SPORTS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2013 Russia shocked by US arrest of ice hockey star MOSCOW: The arrest in the United States of Russia is hoping for a gold-medal-winning exclude him from training sessions, from Express’s US correspondent Slava Malamud ice hockey star Semyon Varlamov on assault performance by an ice hockey team packed games, so that he gets out of practice, and called Varlamov “the most calm, balanced charges prompted shock and disbelief yester- with NHL stars. “The main goalkeeper of the God forbid, even misses the Olympics,” he and serious” of players, adding bluntly: “I day in Russia, where he is seen as key to the Russian team, Semyon Varlamov, risks going told RIA Novosti. In a video interview with don’t believe it.” national team’s performance at the February to jail instead of Sochi,” wrote Sovetsky Sport the Denver Post newspaper, Vavrinyuk “We advise Semyon to choose his partner Winter Olympics in Sochi. The 25-year-old (Soviet Sport) daily. “It would be better not alleged that Varlamov had drunkenly in life more carefully. In the US they are ready Russian was arrested in Denver and freed on to get news like this 100 days before the attacked her in the early hours of Tuesday. to blow up any bruise into a big case, espe- bail on Thursday on charges of assaulting and Olympics,” Valery Fesyuk, executive director Russian commentators overwhelmingly cially if a famous person is involved,” wrote kidnapping a woman named in media reports of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, told expressed support for Varlamov, who has Sovetsky Sport. Ice hockey is very much a as his model girlfriend Yevgenia Vavrinyuk. Sovetsky Sport. said he is innocent, while casting doubt on national passion in Russia, although many of Varlamov, until now considered the number The head of the parliamentary sports the integrity of the alleged victim. “I think its top stars play abroad in North America. one goaltender for the Russian team, has committee Igor Ananskikh suggested this is the latest attempt to mire the reputa- Varlamov is on a $8.5 million three-year con- insisted on his innocence. Varlamov’s arrest could somehow have been tion of a good person who is beautiful in tract with the Colorado Avalanche team. He His arrest puts in doubt his appearance at engineered to prevent his representing every sense,” his Russian agent Vyacheslav previously played for the Washington Capitals the Winter Olympics in February, where Russia. “The main aim in my view is to Makhrensky told Sport Express daily. Sport and Yaroslavl’s Lokomotiv in Russia. — AFP Bruins overpower Ducks 3-2 Grosjean fastest in BOSTON: Zdeno Chara scored the tying Abu Dhabi practice goal on a power play with under 3 min- utes remaining in regulation and Jarome ABU DHABI: Romain Grosjean put Lotus on top of the Iginla had the lone goal in a shootout to timesheets in first practice for the Abu Dhabi Formula One rally the Boston Bruins past the Anaheim Grand Prix yesterday with newly-crowned four-times world Ducks 3-2 on Thursday. Carl Soderberg champion Sebastian Vettel third fastest. The Frenchman, com- scored his first NHL goal and Tuukka Rask fortably faster than team mate Kimi Raikkonen who won last made 21 saves for the Bruins, who mus- year’s race, lapped the Yas Marina circuit in the searing after- tered only one shot on goal in the first noon heat with a best time of one minute 44.241 seconds late period. They never sustained much of an in the session. Lewis Hamilton, winner in 2011 and twice on offensive attack but still managed to snap pole at the circuit, was second quickest for Mercedes and just a two-game skid. Devante Smith-Pelly 0.192 slower than Grosjean. scored less than 2 minutes into the game, Vettel was 0.258 off the pace on a slippery track that, with Mathieu Perreault had a goal and an assist track temperatures hovering around 40 degrees, will be far and Jonas Hiller stopped 21 shots for the cooler during the day-to-night race. Ducks. But they went 0 for 4 on the power Raikkonen, who triggered speculation about his relation- play, dropping the league’s worst unit to ship with the team when he failed to appear for Thursday’s 7.3 percent (4 for 55). media activities at the circuit, finally turned up and was sixth Bruins players came out for warmups fastest with a lap of 1:44.929. Grosjean has beaten Raikkonen wearing World Series caps, and the crowd in the last two races and finished on the podium in the last cheered midway through the second peri- three. od when highlights of the Boston Red Sox