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LONDON — A woman who claimed mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor "brutally raped and battered" her in a Dublin hotel penthouse was awarded nearly 250,000 Euros ($257,000) on Friday by a civil court jury in Ireland. Nikita Hand said the Dec. 9, 2018, assault after a night of partying left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced the woman to do anything against her will and said she fabricated the allegations after the two had consensual sex. His lawyer had called Hand a gold digger. The fighter, once the face of the Ultimate Fighting Championship but now past his prime, shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men found him liable for assault after deliberating about six hours in the High Court in Dublin. He was mobbed by cameras as he left court but did not comment. He later said on the social platform X that he would appeal the verdict and the "modest award." Hand's voice cracked and her hands trembled as she read a statement outside the courthouse, saying she would never forget what happened to her but would now be able to move on with her life. She thanked her family, partner, friends, jurors, the judge and all the supporters that had reached out to her online, but particularly her daughter. "She has given me so much strength and courage over the last six years throughout this nightmare to keep on pushing forward for justice," she said. "I want to show (her) and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and justice will be served." The Associated Press generally does not name alleged victims of sexual violence unless they come forward publicly, as Hand has done. Under Irish law, she did not have the anonymity she would have been granted in a criminal proceeding and was named publicly throughout the trial. Her lawyer told jurors that McGregor was angry about a fight he had lost in Las Vegas two months earlier and took it out on his client. "He's not a man, he's a coward," attorney John Gordon said in his closing speech. "A devious coward and you should treat him for what he is." Gordon said his client never pretended to be a saint and was only looking to have fun when she sent McGregor a message through Instagram after attending a Christmas party. He said Hand knew McGregor socially and that they had grown up in the same area. She said he picked her and a friend up in a car and shared cocaine with them, which McGregor admitted in court, on the way to the Beacon Hotel. Hand said she told McGregor she didn't want to have sex with him and that she was menstruating. She said she told him "no" as he started kissing her but he eventually pinned her to a bed and she couldn't move. McGregor put her in a chokehold and later told her, "now you know how I felt in the octagon where I tapped out three times," referring to a UFC match when he had to admit defeat, she said. Hand had to take several breaks in emotional testimony over three days. She said McGregor threatened to kill her during the encounter and she feared she would never see her young daughter again. Eventually, he let go of her. "I remember saying I was sorry, as I felt that I did something wrong and I wanted to reassure him that I wouldn't tell anyone so he wouldn't hurt me again," she testified. She said she then let him do what he wanted and he had sex with her. A paramedic who examined Hand the next day testified that she had never before seen someone with that intensity of bruising. A doctor told jurors Hand had multiple injuries. Hand said the trauma of the attack had left her unable to work as a hairdresser, she fell behind on her mortgage and had to move out of her house. Police investigated the woman's complaint but prosecutors declined to bring charges, saying there was insufficient evidence and a conviction was unlikely. McGregor, in his post on X, said he was disappointed jurors didn't see all the evidence prosecutors had reviewed. He testified that the two had athletic and vigorous sex, but that it was not rough. He said "she never said 'no' or stopped" and testified that everything she said was a lie. "It is a full blown lie among many lies," he said when asked about the chokehold allegation. "How anyone could believe that me, as a prideful person, would highlight my shortcomings." McGregor's lawyer told jurors they had to set aside their animus toward the fighter. "You may have an active dislike of him, some of you may even loathe him – there is no point pretending that the situation might be otherwise," attorney Remy Farrell said. "I'm not asking you to invite him to Sunday brunch." The defense said the woman never told investigators McGregor threatened her life. They also showed surveillance video in court that they said appeared to show the woman kiss McGregor's arm and hug him after they left the hotel room. Farrell said she looked "happy, happy, happy." McGregor said he was "beyond petrified" when first questioned by police and read them a prepared statement. On the advice of his lawyer, he refused to answer more than 100 follow-up questions. The jury ruled against Hand in a case she brought against one of McGregor's friends, James Lawrence, whom she accused of having sex with her in the hotel without consent.
