THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017 SPORTS

Nations turn to Plan B for hockey at Olympics with no NHL

NEW YORL: The morning after the NHL is true even in European professional player pool “as deep as it has ever been,” Renney said. In a recent interview, Renney that. Assuming European leagues do give announced it wasn’t going to the 2018 leagues. and executive Jim Johannson - who could said has already pursued players permission or stop their seasons, Olympics, some Americans playing in The result in coming months may be be tasked with putting the team together its Plan B and will be nimble enough to the player pool for the U.S., Canada and Europe started wondering if they should nations navigating a wild set of complica- - said the US will “have 25 great stories on adjust to any changes to rules concerning other countries could grow if potential keep their schedules open for next tions in putting their Olympic teams the ice in South Korea and will go to the eligible players. Two-time Canadian borderline NHL free agents choose to go February. “Myself and couple other together. If Patrick Kane, Jonathan Quick, Olympics with medal expectations.” Olympic gold-medal winner Jonathan abroad next season for a chance to play in Americans, Deron Quint and Dave Leggio, Jack Eichel and Auston Matthews aren’t Toews expects top junior and college and the Olympics. were joking around to not make any plans available, USA Hockey will likely look to GOLD-MEDAL EXPECTATIONS a lot of European players to make up Russia is likely to be the gold medal over the Olympic break next year because Americans playing Europe to fill the bulk Two-time defending Olympic champi- Canada’s roster. favorite thanks to former NHL stars like they might need us to play,” said Keith of its roster and mix in a handful of col- on Canada always has gold-medal expec- “There are some really good players Pavel Datsyuk and Ilya Kovalchuk playing Aucoin, a 38-year-old former NHL forward lege players. Former NHL forward Mark tations but is arguably hurt the most of playing in Europe,” the Chicago in the KHL and being available. Alex who is playing in Germany. Arcobello leads the top Swiss league in any country by the NHL not going. Blackhawks’ said.. “They’re guys, Ovechkin intends to go to the Olympics No joking, they might. In the aftermath scoring, Aucoin is among the leaders in Canada’s benefit is that it has depth of tal- you look at them, and you’re surprised anyway, and Washington Capitals team- of the NHL’s decision, USA Hockey and Germany, and former NHL defenseman ent that spills over into the AHL and they’re not playing here and making big mates Evgeny Kuznetsov and Dmitry other national federations insisted they Matt Gilroy and Jonathon Blum are piling European professional leagues. money. Canadian hockey, obviously I’m Orlov said they plan to join him. have a Plan B - but it’s not clear how to up points in the Kontintental Hockey It’s not the elite of the elite, but there biased, we’ve proven we’re the best over Finland, the Czech Republic and proceed. League based primarily in Russia. are more than 550 Canadians playing in the course of time. The amount of talent Slovakia could benefit from the absence Just because the NHL doesn’t stop its Goaltending options for the Americans the AHL and more than 200 across Europe, and players we’ve produced out of of NHL stars because of the players they season to participate in South Korea does- could include Leggio and Jerry Kuhn play- including former NHL goalie Ben Scrivens, Canada is so great, that we could ice a have in Europe. Big goalie Mikko Koskinen n’t mean some players won’t try to go ing in Germany, Ryan Zapolski from the defensemen Cam Barker and Brendan good team whether we had NHL players isn’t Tuukka Rask but would give the Finns anyway, and the league hasn’t decided if it KHL, Notre Dame’s Cal Peters and Tyler Mikkelson and forwards Derek Roy, Daniel or not.” Although the International a chance, and the Czechs could get stable will allow teams to give players permis- Parsons of the ’s Paille and Jonathan Cheechoo. Olympic Committee said “players from all goaltending from KHL stars Dominik Furch sion to leave. The federations can’t just London Knights, who just led the US to “We have developed both a Plan A and the other professional leagues and Pavel Francouz - plus maybe Jaromir raid the - many world junior gold. USA Hockey executive a Plan B, and will be ready to move for- will participate” in Pyeongchang, there’s Jagr goes home at age 45 for one last players have NHL contracts - and the same director Dave Ogrean called the country’s ward,” Hockey Canada president Tom even a small amount of uncertainty about Olympic chance.—AP

