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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015 SPORTS Ducks, Hawks, Lightning to challenge for Stanley Cup LOS ANGELES: A new era’s begun in Elsewhere on opening night, the turbulent seasons in franchise history ners Anaheim didn’t stand pat over the million. He also coached the Canadians Toronto, playoff contenders Chicago Montreal Canadiens visit Toronto, the following the drug-related arrests of off season. General manager Bob to gold medals at the Sochi and and Anaheim have retooled their rosters Calgary Flames host the Vancouver veterans Jarret Stoll and Mike Richards Murray used his cap space to add depth Vancouver Olympic Games. McDavid and there is a new overtime format as Canucks and the Sharks will battle the and the domestic violence case of Slava to the lineup. and Eichel, the first two players picked the puck is ready to drop on another Kings in Los Angeles. Voynov. He added Carl Hagelin and Chris in the 2015 entry draft, are expected to NHL season. The Kings and the Blackhawks have Chicago star forward Patrick Kane Stewart to the forwards, Kevin Bieksa to spark revivals in Edmonton and Buffalo. The 2015-16 season also marks the won the last four Stanley Cup champi- remains the subject of a sexual assault the defence and got a capable backup Edmonton hasn’t been to the Stanley arrival of rising stars Connor McDavid in onships between them. But it seems probe by police. Kane has not been goalkeeper in Anton Khudobin. Cup playoffs in nine seasons and Buffalo Edmonton and Jack Eichel in Buffalo success comes with a cost as both clubs charged with a crime but his fate is in But the biggest shakeup took place hasn’t been in four. Eichel finished with and several teams have new head dealt with police investigations over the the hands of a New York state grand in Toronto, the only hockey team listed six points in four exhibition games while coaches like Toronto’s Mike Babcock, summer involving current and recently jury. among Forbe’s 50 most valuable sports first overall pick McDavid had five points San Jose’s Peter DeBoer and Detroit’s released players. If this drags on for several months it teams. in five games. The Tampa Bay Lightning Jeff Blashill. The Kings, who won the Stanley Cup could become a distraction for the Toronto brought in Olympic gold made it all the way to the Stanley Cup The new overtime rule will feature a in 2012 and 2014, are trying to get back reigning league champions who also medal winning coach Babcock, sent final last season before losing to the three-on-three extra session in an into the postseason mix after missing won the Cup in 2013. five-time 30 goal scorer Phil Kessel to Blackhawks in six games. attempt to reduce the number of games the playoffs last season. Salary cap issues forced the Pittsburgh and lured GM Lou Lamoriello Led on offence by Steven Stamkos decided by a shootout. The Kings growing rap sheet has Blackhawks to revamp their roster by out of his rocking chair in New Jersey. and Tyler Johnson and in goal by Ben The first taste of that could come made them the Cincinnati Bengals of parting ways with key performers The key catch though was landing Bishop they have one of the most bal- Wednesday when the season kicks off the NHL and left some wondering Brandon Saad and Johnny Oduya. They Babcock who never missed the playoffs anced lineups in the league. Look for with the Stanley Cup champion whether the root cause of their off ice also got rid of forward Patrick Sharp during a decade as coach of the Detroit Alex Ovechkin to shoot the lights out in Blackhawks holding their banner raising problems is a leadership void in the who was more of a defensive liability Red Wings. The Leafs made him the Washington and win the scoring title ceremony before they host the New dressing room. than a point producer last season. highest paid coach in NHL history, sign- but watch his team fall short in the post- York Rangers at the United Center. They are coming off one of the most Three time Pacific Division title win- ing him to an eight-year deal worth $50 season once again.