MOVED INTO second place in the Premier League table with a 1-0 win over at the Emirates. In their final fixture of 2024, Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game midway through the opening period. Arsenal’s victory takes them back to within six points of leaders Liverpool, having played one match more than the Reds, and a point clear of Chelsea following their Boxing Day defeat to Fulham. Ipswich, although much improved in the second half, have now lost five of their last six games, and remain just one place off the bottom of the table, three points away from safety. Mikel Arteta’s men have been rocked by Bukayo Saka’s hamstring injury which could keep the England winger, who has nine goals and 13 assists this season, out of action for the next two months. Gabriel Martinelli was handed the unenviable task of filling Saka’s shoes on Arsenal’s right-hand side and the Brazilian was involved in the only goal of the evening. The Ipswich defence failed to deal with Martinelli’s cross, with the ball falling to Leandro Trossard on the opposite side of the area. Trossard fought his way to the byline before fizzing his cross into the box for Havertz to convert from a matter of yards. It was Havertz’s third goal in four matches, his 12th of the season, and no less than the hosts, who at that stage of the match had enjoyed a staggering 91.4 per cent of the possession, deserved. Heading into Friday’s fixture, Arsenal had lost only one of their last 75 Premier League games when they had opened the scoring, and their triumph here rarely looked in doubt following Havertz’s strike. Havertz thought he had doubled Arsenal’s lead with 34 minutes gone when he converted Gabriel Jesus’ cross. But Jesus – handed his third successive start for the first time in a year – strayed into an offside position in the build-up. When referee Darren England blew for half-time, Ipswich had failed to touch the ball in Arsenal’s box, becoming just the second side to do so in the Premier League this season. Nottingham Forest were the other, away at Liverpool, before they went on to inflict Arne Slot’s sole defeat of his tenure so far. And for all of Arsenal’s possession, while they held just a one-goal advantage, Ipswich knew they were still in the game. An encouraging start to the second half for the Tractor Boys ensued, albeit without testing David Raya in the Arsenal goal. Shortly after the hour mark, Gabriel should have settled any growing Emirates nerves when he arrived unmarked to Declan Rice’s corner, but the defender headed wide of Arijanet Muric’s post when it looked easier to score. Martin Odegaard then forced a fine fingertip save from Muric at his near post after a mazy run and shot from the Arsenal skipper. Rice’s stinging goal-bound volley from the following corner was blocked by Dara O’Shea as Arsenal pushed for a game-killing second. Havertz should have tapped home Trossard’s header but he fluffed his lines. And moments later, substitute Mikel Merino’s effort was diverted from danger by a diving Muric. Ipswich looked to catch Arsenal on the counter, but the match ended without them registering a single effort on Raya’s goal. Ipswich fans goaded their opponents with chants of “boring, boring Arsenal”, but it was the Gunners who enjoyed the last laugh as they saw out 2024 with a win which keeps the pressure on Liverpool. Earlier, were booed off after their winless run was stretched to six Premier League games by a frustrating goalless draw against away-day strugglers Albion dominated for large periods on a foggy evening at the Amex Stadium and hit the woodwork inside four minutes through Julio Enciso. Bees goalkeeper Mark Flekken also made a string of important saves before being forced off injured in the 36th minute, albeit his replacement Hakon Valdimarsson was rarely tested on his Premier League debut. Ireland defender Nathan Collins played the full game in defence for Brentford, with Evan Ferguson not involved in the Brighton squad due to injury, according to reports. Brentford, who remain without a top-flight away win this term, had an early Yoane Wissa finish ruled out for offside following VAR intervention but barely threatened, despite an improved second-half showing. The Seagulls remain 10th ahead of Monday’s trip to Aston Villa, with Thomas Frank’s visitors a position and two points below moving towards their New Year’s Day showdown with Arsenal.
