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Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has insisted that "everything that can be done" to cope with the severe pressure on hospitals is being done, as ambulances queue up outside packed A&Es across Northern Ireland. The Department of Health, in a statement on Sunday afternoon, said the health and social care system "continues to experience severe pressure on services". A Stormont spokesperson said priority will be given to "immediately life-threatening" cases as medics struggle to cope with the influx of patients. Read more: Northern Ireland ambulances queuing outside EDs as patients wait hours to be seen Read more: Details of all health and social care services available in NI over Christmas and New Year Mr Nesbitt pointed to flu and the need for "longer term solutions" including both wider reform of the health service and an increase in funding. Last night, patients waited up to nine hours on an ambulance as crews were forced to queue outside Emergency Departments to hand over patients. In a statement today, a spokesperson for the Stormont health department said: "The health and social care system continues to experience severe pressure on services. The system is working extremely hard to care for patients. Priority will always be...
After Iranian arrest tied to U.S. military murders, town advances sanctuary policiesBotulism poisoning is a rare condition caused by the ingestion or injection of botulinum toxin, a potent neurotoxin that can affect the nervous system and lead to muscle paralysis. In severe cases, it can even be life-threatening. Prompt treatment is crucial in such cases to prevent further complications and ensure a full recovery.
A former model who attended parties hosted by Sean 'Diddy' Combs has admitted "all of the emotions that I felt in the past just came flooding back" after he was denied bail for a third time . The 55-year-old rapper is currently being held at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center as he awaits federal trial. Combs was arrested in September on charges including sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has vehemently denied all allegations against him and pleaded not guilty in court. The Bad Boy Records founder was denied bail again earlier this week. Following the decision, Precious Muir said she "cried tears of joy." P Diddy demands 'young, fresh faces' as he screams and swears in resurfaced video Khloe Kardashian begs pal to be quiet as she brags about 'butt naked' Diddy party in resurfaced clip Speaking exclusively to The Mirror US, she said, "I cried tears of joy, all of the emotions that I felt in past just came flooding back, finally our voices are being heard. So thankful for this outcome, it’s like a sense of relief. It would have made me feel extremely uneasy to know that he wasn’t behind bars." The former Playboy Bunny suggested Combs' alleged victims may have been "fearful in speaking out against him" if he had been granted bail. She continued, "Take his name anyway for a moment and just describe his alleged crimes over decades and what he has currently been accused of doing whilst in prison, no other Perpetrator would get bail. He doesn't deserve special treatment." Diddy had been accused of witness tampering by prosecutors. US Attorney Damian Williams and his legal team wrote a letter following the rapper's latest bail request, which was obtained by The Mirror US. It said, "The bail package presented by the defendant does not come close to ensuring the safety of the community, including from the defendant's ongoing efforts to obstruct this case, nor does it adequately protect from risk of flight. For all of these reasons, the defendant’s renewed application for bail must be denied." The prosecution claimed in the letter Diddy's "obstructive acts" have shown a "persistent, brazen effort to improperly interfere with this criminal case." They then gave examples of the rapper's alleged obstruction, including using "multiple unauthorized means of communications" while in jail. "Even after defense counsel represented that the defendant had stopped using ContactMeASAP, he has continued to use the ContactMeASAP account of at least one other inmate, sending messages to a family member as recently as November 24, 2024," Williams wrote. The US Attorney also alleged that while at the MDC , Combs has "instructed family members and third parties to contact multiple potential victims and witnesses." The letter accused Diddy of giving these instructions via "unauthorized means of communication" and by using "coded language." Judge Arun Subramanian said in his decision to deny bail, "The Court finds that the government has shown by clear and convincing evidence that no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of the community." Precious said she has "found some hope again in the American Justice System," following the decision. Diddy's defense team issued a letter to Judge Subramanian prior to the decision as they argued the "nonstop drumbeat of negative publicity has destroyed his reputation and will make it virtually impossible for him to receive a fair trial." Their letter continued, "Mr. Combs is not required to sit idly by and acquiesce to all of this. He has a right to a fair trial and a constitutional right to speak out on his own behalf. The government’s arguments that asking his children to post birthday wishes on Instagram and that he is not entitled to publicly express his opinion that this prosecution is racially motivated are, quite simply, an unconstitutional effort to silence him." In a statement shared with The Mirror US, Combs attorneys added, "He has unwavering faith in the facts and in the fairness of the judicial process. In court, the truth will come to light, demonstrating that the claims against Mr. Combs are without merit." The Mirror US has approached Combs' attorneys for further comment. Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sport and entertainment stories. DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.
