Ducks Win 5Th Straight, Hold Off Oilers
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Sports43 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2014 NFL gets ‘tough’ in bid to save reputation DALLAS: The National Football League on Wednesday got tough with players who step out of line after several high-pro- file off-field incidents dragged the sport through the mud. NFL owners approved a “tough” revised personal conduct policy designed to bring a swift end to a particularly unsavory episode in the sport’s recent history, however the players’ union was quick to slam the move and said it had not been consulted properly. Among the new measures is a suspension of six games without pay for violations involving assault, battery, domestic violence and child abuse. Players can be suspended even if there is no criminal con- viction. “The policy is comprehensive,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said after team owners voted at a league meet- ing. “It is strong. It is tough. And it is better for everyone asso- ciated with the NFL. “I have stated it many times: Being part of the NFL is a privilege. It is not a right. The measures adopted today uphold that principle.” A nine-member committee that includes owners and their wives-the addition of female voices on the committee is new- ANAHEIM: Edmonton Oilers’ Taylor Hall, left, misses the puck as Oilers’ Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Anaheim Ducks’ Ryan and former players will oversee the implementation of the Kesler, right, watch during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, in Anaheim, Calif. The Ducks won 2-1. —AP policy. Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill will serve as chairman of the committee, which has been brought in after a series of incidents that saw players accused of domestic vio- lence or child abuse. Ducks win 5th straight, Goodell also plans to appoint a disciplinary officer to over- see the NFL’s internal investigations and determine discipline for violations of the personal conduct policy. hold off Oilers 2-1 “With considerable assistance from the many people and organizations we consulted, NFL ownership has endorsed an ANAHEIM: The Anaheim Ducks’ roster is an injury-plagued mess, gle out anybody for a bad night. I thought our guys worked hard enhanced policy that is significantly more robust, thorough, and they haven’t won a game by more than one goal in nearly against a team that had been sitting here waiting for us for a few and formal,” Goodell said. The NFL Players Association criti- seven weeks. The Ducks are still leading the entire NHL, thanks to days.” Beleskey put the Ducks ahead during a first-period power cized the move Wednesday. a team-wide tenacity that the Edmonton Oilers just couldn’t play, converting a one-timer after sharp passes from Kyle Palmieri “Our union has not been offered the professional courtesy match. and Rickard Rakell.—AP of seeing the NFL’s new personal conduct policy before it hit Matt Beleskey scored his 14th goal and Frederik Andersen the presses. Their unilateral decision and conduct today is the made 21 saves in Anaheim’s fifth consecutive victory, 2-1 over the only thing that has been consistent over the past few spiraling Oilers on Wednesday night. NHL results/standings months,” the union thundered. Ryan Kesler also scored for the Ducks, who held off last-place NFL executive vice president Jeff Pash dismissed that, say- Edmonton’s late charge for their eighth win in 10 games. Toronto 2 Detroit 1(SO); Anaheim 2 Edmonton 1. ing the league and the union had been holding ongoing dis- Anaheim (19-6-5) is three points ahead of Detroit in the overall Western Conference cussions. “The union knows every element of what we’ve standings despite the absence of top goal-scorer Corey Perry, Pacific Division been talking about because we’ve talked to them about it who has the club’s latest major injury. W L OTL GF GA PTS already,” he said. “I respect the fact that they may not agree “We have a lot of good players on this team, and experience Anaheim 19 6 5 87 80 43 with everything that’s been done, and I respect the fact that makes players better,” said Kesler, who has 10 goals in 30 games Vancouver 18 9 2 88 81 38 there’s an unfortunate (need) to react: ‘They say X, so we will with his new team. “When guys go down, guys have opportuni- Calgary 17 10 2 90 76 36 say not X.’ ties, and they make the most of it. We don’t let much define us in San Jose 15 11 4 86 81 34 “But I think that the best thing for everybody would be to here when we deal with adversity - or the mumps.” Los Angeles 14 9 5 72 60 33 take a step back and recognize the issues of reputation, of The Ducks’ last 12 victories were by just one goal, and they Arizona 10 15 3 66 90 23 standards, of conduct.” — AFP hung on to that slim lead yet again after Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Edmonton 7 17 5 63 98 19 scored early in the third for Edmonton, which has lost 13 of 14. Central Division “I think if you want to win championships, you have to be a Chicago 19 8 1 88 55 39 good defensive team and you have to win close games,” said Nashville 18 7 2 73 54 38 defenseman Hampus Lindholm, whose sublime outlet pass set up St. Louis 18 8 2 80 65 38 Kesler’s goal. “We can always be better, but we did enough to get Winnipeg 15 9 5 69 66 35 a win.” Minnesota 15 10 1 76 65 31 Dallas 10 13 5 81 100 25 Advantage Colorado 9 13 6 72 92 24 The Ducks won their second straight game without Perry, who Eastern Conference is out until January with a sprained knee. Major injuries have been Atlantic Division commonplace this season for Anaheim, which has already lost Detroit 17 6 6 89 72 40 192 man-games with a quarter of its opening-night roster on the Tampa Bay 18 8 3 101 77 39 injured list. Montreal 18 10 2 77 77 38 “There’s definitely a lot of opportunity out there, and we’re Toronto 16 9 3 95 81 35 just trying to take advantage of it,” said Beleskey, who is tied for Boston 15 12 1 72 72 31 seventh in the NHL in goals. Former Ducks goalie Viktor Fasth Florida 11 8 7 58 68 29 stopped 32 shots for the Oilers (7-17-5), who are tied with Ottawa 11 11 5 70 74 27 Carolina for the fewest points in the NHL. Buffalo 10 16 2 48 85 22 “We played a good road game,” Fasth said. “Freddy was good Metropolitan Division in net at the other end, but I still think we could have a little more Pittsburgh 18 6 3 88 64 39 traffic in front of him and make it harder for him. ... It’s small NY Islanders 19 9 0 90 79 38 things, and we have to look at those small details to become bet- Washington 13 10 4 79 74 30 ter. We’ve got to start winning.” NY Rangers 12 10 4 77 76 28 FOXBOROUGH: New England Patriots quarterback Tom After Anaheim took an early 2-0 lead, Andersen hung onto it New Jersey 11 13 5 68 83 27 Brady (12) pitches a ball to New England Patriots running with a series of sharp saves. The Danish goalie even earned an Philadelphia 9 13 5 70 85 23 back Shane Vereen (34) during practice at the NFL football assist on Kesler’s goal. Columbus 10 15 2 64 90 22 team’s facility Wednesday, in Foxborough, Mass. The Edmonton has just one victory since Nov. 9 and has already Carolina 8 16 3 59 76 19 Patriots will play the Miami Dolphins Sunday in fallen 24 points behind Anaheim in the Western Conference race. Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings Foxborough with a chance for the Patriots to clinch the “Third game in four nights, and we had the ability to stay in and are not included in the loss column (L). AFC East and a playoff spot. — AP the game,” Oilers coach Dallas Eakins said. “It’s hard to really sin-.