BOSTON: Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins dives for the puck in front Vettel, who became the sport’s youngest quadruple cham- clinching win over the St. Louis Cardinals of Jonas Hiller #1 of the Anaheim Ducks in overtime at TD Garden in Boston, pion when he won in India tomorrow, is chasing his seventh on Wednesday night at Fenway Park were Massachusetts. — AFP successive race victory to equal fellow-German Michael shown on the JumboTron. Bruins team od, and Chris Kreider netted his second in Phoenix over Nashville. Schumacher’s 2004 streak. That is the longest winning run of President Cam Neely and Red Sox two games in the middle period to give Thomas Greiss made 36 saves and the modern era, with the record of nine set by Italian Alberto President and CEO Larry Lucchino then Lundqvist the only offense he would need stopped all five shootout attempts for the Ascari over the 1952 and 1953 seasons. Red Bull have already came onto the ice and held the World to post his third win and second shutout Coyotes, who rallied from a 3-0 deficit. clinched their fourth successive constructors’ title and the Series trophy high above their heads. this season. The Rangers (5-7), who played Jordan Szwarz scored his first NHL goal focus is now on whether anyone can stop Red Bull and their 10 of their first 11 on the road, began a and Derek Morris and Shane Doan also 26-year-old German winning the last three races of the year. RANGERS 2, SABRES 0 four-game homestand in workmanlike scored for Phoenix, which has points in 10 Vettel has won two of the four races held so far in Abu Henrik Lundqvist made 29 saves in his fashion. They recorded a season-high 46 of its past 11 games. David Legwand had Dhabi, including 2010 when he clinched his first champi- 47th NHL shutout as New York won its sec- shots on Buffalo’s Ryan Miller, who was a goal and two assists - all in the first peri- onship. Australian Mark Webber, Vettel’s team mate, was ond straight and first at home with a victo- sharp throughout. Buffalo lost its third od - and Matt Hendricks, Eric Nystrom and fourth quickest with Nico Rosberg fifth for Mercedes in a ses- ry over lowly Buffalo. Lundqvist made a straight and is a league-worst 2-12-1. The Paul Gaustad also scored for the sion that started slowly and without a timed lap in the first late third-period save with the top of his Sabres have been shut out three times. Predators. Nashville was playing the first half hour. Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who had been the only helmet, deflecting the puck into the game of a franchise-record 17-day, seven- man mathematically capable of making Vettel wait for the title crowd, and then robbed Marcus Foligno COYOTES 5, PREDATORS 4, SO game road swing to accommodate the in India, was 12th with Brazilian team mate Felipe Massa 17th. with 1:20 remaining. Derick Brassard Mikkel Boedker scored the lone Country Music Awards on Nov 6 at scored a power-play goal in the first peri- shootout goal in the fifth round to lift Bridgestone Arena. — AP FORMULA E TEAM Meanwhile, Japan’s former Formula One driver and team owner Aguri Suzuki has revived the Super Aguri name to com- pete in the new Formula E electric series next year. Tokyo- Baffert, O’Brien chase based Super Aguri Formula E will be the sixth of 10 teams on the grid when the FIA-sanctioned single-seater championship starts in Beijing next September. Former Super Aguri F1 tech- elusive Classic victory nical director Mark Preston will be team principal. Other ex-Formula One drivers, including four times world ARCADIA: Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien believes Declaration of War $27 million Breeders’ Cup slate at Santa Anita Park today. Baffert champion Alain Prost and ex-McLaren racer Michael Andretti offers something different that might just make a difference today believes maturity will make a difference for Game on Dude, who is are also associated with teams in the series. “Today is a new in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic. O’Brien has tasted plenty of a “much different horse” this year. “I think mentally he’s settled chapter for the Super Aguri name and I’m proud that our team success in the Breeders’ Cup, but victory in the marquee race has down a lot,” Baffert said of the six-year-old gelding who drew the will represent Japan in the inaugural Formula E series,” Suzuki eluded him-so much so that O’Brien said Thursday that he no ninth post and was installed as the early 8-5 favorite. said in a statement yesterday. “Zero emissions racing is a pro- longer allows himself to imagine winning it.