25 Sports Monday, April 8, 2019 Predators beat Blackhawks 5-2 to win Central Division crown Kings finish disappointing season with win over Knights

NASHVILLE: Viktor Arvidsson completed the come- 45th for a career-high 98th , and Kucherov back-and set a franchise record in the process-as host scored his personal-best 41st goal as the visitors Nashville scored five unanswered goals to beat scored four straight to erase a 2-0 deficit. Kucherov, Chicago 5-2 on Saturday night and claim the top spot who added an assist, finished with an NHL-leading 128 in the Central Division on the final night of the regular regular-season points-the most by a Russian-born season. The Predators (47-29-6, 100 points) will face player in league history. the in the opening round of the playoffs. They are on a roll, having won eight of CANADIENS 6, MAPLES LEAFS 5 (SO) their last 11 games down the stretch to claim a second Ryan Poehling scored three goals in regulation, consecutive division crown. Arvidsson-with his 34th including the tying goal in the third period in his NHL goal of the season, a new standard for a Predators debut, then added the winner in a shootout as Montreal skater-broke a 2-2 deadlock with a power-play goal ended its season by defeating visiting Toronto. Jordan 3:33 into the third period. As the Predators rushed up Weal and Andrew Shaw each had a goal and an assist the ice, Arvidsson received a cross-ice pass inside the for the Canadiens, who had been eliminated from the blue line and wired a shot that ended up the game win- playoffs. Nicolas Deslauriers and Artturi Lehkonen ner. Late goals by Colton Sissons, his into an empty net, each added two assists. Zach Hyman had a goal and an and Nick Bonino rounded out the scoring for Nashville, assist for Toronto. Jake Gardiner, Trevor Moore, William which received a 31-save performance from goalie Nylander and Kasperi Kapanen also scored for the Pekka Rinne. Maple Leafs, who will face the Boston Bruins in the first round of the playoffs. JETS 4, COYOTES 2 Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor collected a goal BLUE JACKETS 6, SENATORS 2 and an assist as visiting Winnipeg posted a win over Pierre-Luc Dubois scored twice as Columbus Arizona in both teams’ regular-season finale at defeated host Ottawa in the regular-season finale. The Glendale, Ariz. Nikolaj Ehlers and defenseman Jacob Blue Jackets, who had already clinched one of the Trouba also tallied, and Connor Hellebuyck made 19 Eastern Conference’s two wild-card playoff berths, saves for the Jets (47-30-5, 99 points), who recorded hoped to gain the top wild-card slot and avoid Tampa MONTREAL: Max Domi #13 of the skates after the puck against Auston Matthews #34 of the just their second win in their last seven games (2-4-1). Bay in the first round of the postseason. But those during the NHL game at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Winnipeg, which finished second in the Central hopes were dashed when Carolina beat Philadelphia to Canadiens defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-5 in a shootout. — AFP Division, will have home-ice advantage when it faces St. edge the Blue Jackets (47-31-4, 98 points) by one point Louis in the first-round of the playoffs. Nashville’s vic- in the standings. Markus Nutivaara, Alexandre Texier, the second consecutive contest, Brock McGinn notched Stanley Cup playoffs as the seventh seed in the West. tory over Chicago earlier on Saturday ended the Jets’ Oliver Bjorkstrand and Riley Nash also scored for the a pair of assists and Curtis McElhinney made 28 saves Dallas won five of its final seven games and will play bid to claim the Central title. Blue Jackets, and goaltender Joonas Korpisalo made 27 in the win. Nashville, the Central Division champion, in the first saves. round, with the schedule to be determined. The Wild KINGS 5, GOLDEN KNIGHTS 2 RANGERS 4, PENGUINS 3 (OT) (37-36-9, 83 points) won only four of their final 14 Ilya Kovalchuk scored two goals and Anze Kopitar SABRES 7, RED WINGS 1 Ryan Strome scored on a wrist shot from the left dot games and missed the playoffs for the first time in had a goal and an assist to lead host Los Angeles to Jeff Skinner scored twice to reach the 40-goal mark at 2:09 of to give visiting New York a win seven seasons. Minnesota was shut out 11 times this victory over Vegas. Jeff Carter and Matt Roy also and Buffalo closed out its season with a thumping of over Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh’s playoff lot came down to season and managed only 24 shots in the loss. scored goals for Los Angeles, which finished last in the host Detroit. Rasmus Dahlin supplied a goal and an Saturday’s results on the final night of the regular sea- Western Conference for the first time since 2007-08 assist. , Conor Sheary, Zemgus Girgensons son. The Penguins (44-26-12, 100 points) finished third OILERS 3, FLAMES 1 with 71 points and a 31-42-9 record. Dustin Brown and Brandon Montour also scored for the Sabres (33- in the Metropolitan Division and will be the road team Leon Draisaitl’s 50th goal of the season was over- added a pair of assists. Jonathan Quick finished with 29 39-10, 76 points). Linus Ullmark made 23 