Established 1961 15 Sports Wednesday, October 25, 2017 Couture, Jones lead San Jose Sharks to 4-1 win over New York Rangers Lundqvist finished with 20 saves for the Rangers NEW YORK: Logan Couture had a goal and an assist, Jones pulled for an extra skater on a delayed penalty, Martin Jones stopped two shots and the San Jose Brent Burns sent pass from the right circle up top to Sharks beat the struggling New York Rangers 4-1 on Couture, who fired a slap shot from straightaway past Monday night. Lundqvist. Tim Heed, Joonas Donskoi and Melker Karlsson also Jones had two nice saves on back-to-back attempts in scored to help the Sharks win for the third time in four close by Pavel Buchnevich with a little more than nine min- games. Jones got his fourth straight win after losing his utes left in the first. Heed doubled the Sharks’ lead with first two starts. Mika Zibanejad scored and Henrik 7:15 left as he brought the puck up the right side and sent Lundqvist finished with a bad-angle shot from 20 saves for the Rangers, near the goal line along who fell to 2-6-2 on the the boards. The puck season. New York finished trickled through 0 for 6 on the power play Lundqvist’s pads for the and is 3 for 25 over the Sharks win 26-year-old’s first career last six games. goal in his seventh NHL With the Sharks lead- for the third game. ing 3-0 after two periods, The Rangers had a Couture took the puck time in 4 games two-man advantage for 25 away from Lundqvist seconds late in the open- behind the goal and sent it ing period, but Jones to Karlsson, who put it in stopped Zibanejad’s shot for his second of the sea- from top of the left circle, son at 2:51 of the third. and Rick Nash missed Couture got his 200th career assist on the play. with an attempt in close. Couture has six goals and three San Jose turned the puck over in its defensive zone and assists in his last four games. ... The Sharks are 30 for 31 on Zibanejad snapped a shot into the top right corner to spoil the penalty kill in seven games since giving up three pow- Jones’ shutout bid at 4:23 of the final period. Donskoi er-play goals in the season- opener against Philadelphia. ... increased the Sharks’ lead to 3-0 with 38 seconds left in The teams conclude the season series Jan. 25 at San Jose. the second as he skated into the right circle and beat ... Rangers D Kevin Shattenkirk played in his 500th career Lundqvist glove-side inside the right post. regular season game. ... New York F Rick Nash played in The Rangers controlled the play for most of the first his 999th game. ... D Marc Staal played in his 699th game - period while outshooting the Sharks 16-8, but trailed 2-0 all with the Rangers - and passed Mark Messier and Steve after 20 minutes. Couture, who had his second career hat Vickers for sole possession of 12th place on the franchise NEW YORK: Justin Braun #61 of the San Jose Sharks holds up Rick Nash #61 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square trick in a loss at the New York Islanders on Saturday night, list. ... New York has given up 15 goals in the first period Garden in New York City. The Sharks defeated the Rangers 4-1. — AFP got San Jose on the scoreboard 1:56 into the game. With this season. — AP the teenager at a league match and told him to join the for producing goalscorers, but their campaign for a fourth national team. “The first time I went, he told me I was too U17 world title has relied heavily on goalkeeper Brazao small. I was really angry, but I knew that could happen and his spectacular saves in India. He has not let in a goal Teen stars shine because nothing is easy in football,” N’Diaye told from open play at the tournament. FIFA.com. The Cruzeiro stopper has been hailed by Brazil U17 in World Cup coach Carlos Amadeu as well as opposition tacticians like Aberdeen set ‘WONDERFULLY SKILLED’ Spain’s Santiago Denia, who said Brazao could play at the “A few months later, he called me back to say that, in “top professional clubs in the world”. Brewster, who shop window the end, I could come along and train with them as I’d scored a hat-trick in the 4-1 quarter-final win over the to give Celtic grown a little. “I was very happy. And now I feel comfort- United States, is another pressing for first-team action, in KOLKATA: They may not yet be household names, but able in this team. I feel that I have responsibilities, and my this case at Liverpool. The young attacker has been the biggest test the Under-17 World Cup semi-finals today could put team-mates have faith in me to score goals.” focus of England’s bid since Borussia Dortmund called Lassana N’Diaye, Rhian Brewster, Abel Ruiz and Gabriel Mali are the African champions while European title- back teen star Jadon Sancho after the group stages. Brazao well on the way to football riches. holders Spain will be counting on centre forward and cap- Brewster made it to the substitutes’ bench for Liverpool GLASGOW: Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor The quartet will be the star attractions for the many tain Ruiz to show his class. in April and coach Juergen Klopp has hailed him as “won- says the Hoops are targeting back-to-back trebles hovering scouts in India when England, attempting to The Barcelona academy product already has four goals derfully skilled”. as they prepare for their toughest domestic chal- reach the final for the first time, take on Brazil, and Spain in the tournament-including one in the quarter-final win By putting a goal past Brazao, Brewster would send the lenge of the season. The Glasgow giants will make play Mali. Mali striker N’Diaye, the tournament’s joint over Iran-and has been linked to Arsenal and other perfect message to Klopp. But he is not counting on any- the trip to Pittodrie to take on Aberdeen today with leading scorer with five goals, could be the prize catch. A Premier League sides, as well as Juventus. thing. “You don’t really get many opportunities to play at only goal difference separating the sides at the top product of the street game in his home country, N’Diaye Ruiz already has a buyout clause of three million euros the international level and you have to make the most of it. of the Scottish Premiership. was only drafted into the national squad ahead of the qual- on his contract and Barcelona reportedly want to increase And it will be the same at the club level too. I have to make Brendan Rodgers’ side, who are unbeaten in 60 ifying tournament in August. Coach Jonas Komla spotted that after the World Cup is over. Brazil are normally known the most of my chances,” he said. — AFP matches against Scottish opposition, claimed a rare domestic clean sweep last season. The Hoops took a step closer to defending the first part of the treble year following the end of a six-year last Saturday as they booked their place in next merger between the FIFA honour and month’s League Cup final following a 4-2 win over France Football’s Ballon D’Or. Hibernian. Ronaldo eyes The 32-year-old previously won the And McGregor, who has scored five times for FIFA World Player of the Year award, Celtic this season, insists the Parkhead club are more success as the precursor to the Best FIFA award, in determined to create history by becoming the first 2008. He has now won the last two side in Scotland to win consecutive trebles. “We FIFA men’s trophies as well as three of spoke about it at the start of the season and the Real dominate the last four Ballon D’Or awards. message was we want to win them again, not just “Thanks a lot for voting for me,” said defend them,” the 24-year-old said. FIFA awards Ronaldo after receiving his trophy from “We want to go out there playing fast, aggres- Argentina great Diego Maradona and sive football and that’s what you need to do to win Brazil’s Ronaldo at the London trophies.” Celtic defeated Aberdeen in their four LONDON: Cristiano Ronaldo has set his Palladium theatre. league clashes last season while also seeing off the sights on a “lucky seventh” piece of FIFA “I mention Leo and Neymar, great to Dons in the League Cup and Scottish Cup finals. silverware after collecting his fifth Men’s be here. Real Madrid supporters, my However, this season Aberdeen remain the only Player of the Year award on Monday. team-mates, my coach, they all support other unbeaten side in the Premiership-form which Ronaldo’s Real Madrid side, who won me all year. “We are in England for the has seen manager Derek McInnes linked with the both La Liga and the Champions League first time and I win consecutive awards,” vacant Scotland job. And the Dons boss feels he last season, dominated the 2017 Best he added. “This is a great moment for has a squad capable of competing with Celtic this FIFA football awards at a star-studded me.