LONDON — A woman who claimed mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor "brutally raped and battered" her in a Dublin hotel penthouse was awarded nearly 250,000 Euros ($257,000) on Friday by a civil court jury in Ireland. Nikita Hand said the Dec. 9, 2018, assault after a night of partying left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced the woman to do anything against her will and said she fabricated the allegations after the two had consensual sex. His lawyer had called Hand a gold digger. The fighter, once the face of the Ultimate Fighting Championship but now past his prime, shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men found him liable for assault after deliberating about six hours in the High Court in Dublin. He was mobbed by cameras as he left court but did not comment. He later said on the social platform X that he would appeal the verdict and the "modest award." Hand's voice cracked and her hands trembled as she read a statement outside the courthouse, saying she would never forget what happened to her but would now be able to move on with her life. She thanked her family, partner, friends, jurors, the judge and all the supporters that had reached out to her online, but particularly her daughter. "She has given me so much strength and courage over the last six years throughout this nightmare to keep on pushing forward for justice," she said. "I want to show (her) and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and justice will be served." The Associated Press generally does not name alleged victims of sexual violence unless they come forward publicly, as Hand has done. Under Irish law, she did not have the anonymity she would have been granted in a criminal proceeding and was named publicly throughout the trial. Her lawyer told jurors that McGregor was angry about a fight he had lost in Las Vegas two months earlier and took it out on his client. "He's not a man, he's a coward," attorney John Gordon said in his closing speech. "A devious coward and you should treat him for what he is." Gordon said his client never pretended to be a saint and was only looking to have fun when she sent McGregor a message through Instagram after attending a Christmas party. He said Hand knew McGregor socially and that they had grown up in the same area. She said he picked her and a friend up in a car and shared cocaine with them, which McGregor admitted in court, on the way to the Beacon Hotel. Hand said she told McGregor she didn't want to have sex with him and that she was menstruating. She said she told him "no" as he started kissing her but he eventually pinned her to a bed and she couldn't move. McGregor put her in a chokehold and later told her, "now you know how I felt in the octagon where I tapped out three times," referring to a UFC match when he had to admit defeat, she said. Hand had to take several breaks in emotional testimony over three days. She said McGregor threatened to kill her during the encounter and she feared she would never see her young daughter again. Eventually, he let go of her. "I remember saying I was sorry, as I felt that I did something wrong and I wanted to reassure him that I wouldn't tell anyone so he wouldn't hurt me again," she testified. She said she then let him do what he wanted and he had sex with her. A paramedic who examined Hand the next day testified that she had never before seen someone with that intensity of bruising. A doctor told jurors Hand had multiple injuries. Hand said the trauma of the attack had left her unable to work as a hairdresser, she fell behind on her mortgage and had to move out of her house. Police investigated the woman's complaint but prosecutors declined to bring charges, saying there was insufficient evidence and a conviction was unlikely. McGregor, in his post on X, said he was disappointed jurors didn't see all the evidence prosecutors had reviewed. He testified that the two had athletic and vigorous sex, but that it was not rough. He said "she never said 'no' or stopped" and testified that everything she said was a lie. "It is a full blown lie among many lies," he said when asked about the chokehold allegation. "How anyone could believe that me, as a prideful person, would highlight my shortcomings." McGregor's lawyer told jurors they had to set aside their animus toward the fighter. "You may have an active dislike of him, some of you may even loathe him – there is no point pretending that the situation might be otherwise," attorney Remy Farrell said. "I'm not asking you to invite him to Sunday brunch." The defense said the woman never told investigators McGregor threatened her life. They also showed surveillance video in court that they said appeared to show the woman kiss McGregor's arm and hug him after they left the hotel room. Farrell said she looked "happy, happy, happy." McGregor said he was "beyond petrified" when first questioned by police and read them a prepared statement. On the advice of his lawyer, he refused to answer more than 100 follow-up questions. The jury ruled against Hand in a case she brought against one of McGregor's friends, James Lawrence, whom she accused of having sex with her in the hotel without consent. Get local news delivered to your inbox!India cannot stay out of global technological race, said Jeet Adani. India cannot stay out of global technological race and should build capabilities that will keep it at the top while remaining vigilant against its misuse, said