character and commitment to the club, sta

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - Los Angeles Kings general manager Dean Lombardi firmly supports the NHLs indefinite suspension of Slava Voynov, the quiet Russian defenceman arrested on suspicion of domestic violence.Lombardi also believes the NHL must supplement its swift discipline with an improved plan to provide hockey players with better preparation for many aspects of life outside the rink.We need to do a better job, Lombardi said. Thats just the truth. I dont care if its indicting ourselves or not.The defending Stanley Cup champions uniformly backed the NHLs suspension of Voynov when they returned to practice at their training complex Tuesday.Voynov hasnt been charged with a crime since his arrest early Monday morning, but Kings coach Darryl Sutter said the suspension was very appropriate.Were pretty close as a team, Sutter added. Its not just (a) team. Its more of a family thing. We deal with distractions all the time. Weve been able to handle a lot of adversity and pressure for three years now.Voynovs teammates spoke carefully about his absence, uniformly expressing surprise at the circumstances. The Kings still dont know the details of what happened between Voynov and the woman who was treated for injuries in the Torrance hospital where he was arrested.Sutter went to Voynovs house in Redondo Beach after his arrest, but the Kings contact with Voynov has been limited because he turned off his phone.Some of us have reached out to him, but we just hope everything is going to work out for the both of them, centre Jarret Stoll said. Were still a strong group. Were still a hockey team. Were still going to win games. Our goal has never changed. Our attitude in this room has never changed. Its adversity for us, but were going to come through it.The events are a shock for the Kings, who have won two of the last three Stanley Cup titles with an extraordinarily close-knit roster. Nearly every player lives a few miles apart in the South Bay beach cities, and Lombardi has kept the Kings core largely intact for several years.Lombardi assembled his roster with particular attention to team chemistry, but he believes Voynovs arrest should be a call for more player education on domestic violence and other off-ice concerns.Before Voynovs arrest, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman expressed confidence in the leagues education and counselling services already in place. Lombardi said he first thought about doing more for the Kings last year, and he kicks himself for ignoring his instinct.We have a bigger responsibility now, Lombardi said. Just like we expect them to train, and we provide access to training physically, we provide meals so they eat properly, well, you know what? Weve got a responsibility here now to train them in other areas, and I dont just mean having a guy come in and give a speech once a year. This is as much our organizations responsibility as anything. We have an obligation here, too. We have to do a better job in some of these areas.Lombardi supports the NHLs decision to act aggressively before any charges, acknowledging the effect of the NFLs disastrous handling of the Ray Rice case and others.Now you have public awareness that would have never been there, Lombardi said. I come from a lower, blue-collar neighbourhood, a factory town, and weve seen this crap, and its bad, and it happens a lot more often than we want to (acknowledge). But its never going to come to the fore when a rat hits his wife. ... It can become a good thing overall, that now theres awareness. Weve had issues in the past where sports teams swept it under the rug.Lombardi and the Kings say they never had reason to suspect bad behaviour from Voynov, a second-round draft pick in 2008 from Chelyabinsk, a large city in Siberia. Lombardi felt Voynov repeatedly demonstrated strong character and commitment to the club, starting from his U.S. arrival as a teenager.Despite speaking little English, Voynov agreed to play for the Kings AHL affiliate instead of staying in Russias top league, where he would have made more money. He also stuck with the Kings when his father became ill back home, ignoring Russian teams offers to take care of his family if he returned.After cracking the Kings lineup in 2011, Voynov established himself as a top-level defenceman, earning a $25 million contract extension and playing in the Sochi Olympics.Voynov isnt likely to be charged for at least several days, and the Kings have no idea whether he will be suspended for weeks or months. The leagues collective bargaining agreement doesnt spell out specific suspensions for specific charges, Lombardi said.The Kings (4-1-1) have won four straight games heading into their visit from Buffalo on Thursday. Voynovs absence leaves them with just five healthy defencemen, but Jake Muzzin intends to return from injury.We have a group that has been through a lot, Kings captain Dustin Brown said. Maybe not like this, but we need to lean on past experiences and trust each other that we can refocus. Guy Lapointe Jersey . -- Crystal Webster avoided elimination at the 2013 Capital One Road to the Roar Olympic pre-trial curling tournament with an 8-5 win over Amber Holland on Thursday. Bob Gainey Jersey .The Canadiens will visit the Boston Bruins at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., on New Years Day 2016, taking hockeys oldest rivalry outside.It was special in 2010 just to be there with the history behind Fenway Park and all that, Bruins centre Patrice Bergeron said. http://www.canadienssale.com/authentic-ken-dryden-canadiens-jersey/ . But last years runner-up Jarkko Nieminen crashed out despite winning the first set against Denis Istomin. Istomin fired 10 aces and won 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2 to even his career record against Nieminen at 3-3. Custom Montreal Canadiens Jerseys .Y. -- Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire will have less time to remain eligible for the Hall of Fame ballot under changes made Saturday. Alexei Kovalev Jersey . The 20-year-old Barkley, whose impressive form this season could earn him a place in Englands World Cup squad, was hurt in Evertons 4-0 win over Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup on Jan.Buffalo, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Devan Dubnyk turned aside all 18 shots he faced in his Minnesota debut and the Wild got goals from seven different players in a 7-0 rout of the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. Dubnyk, who was acquired in a trade from Arizona on Wednesday, was stellar in his first game between the pipes with his new club. He became the first goalie in franchise history to post a shutout in his first appearance with the team. Zach Parise, Kyle Brodziak, Thomas Vanek and Erik Haula all posted a goal and an assist, while Jason Pominville had three assists for Minnesota. The Wild had lost six straight games. Jhonas Enroth was responsible for all seven goals on 37 shots, as Buffalo fell for the ninth straight time. Theres no excuse for it, said Sabres defenseman Josh Gorges. Theres no way that this should happen. Parise opened the floodgates with a goal 5:13 into the contest, and Vanek made it 2-0 after one with his one-timer from the right circle late in the opening period. Mikko Koivu and Pominvillle assisted on both goals.dddddddddddd Any time you can get a lead against a team that might be a little frustrated and a little shaky, ends up falling into our favor tonight, said Pominville. Playing shorthanded early in the second period, Haula was alone on a breakaway and fired just wide of the net. He followed his shot and poked it in front to Brodziak, who easily tapped in Minnesotas third goal at six minutes even. Just over three minutes later, Matt Dumba snuck a slapper past Enroth from the point, then Jared Spurgeon added to the barrage with his goal with just over a minute remaining in the period. Matt Cooke and Haula scored third-period goals for the lopsided final. Game Notes Minnesota went 2-for-6 on the power play, while Buffalo finished 0-for-3 ... The Wild won both games in the season series, outscoring the Sabres 13-3 ... Buffalo hasnt won since Dec. 27 against the Islanders (4-3 SO), and it hasnt won in regulation since Dec. 11 vs. Calgary (4-3). 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