saves. in a first-round series against the New York Islanders. shadowed by Connor McDavid sustaining an injury saves to pick up his 309th career victory, fourth best Skinner reached the 40-goal mark for the first time in Brendan Smith, Brady Skjei and Vladislav Namestnikov early in the second period as visiting Edmonton beat among U.S. born goaltenders in NHL history. Quick, his nine-year career. He also had 32 even-strength also scored for the Rangers, who are out of the playoffs Calgary. McDavid was driving to the net when he was pulled after giving up seven goals on 25 shots in a 7-2 goals this season. That gave him the most even-strength and finished 32-36-14 for 78 points. Goaltender tripped up by Flames captain Mark Giordano and loss to Calgary in his previous start on April 1, finished goals by a Sabre since Alexander Mogilny (49) in the Alexandar Georgiev made 36 saves. went crashing into the post, his left shin taking the the season with a 16-23-7 record. 1992-93 season. brunt of the force. He remained on the ice for several ISLANDERS 3, CAPITALS 0 minutes and didn’t put any weight on his leg as he BLUES 3, CANUCKS 2 (SO) DEVILS 4, PANTHERS 3 (OT) Valtteri Filppula, who missed the previous eight was helped to the dressing room. Giordano was Ryan O’Reilly and David Perron scored goals in a Travis Zajac scored a power-play goal 56 seconds games due to injury, scored twice and goalie Robin assessed a tripping on the play. Edmonton shootout as host St. Louis beat Vancouver. The Blues into overtime as New Jersey defeated host Florida. Lehner stopped all 29 shots he faced as New York took advantage of the ensuing power play with Alex (45-28-9, 99 points) briefly moved into first place in the Nathan Bastian, a 21-year-old who was New Jersey’s clinched home-ice advantage in the playoffs for the first Chiasson netting his 22nd goal of the season. Flames Central Division, but the Predators wound up as divi- second-round pick in 2016, scored twice for the Devils time in more than 30 years with a win over host goalie Mike Smith couldn’t contain Oscar Klefbom’s sion winners for the second straight season after and now has three career goals in seven NHL games. Washington. With the win, the Islanders (48-27-7) point shot, and Chiasson pounced on the loose puck defeating Chicago. St. Louis was in last place in the Pavel Zacha scored New Jersey’s other goal, and 22- locked up third place in the Metropolitan Division for the eventual game-winning goal. NHL on Jan. 3 but finished in third and has become the year-old rookie Mackenzie Blackwood made 37 saves. and home ice against Pittsburgh for a first-round hottest team in the league since then. They will face The Panthers got goals from Jonathan Huberdeau and postseason series. It is the first time New York has SHARKS 5, AVALANCHE 2 second-place Winnipeg (47-30-5, 99 points) in the first Mike Hoffman in the final four minutes to send the game held home ice since the 1987-88 season, which was Even before the opening faceoff of its road loss to round of the playoffs. The Canucks, who will miss the to overtime. Aleksander Barkov also scored for the the longest active home drought among the four San Jose, Colorado knew its fate as hopes of claiming playoffs for the fourth straight year, completed 2018-19 Panthers. It marked his 35th goal of the season, and he major North American sports leagues. The shutout the first of two Western Conference wild-card playoff with a 35-36-11 mark for 81 points. set the franchise record with his 95th point to break the also ensured the Islanders would allow the fewest berths were dashed when Dallas defeated Minnesota previous record set by Pavel Bure (94) in the 1999- goals in the league after allowing the most last sea- earlier in the evening. That means Colorado (38-30- LIGHTNING 6, BRUINS 3 2000 season. son, when they missed the playoffs by 17 points. 14, 90 points) will play Calgary, who finished second Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov each scored to Lehner’s shutout was his career-high sixth and the in the President’s Trophy race behind Tampa Bay. The reach career milestones as visiting Tampa Bay matched HURRICANES 4, FLYERS 3 team-record 11th of the season. Sharks (46-27-9, 101 points), who finished second in an NHL record with their 62nd victory, a win over Jordan Staal scored the go-ahead goal in the second the Pacific Division, will face Vegas in the first round Boston. The Presidents’ Trophy-winning Lightning (62- period as visiting Carolina completed a season sweep STARS 3, WILD 0 of the playoffs. Evander Kane and Gustav Nyquist 16-4, 128 points) equaled the 1995-96 Detroit Red of Philadelphia. Staal joined Teuvo Teravainen in col- Tyler Seguin scored twice in the first nine minutes each had a goal and an assist for the Sharks, who won Wings’ mark for single-season wins. They also posted lecting a goal and assist for the Hurricanes (46-29-7, 99 of the third period, and that’s all goaltender Ben for just the third time in their last 12 games (3-8-1). the fourth-most points ever in a season and became the points), who clinched the top wild-card spot in the Bishop needed as Dallas defeated visiting Minnesota Brent Burns, Kevin Labanc and Micheal Haley also second team in league history to win 30 road games. Eastern Conference and will face Metropolitan Division to clinch the Western Conference’s first wild-card scored, Tomas Hertl notched two assists and Martin While the Lightning rested key performers Brayden champion Washington in the first round of the playoffs. spot. The Stars (43-32-7, 93 points) are in the post- Jones made 28 saves. — Reuters Point and goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, Stamkos posted his Warren Foegele and defenseman Justin Faulk scored for season for the first time since 2016 and enter the