Jeet Adani, Director, Adani Airport Holdings Ltd. Speaking at IIT Bombay's Techfest 2024, Mr Adani, the 27-year old younger son of infrastructure magnate Gautam Adani, said the future of technology is both scary and exciting. "But be it scary or exciting, we cannot afford to ignore technology or even go slow in our use of technology -- either as a nation or as its citizens. India cannot stay out of this global race," he said. "Our generation needs to build capabilities to lead India into this new technological era if we want to stay at the top of our game and realise our dream of Viksit Bharat -- to become a USD 26-trillion economy by 2047," he said. While technology has helped mankind progress, it is also being applied to wrong causes -- fake news, fake photos, fake videos, fake money, online scams, spoofing, phishing, and cyber-crimes. "As the scope and power of technology grows, we must be careful not to let the harmful use of technology overshadow the beneficial use of technology," he said. Technology is only as good as the benefit it provides. "As we stand on the brink of a new AI-empowered world, we must all ask ourselves how to ensure that the vast potential of technology is harnessed for good. There is no limit to where technology can go or lead us, but it is our generation's responsibility to guide its journey," he said. Even as he hailed Google's new quantum computing chip, Willow, as a revolutionary breakthrough with immense potential for positive impact in areas like drug discovery, renewable energy and climate change, he cautioned that such power also comes with responsibility. "What you do with that kind of power is a choice -- whether to solve the world's problems or create new ones." Urging students to anchor their technological pursuits to societal goals, he called on the next generation to drive progress responsibly, ensuring that technology uplifts humanity and fosters inclusivity. India, he noted, has already embraced technology with purpose through initiatives like UPI and Digital India, which have made financial and digital services accessible to millions. India's 180 billion cashless transactions a year is, he pointed out, a far bigger number than every advanced economy, whether it is the US or the UK or Singapore or any of the developed countries in Europe. "India is in overdrive, and for good reason," he said. "Harnessing technology is crucial not just for economic growth but for addressing long-standing challenges in healthcare, education, and governance." At the Adani Group, simulation-based training is improving workplace safety at ports, At Adani-managed airports, innovations like DigiYatra, eGates and the 'aviio' app are enhancing the passenger experience at airports and the conglomerate is turning arid desert of Kutch in Gujarat into the world's largest clean energy project by leveraging cutting-edge technologies to accelerate construction. Promoted Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com "At Khavda (Gujarat), we're adding 25 MW of clean energy every single day," he said. "That's like building a project the size of our earlier global milestone, the Kamuthi solar plant, every month. Khavda is super-massive, and it's driven by the beneficial use of technology to make a real difference." As India aspires to become a USD 26-trillion economy by 2047, Mr Adani's message underscored the critical role of purpose-driven technology in shaping a future that benefits everyone. (Disclaimer: New Delhi Television is a subsidiary of AMG Media Networks Limited, an Adani Group Company.)Road weariness preceded the holiday break for the Kings and now their rest will come to an abrupt close as they hit the ice for a rare pair of consecutive home games in which they’ll host their arch nemeses Saturday and a fellow “Expansion Six” franchise Sunday. First up, it’ll be the Edmonton Oilers, who took the crown of the hottest team in the NHL from the Kings as they vaulted from fifth to second in the Pacific Division in two and a half weeks’ time. Then, the Kings will welcome the Philadelphia Flyers, who still play on Broad Street but have been decidedly less bullyish of late, having dropped four of their past five decisions to slip back into the mushy middle of the Metropolitan Division. The Flyers most recently lost to the rival Pittsburgh Penguins by a 7-3 score, the same count that the Kings beat them by on Dec. 19 in Philly. For the Kings’ part, they wrapped up their second seven-game road trip of the season Sunday, finishing with the same 3-2-2 mark they did on their season-opening swing. They rallied for a point in Nashville and then endured a regulation defeat in Washington after what Capitals goalie Logan Thompson described as a “playoff-style game” concluded the Kings’ journey with losses on back-to-back dates. “I thought (the trip) wasn’t bad. We battled back in Nashville to get a point, which was good to get a point after coming into the third [period] down two,” defenseman Mikey Anderson told reporters. “Overall, you’re proud of the effort. All in all, it wasn’t a terrible road trip.” Phillip Danault missed that finale but participated fully in Friday’s practice, per Hockey Royalty’s Russell Morgan, who also reported that Trevor Moore and Trevor Lewis skated in red non-contact jerseys. Danault missed just one game while Moore has been out for the past five. Already missing top defender Drew Doughty, the Kings will need every healthy hand on deck this weekend. While