SPORTS SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014 Gatland tells Wales to finish with a flourish LONDON: Wales coach Murrayfield. And an admiring Gatland said: enough tomorrow, and in terms of counter- time.” For Scotland, Edinburgh wing Dougie insists there is a “lot at stake” for both his “They are gaining a bit of confidence after attacking more, we wanted to play through Fife is set to make his Test debut with the side and opponents Scotland even though being under the pump and winning against phases but there were too many turnovers 23-year-old drafted in after Tommy Seymour they risk being the unappetising filling in Italy, and doing reasonably well against and we did not keep the ball for long (ankle) was ruled out following his try-scor- today’s final day Six Nations ‘sandwich’. France. “They will have been disappointed enough periods,” the coach of last year’s vic- ing heroics against France. Neither of the Celtic nations can win the at not winning that game. They have asked torious British and Irish Lions in Australia Max Evans replaces veteran flyer Sean title, which will be decided by a combina- for the (Millennium) roof to be shut, which is added. Lamont (knee) on the other wing while Ryan tion of the results in the early kick-off in good, and shows they are coming with an Wilson comes in for back row Johnnie Rome between Italy and England and the attitude to play rugby. ‘Competitor and a warrior’ Beattie, who suffered an ankle injury against concluding fixture of the 23014 “There is a lot at stake for both teams, There is also a new-look front row with the French. Championship in Paris where France face and we want to finish the campaign on a replacing hooker Richard Saturday’s match will be former Wales leaders Ireland. high and go into the summer with some Hibbard and Rhodri Jones in for prop Adam coach Scott Johnson’s final Test in charge of In between comes the Wales-Scotland confidence.” Gatland has made six changes Jones. But Gatland has retained prop Gethin Scotland before the Australian hands over clash at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium with to the starting side that lost at Twickenham, Jenkins, set to surpass retired fly-half to New Zealander to concen- the Welsh licking their wounds after a 29-18 with Liam Williams and Mike Phillips replac- Stephen Jones’ Welsh appearance record by trate solely on his role as director of rugby at loss away to England last time out ended ing the injured duo of full-back Leigh winning his 105th cap. the Scottish . their hopes of an unprecedented third suc- Halfpenny, out for four months with a shoul- Jenkins has been yellow-carded in both Johnson, who has overseen just five wins cessive outright Six Nations Championship der problem, and scrum-half his last two Tests for scrummaging offences from 15 Tests in charge of the Scots, said: title. Scotland, who’ve won just once this (ankle) respectively. but Gatland said: “We’ve got to stick with “It’s not about me. I did it for what I feel is Championship and that a last-gasp 21-20 Meanwhile fly-half starts in him and give him the faith. We’ve worked the right fit for Scotland and I’ll take up a dif- victory away to bottom of the table Italy, place of Rhys Priestland, who kicked away hard on getting the scrummaging right and ferent role and I’ll enjoy that-but I’m really have lost their last six matches against the far too much possession against England, improving that. proud to say I’ve been a part of it.” He Welsh and haven’t won in Cardiff for 12 while fit-again lock Luke Charteris comes in “As a competitor and a warrior, you don’t added: “I think the last couple of weeks have years. Nevertheless, last Sunday they came for Jake Ball. “We have identified things we get anyone tougher than Gethin. It is a been encouraging. I think there are agonisingly close to beating title contenders need to improve,” Gatland said. “Some of great milestone for him in terms of him glimpses here. Last weekend against France France before going down 19-17 at our kicking strategy was not executed well being the leading Welsh cap player of all- we showed great resolve.” — AP Maple Leafs beat Kings 3-2, snap LA’s 8-game roll

LOS ANGELES: Mason Raymond broke a tie with a cheered as right winger Ryan Callahan got his first short-handed goal early in the third period and the goal with the Lightning after joining the team from Toronto Maple Leafs snapped the Los Angeles the New York Rangers last week. The two teams Kings’ eight-game winning streak with a 3-2 victory combined for four goals in the first nine minutes, Thursday night. needing less than two minutes to get the scoring James Reimer made 31 saves in the final two started. Tampa Bay (35-24-7) shook off their recent periods after replacing the injured Jonathan Bernier penchant for losing late leads, while Florida (24-35- for the Leafs, who have won four of five. Captain 7) allowed three-plus goals for the seventh time in Dion Phaneuf and Carl Gunnarsson also scored as eight games since the Olympic break. Toronto beat both Southern California NHL clubs in a four-day span. Hurricanes 4, Sabres 2 Marian Gaborik had an early goal and an assist Alexander Semin and