Sports FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2014

Scrivens makes record NHL Results / Standings

WASHINGTON: results and stand- ings after Wednesday’s games: Vancouver 2, Chicago 5, saves in Oilers victory Edmonton 3, San Jose 0; NY Islanders 1, NY Rangers 2.

Eastern Conference EDMONTON: Edmonton Ben allowed was a late second-period tally to 29 saves. The Blackhawks scored four Scrivens set an NHL record for saves in a Brock Nelson. times on five shots in a span of 7:31 in Atlantic Division with 59 stops Wednesday as he the second to rally from two goals down P W L OT GF GA PTS guided the Oilers past the . BLACKHAWKS 5, CANUCKS 2 and snap a four-game winless streak. Boston 52 34 15 3 159 115 71 Despite being blitzed with endless shots Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp and The victory was Blackhawks coach Tampa Bay 53 31 17 5 157 131 67 from one of the Western Conference’s top Brandon Saad each had a goal and an Joel Quenneville’s 693rd, moving him Toronto 55 28 21 6 158 170 62 teams, Scrivens stood up to produce a assist in the second period as the past Dick Irvin into sole possession of MontrÈal 53 28 20 5 131 134 61 memorable night. “It’s one of those nights, Chicago Blackhawks scored in quick suc- third place on the all-time NHL coach- Detroit 53 23 19 11 135 149 57 very fortunate. I owe the shot-keeper a cession to beat the Vancouver Canucks. ing wins list. Chris Higgins and Tom Ottawa 53 23 20 10 150 167 56 beer, I think,” Scrivens told reporters after Marian Hossa also scored in the second Sestito scored for Vancouver, and Florida 53 21 25 7 129 164 49 the team’s 3-0 victory. period for Chicago and Saad added an Roberto Luongo stopped 36 shots. Buffalo 52 14 30 8 101 152 36 “I had an awful, awful warm-up, so it empty netter late. Corey Crawford made — Agencies was an inauspicious start, but it was one of Metropolitan Division those things where you try not to look at the forest while you’re in the trees and Pittsburgh 53 37 14 2 171 128 76 focus on the process and give yourself a NY Rangers 55 29 23 3 141 139 61 chance to make that save.” Philadelphia 54 26 22 6 147 158 58 Scrivens’ performance topped the pre- Carolina 53 24 20 9 134 150 57 vious record for saves in a shutout in the Columbus 53 26 23 4 154 151 56 expansion era, which was set by Mike Washington 53 24 21 8 153 158 56 Smith, who had 54 for the Phoenix New Jersey 54 22 21 11 127 135 55 Coyotes in a 2-0 win over the Columbus NY Islanders 56 21 27 8 158 187 50 Blue Jackets on April 3, 2012. Scrivens also set a franchise record for saves in a game Western Conference for the Oilers, who won their third straight Pacific Division game. Anaheim 55 39 11 5 184 134 83 RANGERS 2, ISLANDERS 1 San Jose 54 34 14 6 165 129 74 Daniel Carcillo scored the tiebreaking Los Angeles 55 30 19 6 133 116 66 goal 4:36 into the third period as the Vancouver 55 27 19 9 139 143 63 Rangers completed a two-game sweep of Phoenix 53 25 18 10 154 160 60 the outdoor series with a victory over the Calgary 53 19 27 7 124 169 45 Islanders at frigid Yankee Stadium. Edmonton 56 18 32 6 147 190 42 Building off their 7-3 win over New Jersey at the ballpark in the Bronx on Sunday, the Central Division Rangers took out another division rival Chicago 56 33 10 13 199 156 79 under the lights in front of 50,027 fans. St. Louis 52 36 11 5 180 119 77 The temperature was 22 degrees when Colorado 52 33 14 5 153 137 71 the first puck dropped at 7:45 p.m. with a single-digit wind-chill factor. Benoit Minnesota 55 29 20 6 133 135 64 Pouliot also scored for the Rangers, who Dallas 53 24 21 8 154 157 56 are 3-0 in their history while playing out- EDMONTON: Ben Scrivens #30 of the defends net against Jason Nashville 55 24 23 8 136 166 56 side. Henrik Lundqvist stopped 30 shots Demers #5 and Tommy Wingels #57 of the San Jose Sharks during an NHL game at Winnipeg 55 25 25 5 155 162 55 while again adorning pinstriped pads in Rexall Place on Wednesday in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The Oilers defeated the honor of the Yankees. The only goal he Sharks 3-0. — AFP Wawrinka spearheads Swiss, Czechs seek third title