Philly’s Travis Konecny and Matvei Michkov will present challenges Sunday, Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl and captain Connor McDavid entered Friday’s slate of games tied for the second-longest active scoring streak (nine games) while having the two most prolific surges. Draisaitl’s 20 points and McDavid’s 18 over the past nine games have helped the Oilers to an 8-1-0 record in those outings as part of an 11-2-0 display that’s propelled them above the Kings as well as the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks. The Oilers have allowed three or fewer goals in 12 of their past 13 games, falling 6-5 to the Florida Panthers in a rematch of last season’s Stanley Cup Final after their only other loss in that span came 1-0 to Pacific-topping Vegas. Both McDavid and Draisaitl have turned in a four-point performance during their active scoring sprees. Zach Hyman has returned to form, piling up 10 of his 13 goals this season in his past nine games. Former Kings winger Viktor Arvidsson had a goal and an assist in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Ottawa, which marked his third game back from a lower-body injury. Related Articles Edmonton has eliminated the Kings from three straight postseasons, with special teams taking on an outsized role, particularly last spring when the Oilers were all but automatic on the power play and were perfect on the penalty kill. The Kings entered the finale of their road trip in an 0-for-10 funk but converted on the power play for their only goal against Washington, while the Oilers have had a top-five power play since Dec. 1, cranking at a 30.8% clip with the extra man. When: 1 p.m. Saturday Where: Crypto.com Arena How to watch: FDSNW When: 6 p.m. Sunday Where: Crypto.com Arena How to watch: FDSNWCHAMPIONING MENTAL HEALTH FOR NCAA STUDENT-ATHLETES: LG ELECTRONICS CONCLUDES 3RD SEASON OF 'TRANSPARENT CONVERSATIONS' PODCAST
Hina Khan shares heartfelt post about Salman KhanNone
By MICHELLE L. PRICE WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump’s supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump’s movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump’s Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer , a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer’s comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks , whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar.” Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government , weighed in, defending the tech industry’s need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump’s world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift, and his presidential transition team did not respond to a message seeking comment. Musk, the world’s richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect , was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump’s movement but his stance on the tech industry’s hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry’s need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent,” he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Related Articles National Politics | Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers? National Politics | Trump threat to immigrant health care tempered by economic hopes National Politics | In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families National Politics | Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case National Politics | New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns Trump’s own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration , including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order , which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump’s businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club , and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country” and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country,” he told the “All-In” podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump’s budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.No. 22 Texas A&M beats Texas Tech 72-67 in 1st meeting of former conference rivals since 2012Georgia Tech looks to break out of funk, meets Alabama A&MAmazon’s latest and greatest tablet, the Fire Max 11 , is currently available at its lowest price ever as part of the ongoing Holiday Deals on Amazon. Priced at just $139 for the 64GB model, down from its original $229 , this offer matches the record-low price seen during Black Friday. With a substantial 39% discount , this deal is your best chance to acquire a high-performance tablet at a fraction of its usual cost. See offer The Fire Max 11 stands out as a versatile all-in-one device and it is designed to cater to a wide range of digital needs. Its standout feature is the vivid 11-inch display which boasts a resolution of 2000 x 1200 pixels and a pixel density of 213 PPI. This screen delivers crisp and clear visuals whether you’re streaming your favorite shows, immersing yourself in e-books or engaging in graphically demanding games. The tablet’s display quality rivals that of more expensive competitors, including some iPad models. Great Screen, Powerful Device Under the hood, the Fire Max 11 packs a punch with its MediaTek octa-core processor clocked at 2.2GHz. This powerful chip is coupled with 4GB of RAM and ensures smooth multitasking and responsive performance across various applications. The Amazon tablet comes with 64GB of internal storage (a version with 