MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014 SPORTS

Lemina refuses ’s call Oman name Asian Schumacher faces ‘long fight’ PARIS: Marseille has rejected his country of birth Gabon’s call after Cup squad PARIS: Michael Schumacher faces a “long fight” for recovery as the first anniversary being named yesterday in their squad for the Africa Cup of Nations. “I’m not going to the CAN,” of his skiing accident approaches, the former Formula One driver’s manager said Lemina announced on his Twitter page. “Everything that’s being said at the moment is only OMAN: Goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi will lead Oman’s 23-man yesterday. Her comments cast doubts over a newspaper report that said he was rumours, I’m sorry but there’s been no agreement between Gabon and me,” added Lemina squad at next month’s Asian Cup as they bid to advance making cognitive progress. “We need a long time. It’s going to be a long time and a who was born in Gabon but who has represented at youth level. Lemina was part of the to the knockout stage of the tournament for the first hard fight,” Sabine Kehm told Reuters by telephone. “He is making progress appro- French side that became Under-20 world champions. “For the moment my wish to to play for time. Coach Paul Le Guen and the squad will reach their priate to the severity of the situation,” she added, reiterating a statement she made a the France team,” he told French radio station RMC last month. “But at the same time I haven’t Canberra base late yesterday and play warm-ups against said no to Gabon. It depends on a lot of things...on my family, but for the time being I’m giving month ago. Qatar and China before starting their campaign for con- Schumacher suffered severe head injuries in a ski accident in Meribel in the everything to France.” tinental glory in Group A against South Korea on Jan. 10. Gabon squad French Alps on Dec. 29 2013. He emerged from an induced coma in June, and left Goalkeepers: (Ostende/BEL), Anthony Mfa Mezui (Metz/FRA), The ‘Red Warriors’, who were unbeaten through qual- hospital in September. In an interview with Le Parisien yesterday, Philippe Streiff, StÈphane Bitseki (CF Mounana). Defenders : (Nice/FRA), Yrondu ifying, will have a tough task to make it to the knockout another former F1 driver, said Schumacher “had yet to recover the Musavu King (Caen/FRA), Benjamin ZÈ Ondo (ES SÈtif/ALG), Bruno Ecuele stage with Australia and Kuwait the other members of power of speech” but was “nevertheless starting to recognise those Manga (Cardiff/ENG), Henri Junior Ndong (Auxerre/FRA), Aaron Appindangoye the group. close to him”. Streiff, described by the newspaper as a long-time (CF Mounana), Johan Obiang (Chateauroux/FRA), Junior Randal Oto’o Zue Squad: Goalkeepers: Ali Al Habsi, Mazin Al Kasbi, friend, said he had gleaned the information from contact with the (Sporting Braga/POR). Mohannad Al Zaabi. Defenders: Abdul Salam Amir, German-born driver’s wife, Corinne, and with his surgeon, Gerard : AndrÈ Biyogo Poko (Bordeaux/FRA), Didier Ibrahim Ndong (CS Mohammed Mussallami, Saad Suhail, Jaber Owaisi, Saillant, whom he knows as a result of his own racing accident in Sfaxien/TUN), (MC Alger/ALG), Mario Lemina (Marseille/FRA), Ahmed Saleem, Nasr Al Shimli, Ali Al Busaidi. LÈvy Madinda (Celta Vigo/ESP), Kanga Guelor (FC Rostov/RUS), Alexander 1989. He said Schumacher, who will be 46 on Jan. 3, had “very limit- Midfielders: Ahmed Mubarak, Eid Al Farsi, Ali Saleem, ed” movement but was working on sitting upright, and that “long N’Doumbou (Marseille/FRA) Raeed Ibrahim, Ali Al Jabri, Hassan Mudhafar, Mohsin Forwards: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund/GER), term... he could hope one day to walk with crutches.” Kehm said (WAC Casablanca/MAR), FrÈdÈric Bulot (Charlton Johar. Forwards: Imad Al Hosni, Abdulaziz Muqbali, Streiff was not a close friend of Schumacher and that his claims to Athletic/ENG), Romaric RogombÈ (AC Leopards/RDC), Johan Saeed Al Razaiqi, Mohammed Al Siyabi, Yakoob have had contact with the two people named were “factually Lengoualama (Difaa/MAR). — AFP Abdulkarim, Qasim Saeed.—Reuters wrong”. — Reuters Rangers spoil Devils debut

NEW YORK: Derek Stepan scored a pair of spe- cial-teams goals and completed a hat trick into an empty net, Henrik Lundqvist made 19 saves in his 600th NHL contest, and the won their eighth consecutive game, 3- 1, spoiling the debut of the New Jersey Devils’ revamped coaching staff on Saturday night. Stepan netted an unassisted short-handed in the first period, and a power-play tally in the second for the Rangers (19-10-4), who have won 12 of 14 and earned at least one in 22 of 29 (18-7-4). Stepan’s empty-netter with 54.6 seconds left clinched the victory and his third NHL hat trick. Lundqvist, second to Mike Richter (666) in goalie games played with the Rangers, has a franchise record 325 wins. He tied his personal best winning streak of seven games and became the ninth NHL goalie to play 600 games with one team.