PARIS: Stanislas Wawrinka, hotfoot from his Australian Open tri- ber seven Tomas Berdych, a semi-final victim of Wawrinka’s last Navratil, whose team beat Spain in the 2012 final and then defeat- umph, turns his mind to affairs of national importance this week- week, leads the Czechs into battle against the Dutch, returning to ed Serbia to retain their crown in Belgrade late last year. “Berdych end as he leads Switzerland into battle against last season’s beat- the Davis Cup fast lane for the first time since 2009. is in great form. He is serving brilliantly and is very strong from en finalists Serbia in the Davis Cup World Group first round. In last Czech captain Jaroslav Navratil is upbeat over his team’s the baseline.” Australia make their return to the World Group after Sunday’s final in Melbourne, the new world number three cap- prospects. “We hope to continue our recent run of results,” said a seven-year absence, against France on the indoor clay courts of tured his first Grand Slam title with a four-set upset of Rafael La Roche sur Yon. The Aussies last won the title in 2003 - in 2001 Nadal. Wawrinka told the Melbourne crowd he was looking for- they fell at the final hurdle to France in Nice. ward to the tie against the weakened Serbs - as long as he sur- Veteran Lleyton Hewitt is thrilled Pat Rafter’s team, winners of vived his victory party. the trophy 28 times, are back in the Davis Cup mix. “It’s fantastic,” “Davis Cup, it’s really important for me. I’m really proud. It’s a said the 32-year-old who made his competition debut in 1999, big honour to play for my country....”I don’t know how I’m going just three years after teammate Thanasi Kokkinakis was born. to get there exactly, if I’m still going to be alive after tonight, but “For me it’s about leading by example on court more than any- I’m going to go there... There’s a big chance I get drunk tonight....” thing, using my experience I’ve been able to have playing so Nadal, the world number one, is one of a clutch of stars miss- many years and so many big ties for Australia.” ing from this weekend’s opening salvoes of the venerable 114- France will start favourites with two of their team top 10 play- year-old competition. While Nadal and world number five David ers in Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. On the red out- Ferrer skip Spain’s tie with Germany in Frankfurt, Serbia must face door clay at San Diego’s Petco Park, Great Britain’s world number Wawrinka’s Switzerland without Novak Djokovic. The Swiss in six Andy Murray leads his team into battle against the United contrast are looking strong as along with the in-form Wawrinka States in a rerun of the first ever Davis Cup tie at Boston’s they boast Roger Federer, who confirmed his presence on Longwood Cricket club in 1900. Great Britain captain Leon Smith Wednesday. Argentina meanwhile face Italy without their top said last week: “We’re relishing the opportunity to compete in the player, Juan Martin Del Potro, knocked out in the second round at world group once again, and I’m delighted that Andy is able to Melbourne. play in the tie.” American number two Sam Querrey is taking Djokovic had already signalled his intention not to play at Novi heart from his victory over Murray at the ATP final in Los Angeles Sad before his quarter-final loss to Wawrinka last week. With in 2010. “At least I’ve beaten him one time, so that gives me a lit- Janko Tipsarevic (injured) and Viktor Troicki (suspended) also out tle belief that I can do it again,” he commented. In other ties, Serb captain Bogdan Obradovic is fielding untested youngsters Belgium face Kazakhstan in Astana, and Canada take on Japan Dusan Lajovic, Filip Krajinovic and Ilija Bozoljac with veteran seeking a first ever World Group win - in Tokyo, with Kei Nishikori Nenad Zimonjic set to play in the doubles. In Ostrava, world num- Stanislas Wawrinka forecasting “a tough match even if we play at home”. — AFP