (although it’s only 10 days) but in a way, it’s a by the return of Trent Boult, Matt Henry and Lockie kind of relief,” he said. “What has been diffi- Ferguson, who all missed the ODI series against India cult to live with so far has been the absence with injury. of a deadline and the constant expectation of New Zealand have not won an ODI series in a close outcome that never came. Australia in 14 attempts and Stead said they would “Now we know where we stand, and even need all their experience to threaten the hosts. if the confinement to our rooms continues, “Playing Australia in Australia is one of the great everyone will manage to find occupations, challenges in world cricket,” he said. distractions, activities...” “We know they’ll severely test us in all areas of the Demare said he hoped the Groupama game.” The three-match series begins in Sydney on team could be repatriated to France so they March 13. could be quarantined “at home”. After the New Zealand: Kane Williamson (capt), Tom Blundell, initial cases, cyclists, team staff and some Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, media were put under lockdown at hotels in Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Abu Dhabi where they underwent screen- Latham, Jimmy Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell ing, with most cleared to leave over the past Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor. — AFP MELBOURNE: File photo shows India’s Shafali Verma (L) plays a shot for four runs during the Twenty20 women’s World Cup cricket match between New Zealand and India in Melbourne. — AFP few days. — AFP