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A22 SPORTS
Tuesday 5 November 2019
Vrana gets 1st career hat trick, Capitals beat Flames 4-2

By IAN QUILLEN 4:55 left in the second.
Associated Press This time Kuznetsov found
WASHINGTON (AP) — Wash- him from Washington's own
ington's newly crowned zone for a breakaway, and
championship baseball while Talbot made a pad
team provided the cheers. save on Vrana's first effort,
Jakub Vrana supplied the he couldn't keep out the
goals. rebound.
Two days after his first mul- "I just tried to find the space
tigoal game of the season, there," Vrana said. "Kuzy, it
Jakub Vrana got his first ca- was a great (pass) for me.
reer hat trick as the Wash- I was just skating, and I had
ington Capitals beat the a breakaway."
Calgary Flames 4-2 Sunday BLACKHAWKS 3, DUCKS 2,
night. OT
With the World Series-win- ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Pat-
ning Washington Nationals rick Kane scored 24 second
looking on, Vrana scored into overtime off a pass
twice in the first period be- from Jonathan Toews and
fore putting the Capitals up Chicago beat Anaheim.
for good with a breakaway Rookie Adam Boqvist
goal late in the second. The scored his first career NHL
hat trick also completed Washington Capitals left wing Jakub Vrana (13), of the Czech Republic, center Lars Eller (20), of goal and Alex DeBrincat
Vrana's first career consec- Denmark, left wing Jakub Vrana (13), of the Czech Republic, and defenseman Dmitry Orlov (9), of scored on a two-man ad-
utive multigoal games. Russia, celebrate Eller's goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019, vantage as the Blackhawks
"I'm not that surprised," said in Washington. The Capitals won 4-2. spoiled the 1,000th career
Capitals center Lars Eller, Associated Press game of Ducks center
who added a power-play Vrana said. "It just brings me on the man advantage to Kuznetsov down the right. Ryan Getzlaf.
goal in the third period. "He a little memory from when a season-high four games. Kuznetsov sent a cross-ice Sam Steel and Nick Ritchie
has it in him. I don't expect we won. They brought us "I thought the effort was pass to Vrana, who beat scored for Anaheim. Ryan
him to score three every lots of energy." there," Flames coach Bill two Flames defenders Miller had 34 saves.
night but he's got that kind Evgeny Kuznetsov and Tom Peters said. "We needed down the ice and Talbot to Toews, stopped in traf-
of talent that he can do Wilson each had two as- that kill in the third, the first his stick side. fic shortly after overtime
that once in awhile.". sists for the Capitals, who one. We needed to keep Vrana gave Washington began, spun around and
Vrana praised the Nation- have won eight of nine and it at 3-2 there. They got a its first lead with 4:52 left in slipped a cross-ice pass to
als, who roused the home lead the NHL with 25 points. little bit of wiggle room, the first when he was first Kane, who lifted the puck
crowd throughout the eve- Ilya Samsonov stopped 25 and then we couldn't find to the puck in the offensive over the shoulder of Miller
ning by taking the World shots. a way to get the next one." zone after Kuznetsov had it for the winner.
Series trophy on the ice Elias Lindholm and Andrew Vrana now has nine goals poked away and beat Tal- Blackhawks goalie Robin
before the game and cele- Mangiapane scored for through 16 games, with the bot with a wrister to the top Lehner made 36 saves in
brating each Capitals goal Calgary, and Cam Talbot 23-year-old Czech well on left corner. the victory as Chicago won
in animated fashion. finished with 28 saves. The pace to exceed his previ- Lindholm got his 10th of for just the second time in
The Capitals previously took Flames finished 2-2-0 on a ous high of 24 from last sea- the season to tie the score eight games. The Black-
the Stanley Cup to Nation- four-game road trip. son. with 1.6 seconds remaining hawks also became the
als Park after winning it in Calgary earned only two After Mangiapane opened before the first intermission, last Western Conference
2018. power plays while extend- the scoring, Vrana got his but Vrana gave Washing- team to win a game on the
"That was unbelievable," ing its streak without a goal first goal when Wilson found ton the lead for good with road.q

Venezuelan baseball league starts amid sanctions

By JORGE RUEDA of Maduro's administration Reyes, a fan of the Leones
Associated Press in the United States, forbid of Caracas. "Many stars of
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) American companies from MLB were here, the best of
— The Venezuelan base- doing business with Ven- them."
ball league will start on ezuela's government. Venezuelans have also
Tuesday amid uncertainty Many local fans wonder if starred in the MLB recently,
because of Washington's substitutes for Venezuela's including Cincinnati third
sanctions against the ad- MLB players will be able to baseman Eugenio Suárez,
ministration of President fill their shoes. They will also who hit 49 home runs this
Nicolas Maduro. miss American players, who season, and Houston sec-
Players affiliated to Major have been playing in the ond baseman José Altuve,
League Baseball are for- Venezuela league since the fourth Venezuelan to
bidden to join in. it began in the 1940s. The be World Series MVP, in
Venezuela's economic cri- Houston Astros' Jose Altuve flips his glove during batting likes of Bob Gibson, Barry 2017.
sis forced the coming sea- practice before Game 7 of the baseball World Series against the Bonds, and Pete Rose have Beside Altuve, six Venezue-
son to be reduced from 63 Washington Nationals Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019, in Houston. ( featured. lans played in the World Se-
to 43 matches for each of Associated Press "I can't even remember ries won by the Washington
the six teams. who wants Maduro out of between MLB and Carib- when was the last time that Nationals last week.
The league has so far failed office. Venezuela was ex- bean winter tournaments. a gringo did not play in a Fans fear lower attendanc-
to avoid sanctions by U.S. cluded from the deal that The sanctions, which in- team of our league," said es because of the absence
President Donald Trump, regulates the relationship clude freezing the assets 71-year-old José Miguel of MLB affiliated players. q