12-20-2019, 06:55 AM
WINNIPEG -- It took two tries but the Nashville Predators finally got the power-play goal they needed. Mike Fisher scored 42 seconds into the third period moments after another goal was waved off for goalie interference. Fishers goal proved to be the winner as Nashville held on for a 4-3 win against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday. "We werent sure about the call but we knew we had enough time to get another one," said Fisher. "It was a similar play, just puck to the net, rebound and we were in the right spots." Both Central Division teams are desperate for points as they head into the Olympic break well short of what they need to make the playoffs. "We know we need to go on a tear to get back in it," said Fisher. "Its not going to be easy. We know there are a lot of teams right with us. . . . Thats what makes these games exciting. It felt a little bit more like playoffs tonight." The Jets (25-25-5) started the game a point ahead of Nashville (24-23-8) and finished it a point behind. It was disappointing for a team that has been flying high since new coach Paul Maurice took over. Even with the loss they have won six of their last eight, including wins over Chicago and Anaheim in their own buildings. "We were in the box maybe a little more than wed want to be," said Jets forward Blake Wheeler, who scored his NHL career-high 22nd goal. "It would have been nice to start the third 5-on-5 . . . From there we were looking at an uphill battle." Maurice wasnt happy about the penalty Devin Setoguchi took at the end of the second period that set up the power-play goal at the start of the third, but said the issue was addressed and Setoguchi was aggressive in the remainder of the third period as the Jets tried to generate offence. "The team gets one opportunity to learn from the mistake and then you expect a response like that, an understanding, a responsibility and respect for his teammates to do everything possible to get it back." Overall, though, Maurice said the team played hard. "Its just such a hard grinding game and it was a battle all the way through . . . you could see it in their faces coming to the bench, they gave it everything they have." Seth Jones, Roman Josi and Nick Spaling also scored for Nashville. Chris Thorburn and Mark Scheifele had the other goals for the Jets. On the downside, Nashville doesnt know yet how long they might be without the services of captain Shea Weber, who left the game with what was described as an upper-body injury. But coach Barry Trotz said it was encouraging to see the way the team rallied in the third period without him. "It gives a lot of the young guys some confidence. . . Its great for the learning curve," he said. Jones got things started with a perfect wraparound at 3:48 that slipped by Ondrej Pavelec but Thorburn tipped in his first goal of the season off the faceoff for the Jets just 22 seconds later. Josi put the Predators ahead 2-1 just 42 seconds into the second period on a slick one-two-three combo from Craig Smith and David Legwand. Winnipeg struggled at times to get the puck out of their own zone in the second period. They had a couple of legitimate scoring chances but the closest they came was a post on a long hard shot from Zach Bogosian. Instead, it was Spaling who snapped one in at 17:18 to put Nashville up 3-1. But the Jets made up for their early period struggles with two goals in just 27 seconds. The first was Scheifeles shot into the crowd in front of Nashville goalie Carter Hutton that bounced in off his one of his own defencemen and it was capped with Wheelers career-high 22nd of the season at the 18:40 mark. Notes: Forward Evander Kane was out of the Jets lineup again Tuesday with an infection in the hand he injured a fight with Tampa Bays Eric Brewer on Jan. 7. Kane initially missed four games but returned Jan. 21 to score a goal and three assists in the next four games. Now he isnt expected to return until after the Olympic break. ... For the pre-game skate the Jets all wore No. 11 jerseys to mark Bell Lets Talk Day and honour Rick Rypien, who signed with the team in 2011 but committed suicide at the age of 27 before reporting and wearing the number he had been assigned. He had a long history of clinical depression. Alex Len Jersey . After the loss, White refused to make good on the bet, instead offering Hoyt tickets to a Bears game. Evan Turner Jersey .Y. - Brooklyn Nets centre Brook Lopez has a strained lower back and will miss at least a week. https://www.cheaphawks.com/1734r-kevin-h...hawks.html .5 million contract, according to a person familiar with the deal. Hatcher agreed to terms Thursday, according to a person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract had not been signed. Tom McMillen Jersey . Rasmussen didnt have a decision during his four appearances in May, when he gave up two hits and no runs in two innings. Toronto used five relievers while pulling off the second-biggest comeback in franchise history on Friday night, rallying from an 8-0 deficit to a 14-9 win. Custom Atlanta Hawks Jerseys .Best moustache: How can we not give this to Lanny McDonald? Check out the duster for yourself.LOS ANGELES -- Shelly Sterling was reviewing bids from five groups interested in buying the Los Angeles