SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 SPORTS IOC joins talks to get NHL players in 2018 Olympics LOS ANGELES: The four top stakehold- March in Korea,” Fasel told reporters at being of our players, whether or not agreement. “We all want see the best tion in Detroit as he and the rest of the ers in the discussion over whether NHL NHL offices in New York. “We need to there’s fatigue. From our standpoint, I players at the Olympic Winter Games New York Islanders prepared for a game players will participate in the Winter know about the accommodation. We think the clubs are very much focused Pyeongchang 2018, and we know the against the Red Wings. Tavares, a union Olympics in South Korea next year met need to know about the transportation. on disruption to the NHL season.” players feel the same,” Bach said. representative, said the topic seems to without resolution Friday, with one The sooner we know, the better we “Therefore, we hope even more that the be a bargaining chip between the warning that time is running short to can prepare the conditions for the NHL DIFFERENCE OF OPINION international federation and the NHL league and players. “It can be used as a make a decision. players and the NHL.” Players, it seems universally, want to will reach a solution to make the sensitive issue,” he said. “You can make Thomas Bach, the president of the Bettman and NHL team owners participate in a sixth straight Olympics. Olympic dreams of the players come the argument on the negative impact it International Olympic Committee, for appear willing to skip the Pyeongchang “There’s a shared interest in develop- true.” The IIHF has come up with the can make during the regular season, but the first time joined International Ice Games in 2018 and possibly resume ing our game with international play,” money needed to cover travel and insur- then globally, the positive impact it can Hockey Federation President Rene Fasel, Olympic participation in China four Fehr said in a telephone interview. “We ance costs for players, Fasel said, sug- make. There’s a lot of talk about China NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and years later, assuming the IOC would have a difference of opinion with the gesting other issues are more important. and preseason games and the growth NHL Players’ Association Executive allow that to happen. They don’t want to owners about where the Olympics fit in, The Olympics has become part of the there when the Olympics go there. We’ll Director Don Fehr at a meeting in New shut their season down without tangible particularly in South Korea.” NHL labor situation. The league recently see what happens. There’s a lot of mov- York. With league owners reluctant to benefits, and the 14-hour time differ- Fehr said Bach’s presence was a posi- asked if the union would eliminate its ing parts.” Capitals center Nicklas put next season on hiatus for nearly ence and relatively small market in tive sign. “It was good that he came and opt-out option in 2019 and extend the Backstrom said the Olympics is a unique three weeks against the wishes of their South Korea are not enticing. showed interest,” Fehr told The labor pact three years through the event and is eager to return to a third own players, it’s clear that hurdles “The focus from the clubs’ standpoint Associated Press. “We had a frank discus- 20242025 season in exchange for partic- Games. “This is an event, huge in the remain with 12 months to go. is what does this disruption to our sea- sion without any agreements.” ipating in the 2018 Olympics. The union whole world. I don’t see why we have to Fasel said the group may need to get son mean?” Bettman said. “Clubs are While the IOC got involved in the refused. give something up now. I think just play back together soon and set a deadline. “I very concerned about the competitive- talks, Bach made it clear the other three More than 400 miles away from the for your country in a big event all over have a coordination commission in ness of our season, the health and well- parties will have to come up with an meeting, John Tavares was paying atten- the world,” he said. — AP De Villiers steers S Africa to ODI series win over S Lanka JOHANNESBURG: AB de Villiers struck an on. Only two other batsmen managed unbeaten half-century to steer South double-figures as Sri Lanka lost 10 wickets Africa