COLUMBUS, Ohio -- After a forgettable weekend, Anton Khudobin helped the Carolina Hurricanes get a much-needed victory on Tuesday night.
David West Jersey . Khudobin made a career-high 46 saves and Andrei Loktionov and Patrick Dwyer each had a goal and an assist to send Carolina past the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1. Nathan Gerbe also scored, and Jay Harrison added two assists for the Hurricanes, who were criticized by coach Kirk Muller after weekend losses to Boston and Edmonton. "In the neutral zone we did a better job of getting speed and getting on the forecheck," Carolinas Jordan Staal said. Boone Jenner scored for Columbus, which outshot the Hurricanes 19-0 in the third period. Carolina jumped ahead at 3:41 on its first shot. Gerbe grabbed a loose puck that defenceman Fedor Tyutin couldnt handle and on an odd-man rush and scored his 15th of the season from the right circle. "When you score first its always important and gives you a little confidence," Khudobin said. "Im happy with the win. I would probably be more happy if I didnt get scored on with like a minute left. But we got the result, we won. Thats most important for me." The Hurricanes were close to a playoff spot on Feb. 7, but they entered the game having lost nine of 12 and are likely to miss the post-season again. The Blue Jackets are in a tight race in the Eastern Conference playoff race. They dropped a rare one at home where they are 10-3-1 in their past 14. "It seemed we had some pretty good quality chances," Columbus coach Todd Richards said. "We hit a couple posts (during the game). We had our opportunities. I think we were doing some things to create offence. We just werent able to finish." Sergei Bobrovsky allowed three goals on 20 shots. He was replaced by Curtis McElhinney to start the third period. Early in the second period, Loktionov poked home his fifth to make it 2-0 on the power play -- and Carolinas eighth shot -- with Jenner in the box for delay of game. Bobrovksy stopped Harrisons point shot -- that broke the stick of Columbus Derek MacKenzie propelling the blade into the slot -- but defenceman Jack Johnson couldnt stop Loktionov. "I think the second period we picked it up and basically we scored at the right time with timely goals," Muller said. Columbus had chances the rest of the period, but couldnt beat Khudobin, who made a nice stop on R.J. Umberger. The Blue Jackets took two more penalties in the period that tempered their momentum. Then with room down the right side, Dwyer scored his seventh at 17:20 on a slap shot from the right circle that beat Bobrovsky near side. In the third period, Khudobin turned aside one shot after another until Jenner scored his 13th on a redirection with 50 seconds left. "Its funny, weve been on the other end so many times this year outshooting teams and coming up short," Muller said. "Change it around tonight and your goalie wins the hockey game. I guess it balances it out." Notes: The 47 shots for Columbus were a season high. ...The Hurricanes last won in Columbus on March 8, 2004, a span of four games. ... Blue Jackets LW Blake Comeau knocked Hurricanes D Ryan Murphy from the game in the first period with a hit into the glass. It was Comeaus first game since a two-game suspension for boarding Red Wings defenceman Brendan Smith. ... Hurricanes C Elias Lindholm and D Justin Faulk fell ill and were late scratches.
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Micheal Williams Jersey . On Thursday, a judge said Varlamov could be released if he posted $5,000 bond and be allowed to travel with the team but he was ordered to stay away from his girlfriend, among other restrictions.ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Martin Kaymer turned what promised to be an exciting weekend duel with Rory McIlroy into a procession at the Abu Dhabi Championship.Seeking a fourth title in eight years in Abu Dhabi, Kaymer shot a 7-under 65 in the third round on Saturday to extend his overnight lead from one stroke to six. He moved to 20-under 196 overall — a record-low total here after 54 holes.The U.S. Open champions pace was too hot for McIlroy, whose putting failed to match his tee-to-green play as he shot 71. The top-ranked McIlroy cut a forlorn figure at the end of his round, having dropped eight shots behind Kaymer and going from third place into a share of fifth.I feel like punching myself, said McIlroy, who only missed two fairways and one green in regulation all day. Im going to try to win the other tournament — he (Martin) is playing different golf than everyone else.Belgiums Thomas Pieters shot 70 to stay in second place but his chances of a first win on the European Tour were virtually dashed by another exhibition from Kaymer on a National Course for which he has a great affinity.The numbers Kaymer is putting up in the United Arab Emirates capital are mind-boggling. He is 107 under here in his last 31 rounds, hasnt dropped a shot in 43 holes and can break his record score of 24 under — set in 2011 — with a 67 or less on Sunday.Kaymers three wins in Abu Dhabi — the opening event of the year for many players — came in 2008, 10 and 11 and he also has a second and fifth place.The German birdied five of his first eight holes and somehow escaped dropping a shot for the first time since Thursday after hitting his second shot at No. 10 into a bush. He took a drop, chipped from the desert into a greenside bunker, only to find the cuup from the sand for the second straight day on that hole.
Alize Johnson Jersey. It brought a fist pump from Kaymer, who birdied Nos. 11 and 13 before parring his way home on a third straight day of sunny skies and just a slight breeze. He opened the tournament with rounds of 64 and 67.Im surprised the way I have played, said Kaymer, who took nearly a month off around Christmas and admitted to being rusty in practice in the 10 days before Abu Dhabi. I had a little bit of a bad conscience coming here because I didnt practice as much as I did in the past.Hopefully I can stay in the 20s, thats the first goal, he added, looking ahead to Sunday. Im not really thinking of the record. To me, it is important to win the golf tournament.McIlroy, who started two shots behind Kaymer, had been looking forward to a weekend battle with Kaymer to sharpen his focus at the start of the year in which he will look to complete a career Grand Slam at the Masters in April.But while his driving and iron play remained as strong as Fridays performance, when he shot a 66, he had a poor day on the greens after giving himself a chance at nearly every hole.I struggled to read them, McIlroy said. Struggled with pace. Struggled with everything.His only birdies came at Nos. 6 and 12, and he is 12 under alongside Frances Gary Stal (67) and South Africas Charl Schwartzel (65). Austrias Bernd Wiesberger (66) and Frances Alexander Levy (67) are tied for third on 13 under.South Koreas An Byeong-hun made a hole-in-one on No. 15 for the fourth ace of tournament, which is two off the record set at the Mediterranean Open in 1991.American star Rickie Fowler is 19 shots off contention after a 73, although he eagled the last — and got a ride on a camel at the back of the 18th. ' ' '