CRICKET India’s Kohli, Pakistan’s Misbah and Younis, get Wisden honours

LONDON: India captain Virat Kohli has performances during Pakistan’s 2-2 Test been named as the Leading Cricketer in the series draw in England-a result that saw World in the 2017 edition of the respected Pakistan, under Misbah’s captaincy, briefly Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, — ‘cricket’s rise to number one in the world Test rank- bible’-published this week. ings. “Misbah-ul-Haq was central to one of Meanwhile Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq the most riveting series in England for and Younis Khan were named as two of years,” wrote Booth. Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year. “His century in the First Test at Lord’s set According to editor Lawrence Booth, Kohli a benchmark for his team-mates, while his had “the year of his dreams” in 2016, “aver- celebratory press-ups became one of the aging more with the bat in each of the motifs of the year. three formats than anyone: 75 in Tests, 92 “Against the odds, he led Pakistan, with- in one-day internationals and 106 in out a home Test since 2009, to the top of Twenty20 internationals”. the rankings-and all at the age of 42.” Under Kohli, India won series trophies in Turning to Younis, he added: “With the all three formats against England in pressure on, Younis Khan delivered. His 2016/17. Booth said the star batsman’s 235 classy 218 in the final Test of the summer, at in the fourth Test against England at The Oval, helped Pakistan square the series Mumbai confirmed him as the “spiritual after successive defeats had left them in successor to Sachin Tendulkar”. danger of squandering their win at Lord’s. Kohli is the third Indian to win an award “It was his 32nd Test hundred-and a that has only been in existence since 2003 reminder that his struggles earlier in the and is designed to recognise achievement series had been a blip rather than part of a in all forms of the international game in the decline.” England all-rounder Chris Woakes, previous calendar year. who enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2016 Dynamic opener Virender Sehwag won that included 26 wickets at 16 apiece in twice, in 2008 and 2009, with Tendulkar four Tests against Pakistan, was also one of himself awarded the title in 2010. Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year. The 2017 women’s award was won by Middlesex’s Toby Roland-Jones, whose Australia’s Ellyse Perry. While the Leading hat-trick against Yorkshire at Lord’s sealed Cricketer of the Year award is a relatively the County Championship title for the new concept by the standards of Wisden-a London club, and Northamptonshire bats- British-based publication which has man Ben Duckett, who scored 2,706 runs in appeared every year since 1864, with not all formats during a prolific season, com- BOSTON: Jake Dotchin #59 of the defends David Backes #42 of the during the third period at TD Garden on even the First and Second World Wars halt- pleted the quintet. April 4, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeat the Lightning 4-0. — AFP ing its print run-the Five Cricketers of the Reflecting on other topics, Booth said Year is a tradition that dates back 128 years. Alastair Cook had chosen “the right time to NHL The usual criteria for inclusion in that go” in resigning as England’s Test captain award, which can only be won once in a following the 4-0 series loss in India. player’s career, is the impact a player had However, he added: “That his team lost on the preceding English season. only four of his 17 Test series in charge was Bruins clinch playoff berth testament to a very English grit: understat- ‘RIVETING’ ENGLAND-PAKISTAN SERIES ed, occasionally self-conscious, always Veteran batsmen Misbah and Younis bloody-minded. It proved an exhausting with 4-0 win over Lightning were both honoured in the context of their combination.” —AFP