—AFP Magic mile spurs on Springboks LONDON: South Africa coach Heyneke Lwazi Mvovo replaces wing JP Pietersen, Meyer has taken inspiration from the first while prop Frans Malherbe comes in for sub four-minute mile as the Springboks bid Jannie du Plessis. Pietersen and du Plessis to make Rugby World Cup history. have knee injuries. Every World Cup-winning team-includ- Morne Steyn-who has fallen behind ing South Africa in 1995 and 2007 — have Handre Pollard and Pat Lambie in South gone through the tournament unbeaten. Africa’s fly-half pecking order-could be Springbok fans thought their team’s involved off the bench. chances nosedived after a stunning 34-32 The 31-year-old played the last of his 59 defeat by Japan in their Pool B opener, a Tests against Australia in September last result regarded as the greatest upset in year but Meyer said the renowned goal- World Cup history. kicker’s attitude had been exemplary. Meyer, however, cited running a mile in “Morne’s probably what all South under four minutes, once thought to be Africans and Springboks should be,” he impossible until Britain’s Roger Bannister said. “He’s here to serve and the thing that clocked three minutes 59.4 seconds in hasn’t been nice for him is that youngsters 1954, as an example of a once staggering have been playing ahead of him. feat that was now commonplace. “He’s done everything, been a World South Africa responded to their shock Cup winner (as a 2007 squad member), reverse with a 46-6 win over Samoa and beat the British and Irish Lions on his own.” last weekend’s 34-16 defeat of Scotland. Steyn’s last-minute penalty gave the Now they top their group and are on Springboks a series-clinching win in the course for a quarter-final with Australia or second Test in 2009. “I never had to keep Wales. But they still have one more pool him positive. He’s been an example to match today against the United States everyone, helping other guys with their before the knockout stages. “We don’t look kicking.” past this game,” Meyer told reporters on The United States, beaten in their two Monday. previous Pool B matches, have made 12 “That’s been our problem, where we changes to the side that lost 25-16 to couldn’t build game on game. One thing Samoa last time out. about South Africans, if we don’t pitch up Eagles coach Mike Tolkin blamed a and are not physical, then we are beatable. schedule that sees his side completing “But there are so many examples of their pool programme with a potentially comebacks that people said can’t happen. more ‘winnable’ match against Japan in They said the mile would never be run in Gloucester on Sunday. under four minutes; now everybody does “It comes to a point in this tournament it. “I believe everything is possible, and the with a four-day rest where you have to use guys know this is,” added Meyer, criticised the whole squad,” he said. “Every team heavily after the Japan match. that’s been in this situation has had to do “But we know we have to get through the same thing. this game.”People say things to be nice, but We’re confident in this full squad.” Today we really respect the USA. They’ve shown will see US No 8 Samu Manoa captain the they’re very difficult to play against, very side for the first time, with squad skipper physical, a lot of big, strong forwards and Chris Wyles on the bench. “It’s an honor,” great runners in midfield.” said Manoa, set to join European champi- Meyer repeated the team mantra that ons Toulon after becoming a popular figure “every single game is actually a final.” Meyer at English Premiership side Northampton. has made just two, injury-enforced “It’s really big for me and we’ve just got to changes, to the team that beat Scotland. give it everything we’ve got.”—AFP Lwazi Mvovo England captain casts doubt on his future Carolina Kostner LONDON: England captain Chris Robshaw his future until after the Uruguay game. rejected reports that he was brought in too acknowledged doubts about his future yester- “We’re very much focused on the here and quickly after less than a year in the game. Skater Kostner ready to day amid mass changes for the final match of now. I’ll address questions about my role in the No immediate reason was given for Burgess’ the hosts disastrous World Cup campaign. next couple of weeks,” he told a press confer- absence however. The match could be Rugby League convert Sam Burgess did not ence. He said the newlook England squad is Lancaster’s last in charge. England’s Rugby return to competition even get a place among the replacements for “chomping at the bit to play.” Amid a new day of Football Union (RFU) have ordered a review into the Pool A game against Uruguay at Manchester criticism from past players and newspapers, the the World Cup disaster and several candidates MILAN: With her suspension coming to tioned international competitions. on Saturday. beleaguered Lancaster has brought in Henry are already expressing interest in the post.