128GB is also on sale at Amazon) which can be expanded up to 1TB via a microSD card. In terms of connectivity, the Fire Max 11 supports Wi-Fi 6 for faster and more stable internet connections. One of the most impressive features of the Fire Max 11 is its battery life: the tablet can last up to 14 hours on a single charge and outperforms many competitors in its price range and even some premium tablets. This extended battery life makes the Fire Max 11 an ideal companion for long trips, work days or extended entertainment sessions. The tablet also supports fast charging. Additionally, the Fire Max 11 offers versatility with its optional stylus and keyboard accessories (sold separatly). These add-ons transform the tablet into a productivity powerhouse so that you can take handwritten notes, sketch, or type comfortably. The Fire Max 11 doesn’t skimp on other features either: It boasts dual 8-megapixel cameras (front and rear) capable of 1080p video recording which makes it suitable for video calls and basic photography. The tablet runs on Fire OS 8 which is Amazon’s custom Android-based operating system and which provides access to a wide range of apps through the Amazon Appstore. With the holiday season in full swing, this deal presents a great opportunity to gift yourself or a loved one a capable tactile tablet without straining your budget. This offer is part of Amazon’s Holiday Deals and at this record-low price, stock is likely to deplete quickly. See at Amazon
BOYFRIEND OVERWHELMED BY FAMILY AT THANKSGIVING DINNER
Noise Detection And Monitoring Market size to increase by USD 7.19 Billion between 2023 to 2028, Market Segmentation by End-user, Component, Geography , TechnavioRoad weariness preceded the holiday break for the Kings and now their rest will come to an abrupt close as they hit the ice for a rare pair of consecutive home games in which they’ll host their arch nemeses Saturday and a fellow “Expansion Six” franchise Sunday. First up, it’ll be the Edmonton Oilers, who took the crown of the hottest team in the NHL from the Kings as they vaulted from fifth to second in the Pacific Division in two and a half weeks’ time. Then, the Kings will welcome the Philadelphia Flyers, who still play on Broad Street but have been decidedly less bullyish of late, having dropped four of their past five decisions to slip back into the mushy middle of the Metropolitan Division. The Flyers most recently lost to the rival Pittsburgh Penguins by a 7-3 score, the same count that the Kings beat them by on Dec. 19 in Philly. For the Kings’ part, they wrapped up their second seven-game road trip of the season Sunday, finishing with the same 3-2-2 mark they did on their season-opening swing. They rallied for a point in Nashville and then endured a regulation defeat in Washington after what Capitals goalie Logan Thompson described as a “playoff-style game” concluded the Kings’ journey with losses on back-to-back dates. “I thought (the trip) wasn’t bad. We battled back in Nashville to get a point, which was good to get a point after coming into the third [period] down two,” defenseman Mikey Anderson told reporters. “Overall, you’re proud of the effort. All in all, it wasn’t a terrible road trip.” Phillip Danault missed that finale but participated fully in Friday’s practice, per Hockey Royalty’s Russell Morgan, who also reported that Trevor Moore and Trevor Lewis skated in red non-contact jerseys. Danault missed just one game while Moore has been out for the past five. Already missing top defender Drew Doughty, the Kings will need every healthy hand on deck this weekend. While Philly’s Travis Konecny and Matvei Michkov will present challenges Sunday, Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl and captain Connor McDavid entered Friday’s slate of games tied for the second-longest active scoring streak (nine games) while having the two most prolific surges. Draisaitl’s 20 points and McDavid’s 18 over the past nine games have helped the Oilers to an 8-1-0 record in those outings as part of an 11-2-0 display that’s propelled them above the Kings as well as the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks. The Oilers have allowed three or fewer goals in 12 of their past 13 games, falling 6-5 to the Florida Panthers in a rematch of last season’s Stanley Cup Final after their only other loss in that span came 1-0 to Pacific-topping Vegas. Both McDavid and Draisaitl have turned in a four-point performance during their active scoring sprees. Zach Hyman has returned to form, piling up 10 of his 13 goals this season in his past nine games. Former Kings winger Viktor Arvidsson had a goal and an assist in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Ottawa, which marked his third game back from a lower-body injury. Edmonton has eliminated the Kings from three straight postseasons, with special teams taking on an outsized role, particularly last spring when the Oilers were all but automatic on the power play and were perfect on the penalty kill. The Kings entered the finale of their road trip in an 0-for-10 funk but converted on the power play for their only goal against Washington, while the Oilers have had a top-five power play since Dec. 1, cranking at a 30.8% clip with the extra man. Edmonton at Kings When: 1 p.m. Saturday Where: Crypto.com Arena How to watch: FDSNW Philadelphia at Kings When: 6 p.m. Sunday Where: Crypto.com Arena How to watch: FDSNW
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