BOSTON: Tuukka Rask continued his late-season Catch live action of VIVO 2017 IPL surge, making 28 saves for his second shutout in NHL results/standings four starts in leading the Boston Bruins to a sixth exclusively on OSN Sports Cricket HD straight win with a 4-0 victory over the Tampa Los Angeles 6, Edmonton 4; San Jose 3, Vancouver 1; Anaheim 3, Calgary 1; Colorado 4, Chicago 3 (OT); Dallas 3, Bay Lightning. The win enabled the Bruins to Arizona 2 (OT); Winnipeg 5, St. Louis 2; NY Islanders 2, Nashville 1 (OT); Minnesota 5, Carolina 3; Washington 4, KUWAIT: Experience all the excitement and year; or will ViratKohli’s Royal Challengers clinch a playoff berth with two games remain- Toronto 1; 2, Detroit 0; Boston 4, Tampa Bay 0; New Jersey 1, Philadelphia 0 (OT); Pittsburgh 4, Columbus 1. all the drama of the world’s premier T20 Bangalore go one better this time around, ing. David Pastrnak scored his 33rd and 34th Western Conference Ottawa 42 27 10 205 208 94 tournament as the VIVO 2017 Indian to be crowned champions? goals of the season, Drew Stafford netted his Central Division Boston 44 30 6 232 207 94 Premier League (IPL) is broadcast live and Whatever happens during the first in 12 games and Zdeno Chara scored a pow- WLOTLGFGAPTS Toronto 39 25 15 243 232 93 exclusive on OSN Sports Cricket HD and enthralling eight-team tournament, OSN er-play . David Krejci had two assists. Brad Chicago 50 22 8 242 206 108 Tampa Bay 39 30 10 222 222 88 streamed live on OSN Play this April. Sports Cricket HD and OSN Play are the Marchand was ejected in the first period for Minnesota 47 25 8 259 204 102 Reaching fans across the Middle East only places in the region to catch allthe spearing Jake Dotchin in the groin. Marchand, a St. Louis 43 29 7 221 209 93 Florida 33 35 11 202 231 77 and North Africa (MENA) region, OSN action, live and exclusive, from April 5. 39-goal scorer, received a major and game mis- Nashville 40 28 12 232 219 92 Buffalo 32 35 12 197 229 76 Sports Cricket HD is the only cricket sports Fans canenjoy live IPL updates and join conduct and faces league discipline that could Winnipeg 38 35 7 242 251 83 Detroit 32 36 12 201 240 76 channel where fans can watch the undis- the conversation on Twitter and Facebook result in his seventh suspension. Dallas 33 36 11 216 252 77 Metropolitan Division Colorado 22 54 3 158 267 47 puted kings of T20 go head to head; while with @OSNSports. OSN Sports Cricket HD Washington 53 18 8 258 179 114 fans can watch a live stream of the action remains the #1 destination for world-class Pacific Division AVALANCHE 4, BLACKHAWKS 3 (OT) Anaheim 44 23 13 215 197 101 Pittsburgh 49 19 11 270 222 109 via OSN Play on any device. cricket across all forms of the game, covering Erik Johnson scored at 1:57 of and Edmonton 44 26 9 235 206 97 Columbus 49 22 8 240 184 106 Every ball, every run, every wicket will all major ICC Tournaments, Pakistan Super Colorado rallied to beat Chicago. Matt Duchene San Jose 45 28 7 216 196 97 NY Rangers 47 26 6 252 213 100 be shown in stunning high-definition League, The Asia Cup, India home games and had a goal and two assists, and Gabriel Calgary 44 32 4 221 217 92 NY Islanders 38 29 12 230 238 88 bringingcricket-lovers closer to the action. much more; whilst OSN Playgives fanslive Landeskog and Mikhail Grigorenko also scored Los Angeles 38 34 7 194 195 83 Philadelphia 38 33 9 212 230 85 Vancouver 30 40 9 175 231 69 Will reigning champions Sunrisers streaming access to all these amazing tour- for the Avalanche. Marcus Kruger had a goal and Carolina 35 30 14 207 225 84 Hyderabad defend the title they won last namentson their mobile devices. Arizona 29 41 10 192 254 68 an assist and Artemi Panarin and Ryan Hartman New Jersey 28 37 14 176 229 70 scored for the Blackhawks. Eastern Conference Atlantic