Clippers, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The individual, who wasnt authorized to speak publicly about the deal, said if an agreement to sell is reached before next Tuesday, the leagues owners wouldnt meet in New York to vote on terminating Donald Sterlings ownership. The individual wouldnt specify the interested buyers, but described them as major players with considerable financial means. The person told the AP the sale price "appears to be increasing to an unbelievable number," and that it could soar past US$1.5 to $2 billion, and possibly more. Another person familiar with the negotiations said Shelly Sterlings lawyers, bankers and others involved in the process were in a locked room reviewing the bids, which were due by 2 p.m. PDT Wednesday. The individual wasnt authorized to publicly discuss the sensitive and competitive negotiations. Donald Sterlings lawyer, Bobby Samini, said there would be no sale of the team without Donald Sterlings involvement, though he declined to say whether Sterling was involved in reviewing bids or in touch with Shelly Sterling. "Mr. Sterling is an owner of the team, and there will be no sale of the team without his involvement," Samini said. But a May 22 letter obtained by The Associated Press and written by another one of Sterlings lawyers says that "Donald T. Sterling authorizes Rochelle Sterling to negotiate with the National Basketball Association regarding all issues in connection with a sale of the Los Angeles Clippers team." It includes the line "read and approved" and Donald Sterlings signature. NBA spokesman Mike Bass said the leagues advisory/finance committee met Wednesday by phone to discuss the separate responses from Donald and Shelly Sterling to the NBA on its efforts to terminate the Sterlings ownership of the Clippers. The first individual told the AP that the leagues owners know a sale couldnt be completed by next Tuesday. But if an agreement was in place, the NBA would give the Sterlings extra time before holding any meetings. The individual said the league hopes a voluntary sale would remove the potential of legal action being taken by the Sterlings. The person told the AP that at this point, with Donald Sterling saying he plans to fight the matter in court, the NBA intends to go forward with the meeting in New York on June 3. A forced sale would require approval by three-fourths of the leagues 30 owners. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has said he is confident he would get the necessary votes. On Tuesday, Donald Sterling issued a fiery response to the leagues attempt to oust him. The league charged that he had damaged it and its merchandising partners with his racist comments about blacks in a recording released last month.dddddddddddd He argued that there is no basis for stripping him of his team because his statements were illegally recorded "during an inflamed lovers quarrel in which he was clearly distraught." According to the response, a copy of which was obtained by the AP, Sterling says girlfriend V. Stiviano recorded him without his knowledge, which is illegal under California law. He also said he could not have "wilfully" damaged the league because he did not know it would be made public. "We do not believe a court in the United States of America will enforce the draconian penalties imposed on Mr. Sterling in these circumstances, and indeed, we believe that preservation of Mr. Sterlings constitutional rights requires that these sham proceedings be terminated in Mr. Sterlings favour," the response said. Donald Sterling was banned for life and fined $2.5 million by Silver after the recording was made public. It is possible Shelly Sterling could complete an expedited sale of the team despite her husbands legal wranglings, according to Daniel Lazaroff, director of the Sports Law Institute at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. "She would have to be willing to go through with a sale that gave her absolutely no retained ownership interest in order to satisfy the league," said Lazaroff, a law professor at the school. "If she did that, I dont think the league would stand in her way. If she wants to retain any portion of ownership it wouldnt work." Even if Shelly Sterling accepts an offer, the league has the right to approve potential owners, a lengthy process that would almost certainly not be completed by next Tuesday. "The best case scenario is she finds a suitable buyer," Lazaroff said. "That would work for the league and from a financial standpoint that would work for the Sterlings. If the sale price is satisfactory, the smart thing might be to just get out. Hes a businessman who understands buy low and sell high." Donald Sterling purchased the Clippers for $12 million in 1981, making him the leagues longest-tenured owner. He argued in his response to the leagues charges that he cant get a fair hearing next week because the other owners have already made up their minds to oust him. Lazaroff noted that Sterling signed the NBAs constitution when he joined the league, and its bylaws spell out specific procedures for terminating ownership. He said as long as the league follows its own rules it should be on solid legal ground. "I could see a happy ending to this," Lazaroff said, "but it will depend on both of the Sterlings being out of the picture." ' ' '