Gästebuch » Only five games into the match, Djokovic asked for a tra

BOSTON -- Hybrid icing could be on its way to the NHL. The leagues general managers met Wednesday and embraced many of the changes recommended by the competition committee, including hybrid icing and the mandatory use of visors for all players entering the league. A blend of touch and no-touch icing that offers referees the discretion to blow a play dead will be in effect during the 2013-14 preseason. If the experiment is successful, hybrid icing will be implemented for the regular season, pending a vote by the NHLs board of governors. Mathieu Schneider, a former defenceman who is now a special assistant to NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr, said both sides should have a better gauge by the end of the preseason whether hybrid icing is likely to pass. "Im optimistic," Schneider said. "Ive learned more through these meetings, watching videos and getting a better understanding." The rule is designed to promote safer play, allowing a linesman to blow his whistle if he judges a defending player is likely to reach the puck first. "Theres different types of the hybrid icing that have been used in different leagues, so were still going to hammer some of those details out," Schneider said. "But essentially its meant to eliminate guys going full speed into the end boards. "If it makes the game safer, its a great thing." Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill said he and his colleagues havent come to a consensus on the issue. "The players in the American (Hockey) League have a good feel for it. Now the NHLers need to get a feel for it," he said. "Ive seen it work in every league that uses it and it works seamlessly." The biggest obstacle to implementation may be how it will be officiated. "There has to be an outright win," Schneider said. "If its clear that the forward is going to win the race for the puck, if theres a dangerous situation, then the ref has the ability to blow it down." Hall of Famer and Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said very few general managers, if any, favour no-touch icing, leaving the hybrid version as the best option. "Not that theres many injuries on the icing now, but the injuries that are there are very severe, and wed like to try the hybrid icing as a good compromise," he said. "Im hopeful that the preseason gives it enough time for the players to vote in support of it." The general managers also approved the mandatory use of visors for every player entering the league. Players who have played in a certain amount of NHL games will be grandfathered in, allowed to decide if they want to don a protective shield. The topic was fueled when New York Rangers defenceman Marc Staal was hit in the eye with a puck on March 5, causing him to miss the remainder of the regular season and all but one of the Rangers playoff games. Yzerman, who wore a visor during his final season, thinks every player should have to wear one. "Weve seen some serious eye injuries along the way here and injuries that can be avoided by simply a player wearing a shield," he said. "Being a manager of a team and wanting your players on the ice for every possible game, and avoiding every injury that could possibly be avoided, Im in support of our guys wearing them." Eventually every player will be wearing one, according to NHL director of hockey operations Colin Campbell. "Were going to end up with all players wearing visors," he said, "which is a good thing." Also approved Wednesday was the use of shallower nets and video review on four-minute high-sticking penalties. Both will be introduced next season if approved by the board. 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NEW YORK -- There is a surprising degree of luck in tennis.The nicked net cord, the dangerous floater avoided (or not) in the draw, a series of untimely weather delays -- they can ultimately mean the difference between winning and losing.To that list we can now add the combination of an unlikely profusion of injured opponents -- and a massive upset on the other side of the draw.No. 1 seed Novak Djokovic was probably chortling in his hotel room Wednesday when No. 2 Andy Murray got into it with chair umpire Marija Cicak.During the third set of his quarterfinal against Kei Nishikori, Murray was upset that Cicak stopped play when a loud boom came from the speakers in Arthur Ashe Stadium. He complained that Cicak was being inconsistent, after earlier declining to do the same on several occasions when the crowd got loud on a point in the first set.It was at this point that Murray, seen by some as a favorite at the US Open, began to unravel, losing seven consecutive games.He never really recovered and No. 6 seed Nishikori went on to a rousing 1-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 7-5 victory. The instant classic ran 3 hours, 58 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium. What does it mean?Advantage, Djokovic.Id say Novak would be the favorite, Murray said afterward.Nishikori has needed 20 sets to reach the semifinals, where he was to play the winner between Wednesday nights match between No. 3 Stan Wawrinka and Juan Martin del Potro.Djokovic, who plays in Fridays other semifinal against No. 10 seed Gael Monfils, has played nine sets and six games. Yes, nine.Wawrinka and del Potro, even if their match only goes the three-set minimum, will be at 18 sets and 13-plus, respectively.Djokovic has had the enormous good fortune to see no fewer than three of five opponents stand down because of injuries. Jiri Vesely granted him a walkover in the second round, Mikhail Youzhny retired after six games in thee third and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga decided to stop their quarterfinal match after two sets Tuesday night.ddddddddddddjokovic, who has already won two of the three majors this season, needs no other assistance. He came into the US Open with an ailing wrist, which he suffered during a first-round loss at the Rio Olympics. The injury kept him out of Cincinnati, and there were questions whether hed be fully fit for New York.During his opening-round match against Jerzy Janowicz, there were signs of trouble. Only five games into the match, Djokovic asked for a trainer, who massaged his right arm. Djokovic ultimately prevailed, but afterward, he would not elaborate on the extent of the injury, merely saying it wasnt the right time to talk about it.Since then, Djokovic hasnt been pushed. He has played six completed sets and hasnt lost more than four games in any. Now, the biggest threat to his title is gone. Granted, Djokovic has dominated their head-to-heads, leading 24-10, but Murray came into the US Open prevailing in 26 of his past 27 matches.This Slam, in particular, I think for all of the players, especially the ones, you know, that have done well over the summer period on the hard courts, its, you know, a tough one, Murray said.Nishikori played cleverly, mixing up his serve, moved forward when he could and hit a large number of drop shots. He won 27 of 39 points at net, nearly more than twice as many as Murray.After winning the bronze medal in singles in Rio, Nishikori has some momentum going -- and a comfortable feeling in his second US Open semifinal in three years.Two years after, I have a great memory here, Nishikori said. I think this is a great opportunity to come in a semifinal again.But unlike Djokovic, he might be tapped out. ' ' '