Latvia wins, stays above Russia at worlds
PARIS >> Center Andris Dzerins scored his second goal of the game with a little more than one minute left as Latvia beat Italy, 2-1, at the ice hockey world championships on Tuesday to remain atop Group A, ahead of Russia.
Although Russia has also won its three matches so far, it is in second place because one of those wins came after overtime and a shootout. They play each other next Monday, and both still have to face the United States.
Denmark beat Slovakia, 4-3, in a shootout in the other Group B match, with Morten Green getting the game-winning goal. Denmark moved off the bottom and pushed Italy into last place.
Over in Group B, Ken Andre Olimb helped set up the first goal for his older brother Mathis Olimb and got the next one himself as Norway beat Slovenia, 5-1, in Paris.
Ken Andre Olimb teamed with left winger Patrick Thoresen on the goal six minutes into the first period and then scored himself with about 15 minutes on the clock, with Thoresen assisting again. Kristian Forsberg made it 3-0 at the end of the first period.
In Tuesday night’s other match, Switzerland missed out on a third straight victory after losing 4-3 to France in a shootout. France forward Stephane Da Costa scored the only goal of the shootout with a neat backhand flick from an angle.
IIHF president hopes NHL changes its mind
PARIS >> The NHL still has a couple more months to reverse its decision and opt to participate in next year’s Olympics in South Korea.
International Ice Hockey Federation President Rene Fasel said Tuesday his organization was in contact with the National Hockey League Players’ Association two or three times per week, hoping to work out a solution that will bring the sport’s biggest stars to Pyeongchang.
“I would say the latest we can do is end of June, beginning of July, for calendars, schedules, arenas,” Fasel said at a the hockey worlds. “We will see.”
Stars acquire rights to Bishop from Kings
LOS ANGELES >> Dallas acquired the rights to goalie Ben Bishop from the Kings for a fourth-round pick in the upcoming draft.
Bishop will be free agent an unrestricted this summer unless Dallas signs him before July 1, but the Stars clearly hope to secure the twotime Vezina Trophy finalist as their new starting goalie. • Forward Tanner Pearson agreed to a four-year, $15 million contract to stay with the Kings.
Pearson had a career-high 24 goals and 20 assists in 80 games for the Kings last season, just his second full NHL campaign.
Devils contact Kovalchuk to return
New Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero is on the verge of landing yet another asset in his team’s rebuilding plan: Ilya Kovalchuk.
Shero confirmed that Kovalchuk would like to return to the NHL next season, four years after the former No. 1 draft pick bolted to play in his native Russia. With the Devils still owning Kovalchuk’s rights, Shero said he’s keeping all options open after having preliminary discussions with the player’s agent.
Under NHL rules, Kovalchuk must re-sign with the Devils and can’t do so until the league’s free-agency period opens on July 1. That doesn’t preclude the possibility of the Devils signing and then trading the player.
Rangers to face Sabres in 2018 Winter Classic
NEW YORK >> The Winter Classic is coming to Citi Field.
The Rangers will take on the Sabres at the home of the Mets on Jan. 1, 2018. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the outdoor game on television Tuesday night at intermission of the Rangers’ playoff game against the Ottawa Senators.