Clan Talk » Several cities pulled out of the 2022 bidding

NEWARK, N.J. -- The New Jersey Devils are so bad in shootouts, coach Pete DeBoer doesnt mind seeing his team take chances in the five-minute overtime. It got them a much-needed win Thursday night against the Minnesota Wild after they blew a two-goal, third-period lead. Defenceman Andy Greene scored from in close 2 minutes into the extra period and the Devils snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the Wild in Zach Parises first game back in New Jersey against his former teammates. "Weve asked our D all year to create offence for us," said DeBoer, whose team has lost all eight shootouts this season and an NHL-record 12 straight dating to last season. "I think we have a little more urgency in overtime as a group because of our shootout record. There isnt any secret about that, so you get a little more aggressive." Adam Henrique and Patrik Elias each had three assists and combined to set up Greene. Elias carried the puck from his own zone into the Wild end and sent a pass through the crease that Henrique nudged toward goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov. Greene got the rebound and scored his second game-winner in overtime this season. Greene took a chance on the play. "I actually kick it out of the corner to start the rush and I thought about changing, but then I kind of saw we had a three-on-two," Greene said. "I supported it and the puck obviously squirted through their back door and I got some good lumber on it and put it home." Greene didnt care that the win wasnt pretty. "It doesnt matter at this point," he said. "As long as we get ourselves a chance to get two points in a game, who cares how it happens? Two points is two points." Despite the win, the Devils are five points out of the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with 12 games left in the regular season. "I liked how we played tonight," DeBoer said. "As long as we can stay fresh and energized and bring that game, theres no reason we cant keep winning." Michael Ryder, Mark Fayne and Jaromir Jagr also scored for New Jersey, which played with a lot more energy with their playoff hopes fading in the wake of the losing streak. Parise, Mikael Granlund and Matt Cooke tallied for the Wild, who have points in 17 of 21 games. The Wild, who have lost their last four games that have gone to overtime or a shootout, were limited to 10 shots in the first 40 minutes, but rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the third period to tie the game at 3-all on goals by Granlund and Cooke. Granlund closed the gap to 3-2, beating Cory Schneider with a bad-angle shot from low in the left circle midway through the period. Cooke tied the game with 4:32 to play, deflecting a slap shot by Marco Scandella 2 seconds after a penalty to Travis Zajac expired. Parise, who was booed every time he touched the puck, got the Wild on the scoreboard with a power-play goal when he deflected a shot by Ryan Suter 21 seconds into the third. "To come back in the third period down against these guys, down 2-0 and 3-1, and we were able to claw back and get a point. There is a little bit of a silver lining," Parise said. "Weve got to turn that corner and start winning some of these games that go into extra time." Ryder opened the scoring with 3:02 left in the first, snapping a 23-game goal drought by taking a pass from Elias and ripping a shot past Bryzgalov from between the circles. The Devils had a chance to add to their lead when Wild defenceman Nate Prosser was given a somewhat iffy five-minute major and a game misconduct for elbowing Devils forward Tim Sestito behind the Minnesota net. Minnesota, however, had a great chance to tie the game early in the major when Parise had a breakaway after defenceman Jon Merrill fell at the Wild blue line. Parise skated in alone but Schneider smothered his shot. Minnesota survived the power play, but New Jersey went up 2-0 midway through the second period on Faynes short-handed goal, which was set up by Henrique and Elias. Parises 24th goal of the season cut the deficit to 2-1, but Jagr got his 23rd of the season a little more than three minutes later on a power play. NOTES: The Devils dressed seven defencemen after making forwards Damien Brunner and Steve Bernier healthy scratches. ... Sestito had to be helped off the ice after the major penalty and he did not return. ... This was the Wilds first game in New Jersey since Jan. 4, 2011. Dave Niehaus Jersey .She struggled with a hacking cough, she was sick, and she twice celebrated too early, but she held her composure in a 6-3, 7-6 (5) victory on Saturday.On her third match point, she let her racket go before hearing a let call to what she thought was an ace. Donnie Walton Jersey . It was a loss. But it was also a learning experience. Deron Williams and Joe Johnson had 24 points each to lift Brooklyn to a 94-87 win over the Raptors, making their first playoff appearance since 08. "I thought we played a little bit as expected as it is our first playoff game," Toronto coach Dwane Casey said. https://www.cheapmariners.com/2805k-floy...y-mariners.html. According to MMAFighting.com, MacDonald needs an x-ray on his right ankle and doctors clearance to fight or he will be subject to a mandatory medical suspension that will end on August 22, 2014. Mitch Haniger Jersey .C. -- Jackson Whistle made 26 saves for his first shutout of the season as the Kelowna Rockets blanked the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes 5-0 on Saturday in Western Hockey League action. Braden Bishop Jersey . The veteran fighter will be squaring off with Henderson in a five-round lightweight bout as part of another network televised card at the United Center on Saturday night.The IOC will require future Olympic host cities to abide by rules that forbid any kind of discrimination, a move prompted by the outcry caused by Russias adoption of a law banning so-called gay propaganda ahead of the 2014 Winter Games in SochiThe International Olympic Committee sent a letter to the three candidates for the 2022 Winter Games specifying that the host city contract will include new wording on non-discrimination.The language, based on Principle 6 in the Olympic Charter, also includes a specific reference to discrimination based on gender.The new clause a€” seen by The Associated Press a€” requires the host city and national Olympic committee to conduct all activities in a manner which promotes and enhances the fundamental principles and values of Olympism, in particular the prohibition of any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise, as well as the development of the Olympic Movement.The inclusion of the new language follows the global controversy that surrounded the buildup to the Sochi Games after Russia passed a law prohibiting gay propaganda to minors. The law was passed in the year before the games and led to international protests by gay and human rights groups.International gay rights groups All Out and Athlete Ally were among those pushing the IOC to add the language to the host contract.This ... sends a clear message to future host cities that human rights violations, including those against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, will not be tolerated, said Andre Banks, co-founder and executive director of All Out. We will continue working to make sure this change is powerfully enforced.dddddddddddd These new rules must prevent a replay of Sochi.All Out is also urging the IOC to amend Principle 6 to specifically prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity.The three finalists in the bidding for the 2022 Games are Almaty, Kazakhstan; Beijing, and Oslo, Norway. The Oslo bid, facing significant political and public opposition in Norway, remains in limbo and could still drop out. The IOC will select the host city next July 31 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.In the letter to the bid cities, the IOC also states that it will make no unilateral changes to the sports program after the host city has been chosen. In the past, the IOC has sometimes added sports, disciplines or events three years before a games, bringing extra costs and other logistical challenges for host cities.The new contract states that any changes made after the host city selection that create material adverse effects can only be applied in mutual agreement between the IOC and the city.The moves reflect a pattern of change under IOC President Thomas Bach, who was elected just over a year ago. He is pushing a series of reforms a€” called Olympic Agenda 2020 a€” that will be voted on by IOC members at a special session in Monaco in December.Cutting the cost of hosting the Olympics is one of Bachs goals. Several cities pulled out of the 2022 bidding because they were scared off by the $51 billion price tag associated with the Sochi Games, although much of the money was for long-term infrastructure projects rather than Olympic operational costs.____Follow Stephen Wilson on Twitter: http://twitter.com/stevewilsonap ' ' '