BLUE JACKETS 6, BRUINS 2 had a goal and two assists and the Blue Jackets scored four times in the second period for a win against the Bruins. Scott Hartnell, in his first game back after miss- ing five games with a broken finger, scored the Blue Jackets’ first two goals for a 2-1 lead early in the second. Nick Foligno and Connauton made it 4-1 before Craig Cunningham scored for the Bruins (18-15-3). Matt Calvert regained the three-goal lead with 51 seconds left in the second. Jeremy Morin added a goal for Columbus in the third. Patrice Bergeron scored in the first period for the Bruins, 20 seconds after Hartnell had given the Blue Jackets (15-16-3) a 1-0 advantage. Columbus backup goalie Curtis McElhinney made 26 saves. NEW YORK: New Jersey Devils goalie Cory Schneider (35) watches a puck shot by New York Rangers’ Derek Stepan for a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game. — AP

SABRES 4, ISLANDERS 3 twice, and Nick Leddy added a goal for the LIGHTNING 2, HURRICANES 1 PREDATORS 4, FLYERS 1 Michalek also scored for Arizona, which has Tyler Ennis scored in a shootout in the Islanders. Poulin was recalled from Bridgeport Ben Bishop made 25 saves in his return from Colin Wilson scored two goals to lead the won consecutive games for the first time since Sabres’ victory over the Islanders. The Sabres of the on Tuesday an injury and the Lightning beat the Predators to a win over the Flyers. Filip Forsberg beating Vancouver and Edmonton on Nov. 14 overcame a 3-0 deficit, with Nicolas after Jaroslav Halak sustained a lower-body Hurricanes. Bishop, who had missed the previ- and Mike Fisher also scored for Nashville, win- and 16. Andersen stopped 28 shots and Rene Deslauriers, Zemgus Girgensons and Chris injury. The Sabres snapped a four-game losing ous four games due to a lower body injury, lost ners of four of their last five. Bourque scored for Ducks, who are 17-0-6 in Stewart scoring in the third period to spoil streak in sending New York to its second con- his bid for his second shutout this season and Philadelphia Claude Giroux had the one-goal games this season. Kevin Poulin’s shutout bid. John Tavares scored secutive loss. 10th overall with 5:56 to play on Andrej lone goal for the Flyers, who had their three- Sekera’s goal. The goalie is 5-0 with two game winning streak snapped. Forsberg scored FLAMES 4, OILERS 1 shutouts against Carolina. the game’s first goal at 9:41 of the opening peri- Rookie Johnny Gaudreau continued his tor- Tampa Bay got goals from Nikita Kucherov od. With Nashville on a power play, Forsberg’s rid scoring Saturday night with two goals to Sara, Ganong win and Alex Killorn. Bishop made a post to post wrist shot beat Philadelphia goaltender Ray lead Calgary over Edmonton. Gaudreau’s goals pad save on John-Michael Liles’ in-close shot Emery on the glove side. Nashville is 12-1-1 came 16 seconds apart early in the first period skiing races with 7 minutes left in the first. when scoring first this season. Giroux tied the as the Flames blew the game open with three Cam Ward stopped 36 shots for the game at 6:50 of the second with a wrist shot goals in less than two minutes. Coming off a SANTA CATERINA: Sweden’s Sara Hector Second-placed Fenninger finished 0.09 Hurricanes, who are 2-8-1 in their last 11 from the right circle with the Flyers on a 2-on-1 natural hat trick in Tuesday’s comeback victory and American Travis Ganong treated them- seconds behind while Shiffrin’s podium games. Carolina, with just 71 goals in 35 games break. Fisher and Wilson scored power-play over Los Angeles, the 21-year-old has six goals selves to belated Christmas presents with placing, 0.18 adrift, was a morale-booster this season, has dropped nine of its last 10 goals 38 seconds apart late in the second. in his last three games and eight in his last 10. their first World Cup wins in a women’s after a disappointing start to the season. games against the Lightning. Gaudreau is second in rookie scoring with 29 