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A22 sports
Monday 12 noveMber 2018

Coyotes take advantage of Capitals’ PK struggles in 4-1 win

By IAN QUILLEN point of the second period.
Associated Press Backstrom answered less
WASHINGTON (AP) — Rich- than a minute later with a
ard Panik and Alex Gal- one-timer off Alex Ovech-
chenyuk each had a goal kin’s feed from the left cor-
and an assist, and the Ari- ner that left Kuemper little
zona Coyotes became the chance.
latest team to take ad- But the Coyotes made it a
vantage of Washington’s two-goal lead again with
penalty-killing struggles in a another power-play goal
4-1 win over the Capitals on with 5:22 left in the period.
Sunday. This time, Galchenyuk stood
Galchenyuk and Vinnie Hi- strong to poke in a second
nostroza each scored on effort from just in front of
the man advantage for the crease after Brendan
Arizona, which snapped a Perlini sent the puck toward
three-game skid in the third the net.
game of a four-game trip. NOTES: Kuemper started
Washington has allowed six a third game in four nights
power-play goals in its last while starter Antti Raanta
four games. recovers from a lower body
Darcy Kuemper made injury. Raanta last played
38 saves for the Coyotes, Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom scores against Arizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy on Nov. 2. ... Capitals D
whose top-ranked penalty Kuemper in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018 in Washington. John Carlson returned after
kill improved to 20 of its last Associated Press missing Friday’s loss against
21 after two kills against a an even-strength goal ahead at the tail end of three Capitals players were Columbus with a lower-
Capitals power play that in the second period for their second man advan- caught up ice trying to body injury. ... Backstrom
entered Sunday ranked Washington, which end- tage of the game, send- score short-handed. has a point in five consecu-
second in the NHL. ed a five-game homes- ing in a one-time wrister of Arizona caught Washing- tive games. ... The Coyotes
Derek Stepan added an tand 2-2-1. Braden Holtby Dylan Strome’s feed. Panik ton in transition again when have yet to preserve a shut-
empty-net goal with 1:32 stopped 18 shots for the also contributed on the Panik beat Holtby above out, but have allowed just
remaining. Capitals. crisp odd-man rush by the his left shoulder to make one goal in seven games
Nicklas Backstrom scored Hinostroza put Arizona Coyotes, created when it 2-0 just beyond the mid- this season.q

Flustered Federer loses ATP Finals opener to Nishikori

By SAM JOHNSTON ror-strewn opening set, until kori began to relax and was
Associated Press Nishikori’s backhand de- rewarded in the sixth game
LONDON (AP) — Kei Ni- nied Federer two set points as he brought up another
shikori hit a backhand so with the score at 6-5, 15-30. break point and produced
good it threw Roger Fe- A tiebreaker followed and an inside-out forehand Fe-
derer off his game as the Federer made one of his derer had no chance of
20-time Grand Slam cham- 20 unforced errors in the returning. Despite having
pion earned a code viola- set to give Nishikori the first lost his last six meetings with
tion before capitulating in mini-break and a 3-1 lead, Federer, including two on
a surprise defeat at the ATP which quickly became 6-1. this court, Nishikori showed
Finals on Sunday. Federer rallied to save three no nerves as he dropped
Two points away from los- set points, but Nishikori de- just one point in his next two
ing the opening set and on livered a well-placed serve service games, with a fore-
the back foot in a rally, Ni- out wide to ensure the hand error from the Swiss
shikori hit a stunning shot up comeback attempt ended great ending the match.
the line, which prompted Japan’s Kei Nishikori plays a return to Switzerland’s Roger Federer there. Earlier, Kevin Anderson
Federer to hit the ball into in their ATP World Tour Finals singles final tennis match at the O2 However, his concentra- made a confident start to
the crowd and receive a Arena in London, Sunday Nov. 11, 2018. tion deserted him moments his ATP Finals debut with
warning for ball abuse. Associated Press later as a double fault gave a 6-3, 7-6 (10) victory over
Federer never appeared to first break points in the easy.” Six-time champion Federer a break he did little Dominic Thiem.
regain his composure and opening game of the Federer, who has reached to earn. But the Swiss re- Having qualified for the
went down 7-6 (4), 6-3 in a second set, and took his the semifinals in all but one sponded in kind and a wild tournament for the first
first opening match defeat chance, but Nishikori hit of his 15 previous appear- forehand error leveled the time, the 32-year-old An-
at the season-ending tour- straight back in the follow- ances at the tournament, score at 1-1. derson produced a domi-
nament since 2013. ing game. will now likely need to win “Unfortunately I couldn’t nant serving display to take
“I thought ‘What was his Nishikori was the far more his remaining two round- keep the lead that I got the first set, before saving
argument, why the warn- composed player from that robin matches to keep early (in the second two set points to come
ing?” Federer said of his moment on and broke for alive his chances of claim- set),”Federer said. “That through a tense tiebreaker
exchange with the umpire. a 4-2 lead, before closing ing the 100th title of his ca- was the key of the match, in the second.q
“But nothing more than out the match for a first win reer. More thanks to poor that sort of 10-minute “I think it was important, you
that. He thought I was an- over Federer since 2014. returning than good serv- swing at the end of the first know, going out there and
gry. I wasn’t. Now I’m angry “It’s always a big challenge ing, neither man was able through to maybe 1-1 in getting off to a good start,”
because I lost, but I wasn’t, to play Roger,” Nishikori to create so much as a sniff the second.” Anderson said. “I definitely
so...” Federer earned the said. “The first match is not of a break of serve in an er- The seventh-seeded Nishi- felt a little bit nervous.”q