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SPORTSSaturday 2 April 2016
Penguins beat Preds for 10th win in 11 games
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Phil
Kessel scored twice and
the surging Pittsburgh Pen-
guins moved within striking
distance of a 10th straight
playoff berth with a 5-2 win
over the Nashville Preda-
tors on Thursday night.
Kris Letang, Patric Horn-
qvist and Nick Bonino also
scored for Pittsburgh, which
improved to 10-1 in its last
11 games. The Penguins will
clinch a spot in the postsea-
son if Detroit loses in regula- Huberdeau scored his
tion on Friday against Min-
nesota. Marc-Andre Fleury
stopped 22 shots to reach
the 35-win plateau for the
seventh time in his career.
James Neal and Ryan Jo-
hansen each had a goal
and an assist for the Preda-
tors, who failed for a third
straight game to wrap up
a playoff bid. Pekka Rinne
stopped 25 shots before
sitting out the third period
in favor of backup Carter
Hutton.
PANTHERS 3, DEVILS 2
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Jona-
than Huberdeau scored
twice to move Florida back
into first place in the Atlan-
tic Division with a 3-2 win
over New Jersey.
Jaromir Jagr had a pair
of assists and Al Montoya
made 23 saves for Florida,
which broke a tie with Tam-
Associated Press
Canada’s NHL playoff shutout has ‘painful’ ramifications
STEPHEN WHYNO
AP Sports Writer
Paul Samborski and his fa-
ther, Lenn, were at Winni-
peg Arena for the original
Jets’ final playoff game
in 1996 before the team
moved to Phoenix. When
the NHL returned in 2011,
Samborski joined the thou-
sands of fans who signed
up for season tickets and
brought his dad to the
new Jets’ first home play-
off game last year against
Anaheim.
“I lost my voice in the first
period screaming at Ryan
Kesler,” Samborski said. “It
was a lot of fun. The whole
city was buying in. It was all
everybody talked about.”
A year later, the Jets are
Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn, center celebrates scoring a STARS 4, COYOTES 1 who trailed 3-2 after two
goal with teammates John Klingberg (3) and Kris Russell (2) dur- DALLAS (AP) — Jamie Benn periods. Ryan Murphy had
ing the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Ari- scored his 40th goal, Antti two assists and Cam Ward
zona Coyotes on Thursday, March 31, 2016, in Dallas. Niemi made 31 saves and made 24 saves.
Associated Press Dallas beat Arizona to Chris Kreider, Mats Zucca-
move two points ahead in rello and Rick Nash scored
NHL Capsules the Western Conference for New York and Derek
race. Stepan had two assists dur-
pa Bay for the division lead. along the goal line left of ing a three-goal second.
The Lightning lost to Mon- Kinkaid and banking in a Dallas (103 points) pulled Henrik Lundqvist finished
treal 3-0 Thursday night. close shot for his 18th at away from second-place with 24 saves for the Rang-
Mike Sislo and Blake Pieti- 3:13 of the third period. St. Louis (101). The Stars ers, who fell to 27-2-2 when
la scored for New Jersey, Jagr’s assist on the play have four games remain- leading after two.
and Keith Kinkaid made 36 gave him 60 points this sea- ing, and the Blues have KINGS 3, FLAMES 0
saves. son, marking the 18th time five. LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jeff
he had accomplished the The loss eliminated the Carter scored twice, Jona-
second goal by skating in feat. Coyotes from playoff con- than Quick made 21 saves
tention. in his fifth shutout of the
Arizona’s Martin Hanzal season and Los Angeles
scored the game’s first reclaimed the Pacific Divi-
goal 17:07 into the first pe- sion lead with a win over
riod, but Dallas tied it less Calgary.
than a minute later on Pat- The Kings moved one point
rick Eaves’ 10th goal. ahead of the idle Anaheim
The Stars’ Radek Faksa Ducks with their 46th win
scored 11 seconds into the this season, tying the fran-
second period. Benn’s goal chise record most recently
came 10 minutes later, set in their Stanley Cup-win-
and Patrick Sharp added ning 2013-14 campaign.
a power-play goal into an Quick earned his 42nd ca-
empty net with 1:11 to play. reer shutout, extending his
HURRICANES 4, RANGERS 3 own NHL record for Amer-
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Vic- ican-born goalies. He also
tor Rask scored the go- earned his 39th win of the
ahead goal with 10:54 left, season to match the fran-
and Carolina rallied to beat chise single-season record,
New York in former captain which he set in 2009-10.
Eric Staal’s return to his old Joni Ortio stopped 26 shots
home arena. for the Flames, who have
Jeff Skinner, Patrick Brown allowed 134 goals on the
and Justin Faulk also road, tied with Ottawa for
scored for the Hurricanes, worst in the league.q
out of contention and a “It’s painful,” said Rod Ap- ant that shelled out $5.2 That makes it a challenging
spring of discontent is loom- pleby, manager of Hurley’s billion (Canadian) to buy year for us.”
ing for Winnipeg — and the Irish Pub in Montreal. “It’s the national TV rights for Rogers Media recently laid
rest of Canada, too. painful on a fan point and 12 years, flagship network off several employees, in-
None of the seven Ca- it’s painful on a business Sportsnet is feeling the cluding Sportsnet on-air
nadian NHL teams was point. ... We’ve got to keep pinch. Scott Moore, presi- personalities Hugh Burrill,
good enough this season going, keep doing what we dent of Sportsnet and NHL James Cybulski and Jamie
to reach the Stanley Cup do and watch the playoffs, properties for Rogers, says Thomas. Moore said it has
playoffs, a dismal milestone but the other problem is he cheers with his heart for been challenging for the
in the home of modern there’s no Canadian team, the Canadiens and cheers company to get sponsors
hockey and the first time so who do we watch?” with his wallet for every Ca- excited for playoffs.
it has happened since the nadian team. Last year, five Canadian
1969-70 season. It’s not quite the same kind “This has been a tough teams made the playoffs,
Back then, only Montreal of existential national cri- year,” Moore said. “To but Commissioner Gary
and Toronto were the only sis that comes each time have seven Canadian Bettman isn’t worried about
possibilities in a 12-team Canada doesn’t win a gold teams out of it — and what having none this time.
league. So going 0 for 7 is medal at the Olympics or really is as difficult or more “As long as the hockey is
an unprecedented blow world junior championship. difficult is they’ve been out entertaining and exciting
that will be felt not just in But the phenomenon of a if it for weeks, if not months, and competitive, we’re
Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, playoff season without a so the ratings have been hoping and expecting that
Winnipeg, Edmonton, Cal- Canadian team is having a challenge for I’d say, six, fans will tune in and watch
gary and Vancouver but real consequences. seven, eight weeks that the great hockey,” Bettman
nationally. At Rogers, the telecom gi- teams have been out of it. told The Canadian Press.q