giant slalom and men’s downhill respective- The American will be favourite in Monday’s STARS 4, BLUES 3 points, five behind the leader, Nashville’s Filip ly yesterday. final slalom of the season on the same RED WINGS 3, SENATORS 2 The Stars seized control with power-play Forsberg. Joe Colborne and Curtis Glencross Hector, 22, won a rescheduled race in course. In Santa Caterina, Ganong finally Gustav Nyquist scored at 4:12 of goals from Trevor Daley and Jason Demers in also scored for Calgary (19-15-3), which has the Austrian resort of Kuehtai, narrowly earned the downhill victory everyone has to lift the Red Wings to a win over the Senators. the second period and held on to beat the won consecutive games after ending an eight- beating local World Cup holder Anna been expecting from one of the fastest men Nyquist circled the Senators’ net, carrying the Blues. The Stars (15-14-5) have won five of their game winless skid. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Fenninger and slalom Olympic champion on the circuit. puck around their zone for 10-12 seconds last six. Dallas had a four-game win streak scored the lone goal for Edmonton (7-22-7), Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States. Pushed by Steven Nyman and Bode before launching a shot from the slot for the snapped with a loss to Toronto on Tuesday. which is winless in their last nine (0-7-2). Hector’s combined time of two minutes Miller in a fast improving U.S. speed team, game winner. The Blues (21-11-3) have lost four straight and 17.61 seconds confirmed the strength the 26-year-old Californian beat poor visibil- The Red Wings (19-8-9) got their other goals games. They lost in Los Angeles, San Jose and KINGS 3, SHARKS 1 of a Swedish women’s team that celebrated ity, bumpy terrain and early morning winds from Justin Abdelkader and Henrik Zetterberg, Colorado during a recent three-game road trip. Anze Kopitar and Jake Muzzin scored power- Maria Pietilae-Holmner’s slalom win on to triumph in one minute and 32.42 sec- but it was the work of netminder Jimmy play goals, Jonathan Quick made 21 saves and home snow in Are earlier this month. “I’m onds on a shortened course. Howard and his 31 saves that avoided a Detroit COYOTES 2, DUCKS 1 Los Angeles returned from the holiday break very lucky to be part of a great team. No “I felt I was having strong run while cruis- loss in regulation. He stopped Ottawa’s Erik Shane Doan scored the only goal in the with a victory over San Jose. one lets the others down, we take care of ing down the course, yet I didn’t really Karlsson on a breakaway early in the overtime shootout with a broken stick, Devan Dubnyk Tyler Toffoli also scored in the defending each other and we have great fun, which I expect to win today, it’s a great way to end period to help keep the game tied. Mike stopped 36 shots and the Coyotes beat the Stanley Cup champions’ third victory in four believe is the key,” said the Swede, a giant the year for me,” he said. Hoffman and Clarke MacArthur scored in regu- Ducks. Arizona played well in its own end games. The Kings gave a dominant defensive slalom junior world champion in 2011. “It’s for sure a great feeling to have finally lation for the Senators (14-14-7) while Craig against one of the NHL’s most explosive teams effort in their NHL lead-tying 14th home win, The all-rounder had her World Cup reached that goal,” said Ganong, whose Anderson turned aside 24 shots. and Dubnyk made some big saves when avenging a 4-0 loss to the Sharks on opening debut hampered by a crash and facial Canadian girlfriend Marie-Michele ‘Mich’ Anaheim picked up the pressure in the third night that dampened their championship ban- injuries in 2012 that affected her confidence Gagnon enjoyed her first World Cup win a JETS 4, WILD 3 period. After both teams failed to score in the ner-raising ceremony. in speed events last season, with the skier year ago in a super-combined in Altenmark. Andrew Ladd scored a fluky goal