ary precision after a scrappy quarter-finals win over Argentina. Fiji win fifth The US beat Samoa to third place without injured captain Madison Hughes. They will stay consecutive number one on the standings following their Vegas win and four other finals appearances, with Fiji to leapfrog New Zealand into second. Hong Kong Sevens France, continuing the form that saw them runners-up in Vancouver last month, knocked out Samoa to book their first ever finals appear- HONG KONG: Fiji are within striking distance ance in Hong Kong after earlier dashing the All of the Rugby Sevens series championship after Blacks’ chances in a shock 14-12 quarter-final their fifth consecutive victory in Hong Kong win. New Zealand lost to Argentina 21-14 in the yesterday, storming a determined but outmus- fifth-place plate final when Kurt Baker was sent cled France 21-7. off in the 13th minute, giving Matias Osadczuk a The defending tournament champions crucial opening after the final horn. opened the scoring in the fifth minute when a Japan meanwhile earned a temporary quick pass behind from Aminasi Tuiamba 20 reprieve from their relegation threat with a 10th metres from the try line set up an opportunity place finish, losing 26-24 to Scotland in the for Vilimoni Botitu to weave around Remi Siega. bowl final. Tuiamba followed with a try of his own for 192 participants can battle it out in the offline qualifiers Fiji to lead 14-0 at the break before a yellow IRELAND QUALIFIES Kuwait gears up from April 25 to 27 and only the top eight teams can head card for Josua Vakurunabili saw them concede a Ireland will join the world tour next year after to the on-ground National Final, to be held at 360 Mall on penalty. a 28-7 win over Hong Kong-a second disap- May 2. The series is an e-football interactive competition, But the 10th-ranked French could not press pointment for the hometown side after their for Red Bull based on the global gaming console Playstation 4. The the advantage and found themselves back on 2016 qualifying finals loss. sportive angle is that teams need to score 2 consecutive the defensive even before a high tackle send-off Fans cheered and waved the city’s red and Back 2 Back goals to win. for Tavite Veredamu levelled the playing field. white bauhinia flag from all corners of the stadi- Qatar hosted the first ever Red Bull Back 2 Back in Tuiamba was sent off with 90 seconds to um but the much-improved squad’s golden run 2018 making it possible for all e-football gaming enthusi- spare, two minutes after his second try, in a through the tournament ended when Jordan asts to put their skills to the test. match where the Fijians made full use of their Conroy bagged the winners’ third try in the first KUWAIT: Red Bull Back 2 Back, an e-football tournament Red Bull Back 2 Back in Kuwait is held in partnership strength advantage. minute after the break. on PS4, is coming to Kuwait! 192 gaming enthusiasts can with The Hub, X-cite by Alghanim Electronics, Gamma Fiji’s reliable band of supporters, celebrating Tom McQueen made the home team’s solitary create a 2-player team and compete in 3 offline qualifiers Game, Qualitynet, PS4, 360 Mall and Acqua Eva. Media the country’s 19th overall win in Hong Kong, try soon after Gregory O’Shea was sin-binned leading to the national final, ultimately crowning 1 team partner, Kuwait Times will cover this popular event. cheered and sang in the north stand long after for rough conduct in the second half. with the national championship thrown. Good skills and constant training are half the battle. If their team had left the championship podium. “It’s been a long and hard road. I think that In a unique championship, the 2v2 format changes the you want to keep the pace up with your teammates or we all just stood on the pitch there and couldn’t whole game dynamics as well as supports the players to competitors make sure you have a can of Red Bull at your The side came into the final after spoiling the move,” said Ireland captain Billy Dardis after play with their favorite teammates using strategy, commu- side to take your game to a higher level. United States’ hopes of a maiden Hong Kong nication & skills. Teams are now focused on how well they To find out more about Red Bull Back 2 Back and to Sevens championship with a 28-19 semis win the win. “We’re just speechless... It won’t sink in can coordinate with their teammate to score two consec- sign up follow @RedBullKuwait on Instagram & Twitter, over the series leaders, recovering their custom- for a couple of weeks.” — AFP utive goals. and @RedBull on Facebook.