Jiri Tlusty scored less than in his home debut with the Kings, who fell just short two minutes apart late in the third period to spoil a of matching the longest winning streak in franchise stellar goaltending effort by Buffalo’s Michal history. Anze Kopitar had a power-play goal and Neuvirth, and the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Jonathan Quick stopped 26 shots in his first loss Sabres 4-2. since Feb. 3. Neuvirth, acquired from the Washington Capitals at the trade deadline, stopped a career- Bruins 2, Coyotes 1 best 51 shots in the loss. The Hurricanes are still The Boston Bruins won their seventh straight holding out hope for a late playoff surge at 29-28-9. game and moved back into first place in the Eastern Buffalo (19-39-8) dropped their fourth consecutive LOS ANGELES: James van Riemsdyk #21 of the Toronto Maple Leafs jumps out of the way Conference with a 2-1 win over the Phoenix game. of a shot as Jonathan Quick #32 of the Los Angeles Kings plays goal during the third peri- Coyotes. Defenseman Zdeno Chara scored his 16th od at Staples Center on Thursday in Los Angeles, California. The Leafs won 3-2. — AFP goal of the season and Jarome Iginla got his 21st, Blues 6, Oilers 2 both in the first period, for the Bruins. Playing for the first time since Jan. 31, center Coyotes (31-25-11) winger Lauri Korpikoski Vladimir Sobotka scored a goal and assisted on two scored a deflected goal with 11:46 remaining, his more, including the winner by Alex Pietrangelo, for NHL results/standings ninth of the season, to break up Boston goaltender his first three-point game of the season as the St. Tuukka Rask’s shutout bid. The Bruins (44-17-5) Louis Blues beat the Edmonton Oilers 6-2. were a perfect five-of-five on the penalty kill, includ- Sobotka was back after missing 12 games with a Boston 2, Phoenix 1; Carolina 4, Buffalo 2; San Jose 4, Columbus 3 (SO); Tampa Bay 5, Florida ing a first-period double minor, and have killed all broken kneecap. St. Louis (45-14-7) extended their 4; St. Louis 6, Edmonton 2; Minnesota 2, NY Rangers 1; Toronto 3, Los Angeles 2. 16 they faced in the last six games. unbeaten streak to seven games and leads the NHL Western Conference Eastern Conference with 97 points. T.J. Oshie also had a goal and two Pacific Division Atlantic Division Sharks 4, Blue Jackets 3 (SO) assists, Jaden Schwartz lit the red lamp twice, his W L OTL GF GA PTS Boston 44 17 5 210 145 93 Joe Pavelski had the only goal for either team in 20th and 21st goals this season, while fellow sec- Toronto 36 24 8 201 207 80 the shootout, leading the San Jose Sharks to their ond-year player Vladimir Tarasenko also scored his Anaheim 43 16 7 210 167 93 Tampa Bay 35 24 7 191 175 77 fourth straight win, a 4-3 victory over the Columbus 20th. The Oilers (23-36-8) lost in regulation for only San Jose 43 17 7 209 162 93 Montreal 35 25 7 167 170 77 Blue Jackets. Sharks goaltender Alex Stalock, who the third time in 10 games but they long ago fell Los Angeles 38 23 6 164 142 82 Detroit 29 23 13 172 183 71 had 35 saves in regulation, stopped Mark Letestu, out of the playoff hunt. Phoenix 31 25 11 185 191 73 Ottawa 28 25 12 185 213 68 Ryan Johansen and Cam Atkinson in the shootout. Wild 2, Rangers 1 Florida 24 35 7 161 214 55 Patrick Marleau had two goals for the Sharks The New York Rangers made an uncharacteristic Vancouver 30 28 10 160 183 70 Buffalo 19 39 8 131 196 46 (43-17-7), giving him 28 on the season, and Matt defensive mistake by leaving Minnesota Wild Calgary 26 33 7 159 196 59 Metropolitan Division Nieto also scored. The Blue Jackets (34-26-6) got winger Zach Parise alone in front of their goalie and Edmonton 23 36 8 168 221 54 Pittsburgh 44 17 4 206 159 92 goals from defenseman James Wisniewski, Ryan the error proved costly. Parise took advantage, scor- Central Division Columbus 34 26 6 193 183 74 Johansen and R.J. Umberger. ing the game-winner early in the third period as the NY Rangers 35 28 4 173 167 74 St. Louis 45 14 7 219 150 97 Wild snapped a three-game losing streak with a 2-1 Philadelphia 33 25 7 184 190 73 Lightning 5, Panthers 4 victory. Nino Niederreiter also scored for the Wild Colorado 43 18 5 202 174 91 New Jersey 29 24 13 163 168 71 The Tampa Bay Lightning ended a five-game and goalie Darcy Kuemper had 29 saves for his 12th Chicago 38 14 14 225 175 90 Washington 30 27 10 193 202 70 losing streak and savored two celebrated first win of the season, a franchise record for a rookie Carolina 29 28 9 167 187 67 goals, overcoming a rough start and then holding netminder. It was the first win for the Wild (35-22-9) Minnesota 35 22 9 163 162 79 Dallas 32 23 10 188 181 74 NY Islanders 25 33 9 188 228 59 on for a 5-4 win over the Florida Panthers. since last week’s NHL trade deadline. Derek Stepan Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one Lightning center Steven Stamkos scored his first scored for the Rangers (35-28-4) during a second- Winnipeg 30 28 9 184 195 69 point in the standings and are not included in goal since returning from a four-month absence period power play as New York lost their second Nashville 28 28 10 160 195 66 the loss column (L). with a broken leg, and the home crowd also game in a row. — Reuters