More NHL games in jeopardy of cancellation

By Staff and wire reports

Oct. 25, 2012 12 AM PT

The NHL’s self-imposed deadline for a full 82-game schedule passed without a new collective bargaining agreement in place.

As a result, the league was intending to pull its most recent offer to the players off the table because it was contingent on the sides’ completing a deal by Thursday, according to a report.

The move has been widely expected, considering the league said as much last week. And the NHL Players’ Assn. viewed last week’s proposal as a take-it-or-leave-it offer. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told ESPN.com that the league’s last proposal “no longer works because it was a proposal to save 82 games.”

Daly, via email to The Times on Thursday, said that there were “no talks with the PA., no announcements today.”

That will probably change as early as Friday. So far, the league has made two announcements of cancellations, totaling 135 games. There is a possibility the rest of November could be gone with yet another terse release.

—Lisa Dillman and Helene Elliott

ETC.

Galaxy wins in El Salvador

Michael Stephens scored in the 80th minute to help the Galaxy beat Isidro Metapan, 3-2, in El Salvador in the last group match in the CONCACAF Champions League.

Jack McBean gave the Galaxy a 1-0 lead in the first half with a header, but Isidro Metapan responded in the second half with Paolo Suarez’s goal in the 54th-minute. McBean scored again seven minutes later, and El Salvador’s Nicolas Munoz quickly countered on a free kick to tie it at 2-2.

The Galaxy, which had already wrapped up a quarterfinal spot, finished 3-0-1 in the three-team group.

It was hot, humid and his putts were lipping out. Tiger Woods felt as if he’d been run over halfway through his first round in Malaysia since winning the 1999 World Cup on the same course.

The 14-time major winner rallied, making five birdies on the back nine for a five-under-par 66 that left him three strokes behind leader Troy Matteson in the CIMB Classic at Kuala Lumpur. Matteson had eight birdies in his 63 to take a one-stroke lead over fellow Americans Jeff Overton, Brian Harman and Robert Garrigus.

The tournament will become a full-fledged PGA Tour event next year when the tour begins its new season in October after the FedEx Cup.

Wales’ Jamie Donaldson shot a course-record 10-under 62 to take a four-stroke lead after the first round in the European Tour’s BMW Masters at Shanghai.

South Korea’s Inbee Park shot a seven-under 65 to take a two-stroke lead over local favorite and top-ranked Yani Tseng after the first round of the LPGA Taiwan Championship at Yang Mei.

Dallas Mavericks guard Delonte West was suspended for the second time in as many weeks for conduct detrimental to the team, putting his future in Dallas in doubt.

After practice Thursday, Coach Rick Carlisle refused to elaborate on West, referring to the release from the team announcing the suspension but disclosing no specifics about his conduct.

Rafael Nadal has pulled out of next month’s season-ending World Tour Finals because of an ongoing left knee injury.

The Spaniard, who hasn’t played since June, also will miss the Paris Masters next week.

Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina had 10 aces in defeating Brian Baker of the U.S., 7-5, 6-1, to advance to the Swiss Indoors quarterfinals at Basel.

David Ferrer cruised to a 6-4, 6-2 victory over fellow Spaniard Albert Ramos to reach the quarterfinals of the Valencia Open in Spain.