to a series-winning seven wicket vic- for 103 runs to record another low score tory over Sri Lanka in the third one-day on what has been a dismal tour with the international at The Wanderers yesterday. bat. The players left the field for more than In a game that was delayed for over an an hour with Sri Lanka on 117 for four in hour by a swarm of bees that took up resi- the 27th over as a swarm of bees descend- dence on the pitch, South Africa won the ed on the stadium and had the fielders toss and sent the tourists in to bat, restrict- dropping to the floor in panic. ing them to 163 all out in 39.2 overs. The unwanted guests were finally The dominant home side, playing in a coaxed away with buckets filled with hon- changed pink kit in aid of breast cancer ey and the match could resume. Seamer awareness, eased to victory with a full 18 Dwaine Pretorius (3-19), recalled to the overs to spare as De Villiers led the way side in the place of all-rounder Wayne with 60 from 61 balls. He put on an Parnell, posted career-best figures in his unbeaten fourth-wicket stand of 72 with JP fourth ODI. Duminy (28) to guide South Africa to an Quinton de Kock (eight) failed again unassailable 3-0 lead in the series. with the bat at the top of the home side’s South Africa have now won their last 12 order, but Hashim Amla (34) and Faf du ODIs at home, a record for the country. Plessis (24) steadied the innings before Niroshan Dickwella (74) and Upul captain De Villiers compiled his 49th ODI Tharanga (31) had managed 60 for the first half-century to finish the job. The next wicket for Sri Lanka as they made a posi- match will be played in Cape Town on tive start but, once seamer Kagiso Rabada Tuesday before the series concludes in (2-39) removed the latter, the collapse was Pretoria on Friday. —Reuters SCOREBOARD JOHANNESBURG: Scores in the third one-day international between South Africa and Sri Lanka at the Wanderers Stadium yesterday. Sri Lanka (3w), Pretorius 7-2-19-3, Duminy 3-0-17-0, NEWARK: Micheal Ferland #79 of the Calgary Flames watches the game tying goal by Matt Stajan #18 (not shown) go in the net past Cory N. Dickwella c De Kock b Pretorius 74 Phehlukwayo 5-0-26-2 (2w), Imran Tahir 9.2-1-21-2 Schneider #35 of the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on Friday in Newark, New Jersey. The Flames defeated the Devils 4-3 in over- U. Tharanga c Pretorius b Rabada 31 time. —AFP K. Mendis c Amla b Phehlukwayo 4 South Africa D. Chandimal c Morris b Phehlukwayo 4 Q. de Kock b Kumara 8 D. de Silva c Amla b Morris 16 H. Amla run out (Madushanka) 34 A. Gunaratne c Pretorius b Rabada 2 F. du Plessis c De Silva b Madushanka 24 Kessel’s OT winner lifts S. Pathirana b Imran Tahir 18 A. de Villiers not out 60 L. Madushanka c Du Plessis b Pretorius 0 J. Duminy not out 28 S. Lakmal c Behardien b Pretorius 0 Extras (lb1, nb1, w8) 10 L. Kumara c Rabada b Imran Tahir 5 Total (3 wkts, 32 overs) 164 L. Sandakan not out 0 Penguins over Blue Jackets Did not bat: F. Behardien, C. Morris, D. Pretorius, A. Extras (lb3, w6) 9 Phehlukwayo, K. Rabada, Imran Tahir Total (39.2 overs) 163 Fall of wickets: 1-60 (Tharanga), 2-75 (Mendis), 3- Fall of wickets: 1-23 (De Kock), 2-58 (Du Plessis), 3- COLUMBUS: A goal at 3:15 of overtime by Phil 89 (Chandimal), 4-115 (De Silva), 5-125 92 (Amla) Kessel gave the Pittsburgh a win over the NHL results/standings (Gunaratne), 6-149 (Dickwella), 7-149 Bowling: Lakmal 6-1-23-0 (1w), Kumara 8-0-49-1 Columbus at PPG Paints Arena on Friday. (Madushanka), 8-155 (Lakmal), 9-158 (Pathirana), (1nb, 5w), Madushanka 4-0-15-1, Sandakan 6-0- Working on the lone power play of the contest, Florida 2, Anaheim 1; Calgary 4, New Jersey 3 (OT); Detroit 5, NY Islanders 4; Carolina 2, Edmonton 1; Pittsburgh 4, 10-163 (Kumara) 33-0 (1w), Pathirana 7-0-35-0 (1w), De Silva 1-0-8-0 Kessel dealt a pass from the high slot to Columbus 3 (OT). Result: South Africa won by seven wickets. Bowling: Rabada 7-0-39-2 (1w), Morris 8-0-38-1 defenseman Kris Letang in the right circle. Western Conference Ottawa 27 16 6 137 131 60 Letang swatted a one-timer, which was Central Division blocked by Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner. Boston 26 22 6 138 143 58 WLOTLGFGAPTS Florida 23 19 10 124 143 56 The puck deflected to Kessel low in the right Minnesota 33 12 5 166 116 71 Toronto 23 17 9 149 144 55 circle.