Division Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one in the Montreal 46 24 9 220 192 101 standings and are not included in the loss column (L) STARS 3, COYOTES 2 (OT) Julius Honka scored with 1:15 remaining in overtime and Dallas beat Arizona at American Clarke MacArthur, Ottawa snapped a five-game two-on-one chance. He skated with the puck Airlines Center. Brett Ritchie and Jason Dickinson losing streak and moved closer to securing a down the left wing and made an elevated pass also scored for the Stars. Anthony Duclair and playoff spot with a victory over Detroit at across to Moore, who one-timed it for the victory. Christian Dvorak scored for the Coyotes. Canadian Tire Centre. It was MacArthur’s first game since Oct. 14, 2015, when he suffered a SHARKS 3, CANUCKS 1 WILD 5, HURRICANES 3 concussion in Columbus. Erik Karlsson and Tom San Jose clinched no worse than a third- Two goals by Nino Niederreiter along with Pyatt scored for the Senators. Craig Anderson place finish in the Pacific Division with a win single tallies from Zach Parise, Jordan Schroeder stopped 24 shots for his fifth shutout of the sea- over Vancouver while fourth-place Calgary lost and Charlie Coyle helped Minnesota overcome son. Jimmy Howard made 22 saves in the Red to first-place Anaheim. Rookie Kevin Labanc and Carolina. The Hurricanes were eliminated from Wings’ cage. veteran Joel Ward scored within 12 seconds to playoff contention with the loss while the Wild get the Sharks off to their fast start. Chris Tanev clinched home ice in the first round. Jeff Skinner CAPITALS 4, MAPLE LEAFS 1 scored his second goal of the season for had a pair of goals for the Hurricanes, while Lee Philip Grubauer stopped 27 shots and lost his Vancouver. Stempniak had a goal and an assist. bid for his fourth shutout of the season in the final two minutes as Washington defeated DUCKS 3, FLAMES 1 ISLANDERS 2, PREDATORS 1 (OT) Toronto. Lars Eller, Kevin Shattenkirk, Nate Kevin Bieksa scored his first goal in 3 1/2 Thomas Hickey scored 1:25 into overtime to Schmidt and Tom Wilson scored for the Capitals. months to give Anaheim a lead it would not give New York a win over Nashville at Bridgestone Brett Connolly added two assists for relinquish over Calgary at Honda Center. Patrick Arena. The Predators took a 1-0 lead with 12:57 Washington. Mitch Marner scored the Maple Eaves and Chris Wagner also scored for the left in the second period on Mike Fisher’s goal. Leafs’ goal on a power-play at 18:52 of the third Ducks, who received 26 saves from John Gibson The Islanders tied the contest 1-1 just 1:32 into period. It was his 19th goal of the season. and retained sole ownership of first place in the the third period on a goal by Brock Nelson. Pacific Division with two games left. PENGUINS 4, BLUE JACKETS 1 JETS 5, BLUES 2 Pittsburgh, in second place in the KINGS 6, OILERS 4 Patrik Laine scored two goals to lead Metropolitan Division, moved three points Nick Shore registered a goal and three Winnipeg over St Louis. The win was the fifth in a ahead of third-place Columbus. The Penguins, in assists, and Dustin Brown added a goal and an row by the Jets and completed a five-game sea- their final home game of the regular season, got assist as Los Angeles defeated Edmonton. son sweep of the Blues. The loss was only the goals from Carter Rowney, Patric Hornqvist, Trevor Lewis, Tanner Pearson, Drew Doughty second in regulation by the Blues in their last 16 Brian Dumoulin and Jake Guentzel. Brandon and Nic Dowd also scored for the Kings. games. Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers and Mark Dubinsky scored the Blue Jackets’ goal. Rookie Jonny Brodzinski registered his first Stuart also scored for the Jets while Jori Lehtera two NHL points, with two assists. Jonathan and Alex Pietrangelo scored for the Blues. DEVILS 1, FLYERS 0 (OT) Quick stopped 23 Edmonton shots. Ryan John Moore scored 59 seconds into overtime Nugent-Hopkins scored two goals and Darnell SENATORS 2, RED WINGS 0 to give New Jersey a victory over Philadelphia at Nurse and Milan Lucic scored one each for the Sparked by the return of veteran winger Prudential Center. Taylor Hall set up the goal on a Oilers. —Reuters