Sports FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2014 Murray on the way to get Hitched, coaches get ditched

LONDON: Andy Murray announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Kim Sears on Wednesday while also dispensing with two members of his backroom staff in Dani Vallverdu and Jez Green. The 2013 Wimbledon champion, who was originally coached by his mother, Judy, has retained Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo, her- self a former Grand Slam winner, as his head coach, while his engagement to Sears follows their nine years as a couple. But two of the men who have played such a big part in Murray’s profession- al life will no longer be involved after he parted company with friend and hitting partner Vallverdu and fitness coach Green. Murray’s management company, who also announced his engage- ment, said the coaching split was “mutual”, with the 27-year-old Scot adding: “We sat down at the end of the season and decided that a change would be best for all of us. “My off-season training and Australian Open preparations have already begun and I am very excited for the new year. “I thank Jez and Dani for all their hard work over the years and wish them the best for the future.” Murray and Vallverdu met at the Sanchez-Casal Academy in Spain as promising young players more than a decade ago, with the Venezuelan becoming a key member of the British player’s entourage. Both Green and Vallverdu were said to be unhappy when Murray decided to appoint Mauresmo as his main coach in succession to Ivan Lendl in June, although the issue was reported to be a lack of consultation rather than consternation at their boss’s decision, unusual for a top male player, to have a woman as his head coach. Murray has made significant changes to MINNESOTA: Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon (46) upends Los Angeles Kings right wing Dustin Brown (23) his coaching staff throughout his career, splitting with Brad Gilbert during the second period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday. — AP at the age of 20 despite Britain’s governing Lawn Tennis Association paying the American a hefty fee primarily just to coach him. His decision to hire a former champion in Lendl in 2012 sparked similar moves from Roger Federer, who brought Stefan Edberg into his Callahan nets 2 goals as camp, and Novak Djokovic, who recruited Boris Becker to his team. But with Lendl seemingly reluctant to spend as much time on the road as Murray wanted, their partnership came to an end when Lightning beat Rangers 4-3 the Scot was struggling for form following back surgery. The end of that partnership in March came from Lendl and was a NEW YORK: Winger Ryan Callahan scored Jets to a road win over the Buffalo Sabres, the worst road record in the NHL. painful blow for Murray at a time when he was still trying to recover two goals to steal the spotlight from whose three-game winning streak ended. form, fitness and confidence following back surgery. Martin St Louis as the Tampa Bay Lightning Goalie Ondrej Pavelec made 19 saves for Flames 2, Sharks 0 Murray, the 2012 US Open and London Olympic Games champi- on, flew to Manila on Wednesday to play in the inaugural beat the New York Rangers. The focus was Winnipeg (12-9-3), which improved to 8-4- Calgary goalie Karri Ramo stopped 32 International Premier Tennis League and will travel to Miami next on St Louis on his return to his old arena, 2 on the road. shots to record his first shutout of the sea- week. He is due to begin his 2015 season with an exhibition event but Callahan-acquired in a trade for the son as the Flames beat the San Jose Sharks, in Abu Dhabi on January 1. —AFP winger late last season-got the tying and Red Wings 5, Flyers 2 who have been held to two or fewer goals go-ahead goals, giving him four against his Center Pavel Datsyuk, back in action in 11-of-24 games. Center Jiri Hudler old team in 11 days. Tampa Bay (15-6-2) after missing four games with a groin scored both Calgary goals, including a improved to 9-2-1 at home. injury, scored twice and the Detroit Red power-play marker into an empty net with Wings beat the Philadelphia Flyers. 49.2 seconds left. Islanders 3, Capitals 2 (OT) A power-play goal by John Tavares with Panthers 1, Hurricanes 0 Blackhawks 3, Avalanche 2 23.2 seconds left in overtime lifted the red- The Florida Panthers got their quickest Left winger Bryan Bickell scored a tie- hot New York Islanders to a home win over goal of the season and beat the toothless breaking goal late in the third period and the Washington Capitals for their 10th vic- Carolina Hurricanes. Center Nick Bjugstad the Chicago Blackhawks overcame a tory in 11 games. The Islanders notched scored after 21 seconds and it turned out strong performance from Colorado goal- their fifth consecutive victory, the longest to be the only goal of the game as the tender Calvin Pickard to beat the active win streak in the NHL. They Hurricanes fell to 2-9-2 away from home, Avalanche. — Reuters improved to 16-6 for the season, a fran- chise record. Left winger Alex Ovechkin scored a pair of power-play goals for the NHL results/standings Capitals. Winnipeg 2, Buffalo 1; NY Islanders 3, Washington 2 (OT); Detroit 5, Philadelphia Penguins 4, Maple Leafs 3 (OT) 2; Tampa Bay 4, NY Rangers 3; Florida 1, Carolina 0; Pittsburgh 4, Toronto 3 (OT); Left winger Blake Comeau scored with Los Angeles 4, Minnesota 0; Chicago 3, Colorado 2; Calgary 2, San Jose 0. 2:07 left in overtime, capping his first Western Conference Tampa Bay 15 6 2 81 63 32 career hat-trick and leading the Pittsburgh Pacific Division Detroit 12 5 5 64 54 29 Penguins past the Toronto Maple Leafs. W L OTL GF GA PTS Boston 13 9 1 59 57 27 Pittsburgh (15-4-2) won their fifth straight Anaheim 14 4 5 63 56 33 Toronto 11 8 3 70 67 25 against the Maple Leafs as center Sidney Vancouver 15 6 1 67 61 31 Ottawa 10 7 4 58 56 24 Crosby registered two assists, joining Mario Calgary 14 8 2 75 64 30 Florida 8 6 6 42 51 22 Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr as the only play- Los Angeles 12 6 5 64 53 29 Buffalo 6 14 2 37 72 14 ers in franchise history to reach 800 career San Jose 10 10 4 62 66 24 Metropolitan Division points. Arizona 9 11 3 57 71 21 Pittsburgh 15 4 2 76 49 32 Edmonton 6 14 2 51 77 14 NY Islanders 16 6 0 72 59 32 Central Division Kings 4, Wild 0 Washington 9 8 4 58 57 22 Nashville 14 5 2 61 45 30 Goaltender Martin Jones made 28 saves NY Rangers 9 8 4 60 62 22 and the Los Angeles Kings scored four St. Louis 14 6 2 59 46 30 Chicago 13 8 1 66 46 27 New Jersey 9 10 3 53 63 21 goals in the first period and then played 40 Philadelphia 8 10 3 59 66 19 minutes of defensive hockey for a shutout Winnipeg 12 9 3 51 54 27 Minnesota 12 9 0 58 48 24 Carolina 6 12 3 48 63 15 LONDON: In this file photo dated Sunday, July 7, 2013, win over the Minnesota Wild, who lost at Columbus 6 13 2 51 76 14 British tennis player and winner of Wimbledon 2013 Andy home for just the second time this season. Dallas 9 9 4 64 74 22 Colorado 8 10 5 59 73 21 Murray and his partner Kim Sears arrive for the Eastern Conference Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one Jets 2, Sabres 1 Wimbledon Champions Dinner 2013, in London. Murray Atlantic Division point in the standings and are not included in Center Bryan Little and right winger has got engaged to his long-term girlfriend Kim Sears, his Montreal 16 6 1 61 57 33 the loss column (L). agent has confirmed Wednesday. — AP Michael Frolik scored to lead the Winnipeg