Nikolai Zherdev had a successful return to Columbus with a goal and two assists, leading the New York Rangers to a 3-1 win over the Blue Jackets in the NHL on Friday.
Brandon Dubinsky redirected a pass off his right skate for a controversial goal that gave the Rangers the lead to stay, while Daniel Girardi also had a goal and an assist.
Rangers coach Tom Renney was taken to the dressing room after being hit on the head by a stick in the second period and did not return, but later said that he was OK to fly back to New York.
PHOTO: AP
KINGS 4, BLUES 0
In St. Louis, the home side lost to Los Angeles, and also lost goalkeeper Manny Legace, who suffered a freak injury on ceremonial carpet.
Legace stumbled on a red carpet laid out for Republican Party vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who dropped the ceremonial first puck, and strained his left hip flexor.
Kyle Quincey and Patrick O’Sullivan scored 5:28 apart in the first period, and Jason LaBarbera stopped 15 shots for Los Angeles. The Kings also got goals from Jarret Stoll and Dustin Brown.
PANTHERS 4, SHARKS 3
In Sunrise, Florida, the home side completed consecutive wins for the first time this season, beating San Jose.
Cory Stillman had two goals and an assist, while Richard Zednik and Nathan Horton also scored for the Panthers. The goal was Zednik’s first since he sustained a life-threatening neck injury in Buffalo last February.
Joe Thornton, Ryane Clowe and Patrick Marleau scored for San Jose, which missed a chance at the first 7-1 start in franchise history.
RED WINGS 5, THRASHERS 3
In Detroit, the defending Stanley Cup champions won their third straight, downing Atlanta.
Marian Hossa had two goals and an assist and Henrik Zetterberg also scored twice for the Red Wings, with Dan Cleary getting the other.
Jim Slater, Ron Hainsey and Brett Sterling scored for Atlanta.
FLYERS 6, DEVILS 3
In Newark, New Jersey, Philadelphia became the last NHL team to notch a win this season by defeating New Jersey.
Mike Richards had a career-high four assists for the Devils.
Scott Hartnell had two goals and Jeff Carter, Mike Knuble, Simon Gagne and Joffrey Lupul also scored as the Flyers snapped the Devils’ three-game winning streak.
Philadelphia avoided setting a new mark for their longest victory drought at the start of the season, ending it at six games to match its poor start in 1999.
Zach Parise had a goal and set up scores by Dainius Zubrus and Travis Zajac for New Jersey.
DUCKS 4, SENATORS 3
In Ottawa, Ryan Getzlaf returned to the team and scored Anaheim’s third goal in the second-period, helping beat Ottawa.
Brian Sutherby, Todd Marchant and Sammy Pahlsson also scored for Anaheim.
Getzlaf, who missed Tuesday’s shootout win in Toronto because of a gum infection, scored his first goal on a power play at 10:57 to make it 4-0.
Daniel Alfredsson scored the first of three straight Senators goals. Alexandre Picard followed with another power-play goal and Chris Neil cut Anaheim’s lead to one with 9:12 remaining in the game but the Senators could not avoid slipping to a third straight loss.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and