in over- first three rounds of the shootout, Doan broke Joe Pavelski scored his 17th goal and Antti ending a Crans-Montana downhill in tears. Olympic champion Matthias Mayer also time and the Jets beat the Wild. Bryan Little, his stick while shooting on Frederik Andersen, Niemi stopped 26 shots for the Sharks, who lost This season she decided to focus on techni- finished the year on a high note with sec- Adam Lowry and Blake Wheeler also scored for sending the puck trickling toward the right in regulation for just the second time since Nov. cal events and the move paid off. ond place, 0.09 behind, only two months the Jets, winners in four of five, and are 4-1-1 in post. Thrown off by the stick and slow-moving 26. Los Angeles pulled even with its upstate “It was going well this season but this is after tearing a knee ligament in training. their past six and 7-1-3 in the past 11. puck, Andersen couldn’t react in time to stop rivals into second place in the Pacific Division a huge step forward,” she said, adding she Italy’s Dominik Paris, the most consistent Michael Hutchinson made 22 saves. Mikael the puck from sneaking over the line. Zbynek standings. — AP could return to downhill and super-G racing speed specialist this winter, was third and Granlund, Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek later in her career. 0.21 off the pace. —Reuters scored for Minnesota, which has lost five straight and is 1-3-3 in its past seven. NHL results/standings CAPITALS 3, PENGUINS 0 Goaltender Braden Holtby stopped 31 shots Columbus 6, Boston 2; Winnipeg 4, Minnesota 3 (OT); Buffalo 4, NY Islanders 3 (SO); Detroit and Eric Fehr scored two goals as the Capitals 3, Ottawa 2 (OT); Tampa Bay 2, Carolina 1; NY Rangers 3, New Jersey 1; Washington 3, defeated the Penguins. Fehr, who scored twice Pittsburgh 0; Dallas 4, St. Louis 3; Nashville 4, Philadelphia 1; Arizona 2, Anaheim 1 (SO); during the Capitals’ win in the 2011 Winter Chicago 5, Colorado 2; Calgary 4, Edmonton 1; Los Angeles 3, San Jose 1. Classic at Pittsburgh, did it again on Saturday Western Conference Eastern Conference with his eighth and ninth goals of the year. Pacific Division Atlantic Division Marcus Johansson got his 10th for the Capitals, WL OTLGFGAPTS Tampa Bay 22 11 4 119 97 48 who won for the fifth time in seven games. Detroit 19 8 9 103 89 47 Anaheim 23 8 6 105 100 52 Montreal 22 11 2 95 84 46 Washington also defeated Pittsburgh for the Los Angeles 18 11 7 100 89 43 first time since January 22, 2012, a span of nine Toronto 20 12 3 118 102 43 San Jose 19 12 5 100 93 43 Boston 18 15 3 93 97 39 games. Vancouver 20 11 2 99 91 42 Florida 15 9 8 73 82 38 Ottawa 14 14 7 92 97 35 BLACKHAWKS 5, AVALANCHE 2 Calgary 19 15 3 108 99 41 Buffalo 14 19 3 73 118 31 Patrick Kane scored twice and Corey Arizona 13 18 4 82 113 30 Metropolitan Division Crawford stopped 23 shots, leading the Central Edmonton 7 22 7 76 125 21 Pittsburgh 22 8 5 108 83 49 Central Division NY Islanders 23 11 1 108 98 47 Division-leading Blackhawks to a win over the NY Rangers 19 10 4 100 84 42 Avalanche. Brandon Saad and Brent Seabrook Chicago 24 10 2 112 74 50 Washington 18 11 6 102 90 42 also scored for the Blackhawks, while Patrick Nashville 23 9 2 99 71 48 Philadelphia 14 15 6 98 105 34 Sharp celebrated his 33rd birthday with a St. Louis 21 11 3 103 90 45 Columbus 15 16 3 86 109 33 game-sealing goal in the third period. Kane Winnipeg 19 10 7 92 84 45 New Jersey 12 18 7 79 107 31 Carolina 10 21 4 71 95 24 added an empty-net goal with 5.4 seconds Minnesota 16 13 4 96 93 36 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one ITALY: Travis Ganong speeds down the course on his way to win an alpine ski, men’s remaining. Nathan MacKinnon and Erik Dallas 15 14 5 99 116 35 point in the standings and are not included World Cup downhill, in Santa Caterina Valfurva. — AP Johnson had goals for the Avalanche as their Colorado 13 14 8 92 106 34 in the loss column (L). three-game win streak was snapped.