Unleashing Gaming’s Secret Weapon? Discover the Power of ‘MOS Stock’.
Advisors Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. ( NASDAQ:GLPI – Free Report ) by 182.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 3,214 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock after buying an additional 2,075 shares during the period. Advisors Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Gaming and Leisure Properties were worth $165,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties by 4.8% during the first quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 10,286 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $469,000 after purchasing an additional 470 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its holdings in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties by 52.8% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 54,504 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $2,511,000 after buying an additional 18,837 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its position in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties by 41.6% in the second quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,545 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $70,000 after acquiring an additional 454 shares in the last quarter. DNB Asset Management AS raised its holdings in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties by 2.7% during the second quarter. DNB Asset Management AS now owns 40,644 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $1,838,000 after acquiring an additional 1,086 shares during the period. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc boosted its stake in Gaming and Leisure Properties by 18,500.0% in the 2nd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 744 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 740 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.14% of the company’s stock. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the company. JMP Securities restated a “market outperform” rating and issued a $55.00 target price on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties in a report on Tuesday, October 29th. StockNews.com downgraded Gaming and Leisure Properties from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, October 28th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Gaming and Leisure Properties from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their target price for the company from $49.00 to $54.00 in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. Raymond James increased their price target on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties from $50.00 to $53.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 21st. Finally, Mizuho lowered their price objective on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties from $52.00 to $51.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $53.32. Gaming and Leisure Properties Trading Down 0.1 % Shares of NASDAQ:GLPI opened at $51.61 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 11.35, a quick ratio of 11.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.16 billion, a PE ratio of 18.05, a P/E/G ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 0.99. Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. has a 1 year low of $41.80 and a 1 year high of $52.60. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $50.58 and a 200 day moving average price of $48.60. Gaming and Leisure Properties ( NASDAQ:GLPI – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.67 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.92 by ($0.25). Gaming and Leisure Properties had a return on equity of 17.31% and a net margin of 51.93%. The company had revenue of $385.34 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $385.09 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.92 EPS. Gaming and Leisure Properties’s quarterly revenue was up 7.2% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. will post 3.67 EPS for the current fiscal year. Gaming and Leisure Properties Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 6th will be given a $0.76 dividend. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.89%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 6th. Gaming and Leisure Properties’s dividend payout ratio is 106.29%. Insider Activity In other news, Director E Scott Urdang sold 3,000 shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.39, for a total value of $151,170.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 146,800 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,397,252. The trade was a 2.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Insiders own 4.37% of the company’s stock. Gaming and Leisure Properties Company Profile ( Free Report ) GLPI is engaged in the business of acquiring, financing, and owning real estate property to be leased to gaming operators in triple-net lease arrangements, pursuant to which the tenant is responsible for all facility maintenance, insurance required in connection with the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties, taxes levied on or with respect to the leased properties and all utilities and other services necessary or appropriate for the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties. Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Gaming and Leisure Properties How to buy stock: A step-by-step guide for beginners The Latest 13F Filings Are In: See Where Big Money Is Flowing 3 Ways To Invest In Coffee, Other Than Drinking It 3 Penny Stocks Ready to Break Out in 2025 5 Top Rated Dividend Stocks to Consider FMC, Mosaic, Nutrien: Top Agricultural Stocks With Big Potential Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GLPI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. ( NASDAQ:GLPI – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Gaming and Leisure Properties Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Gaming and Leisure Properties and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Their ages vary. But a conspicuous handful of filmmaking lions in winter, or let’s say late autumn, have given us new reasons to be grateful for their work over the decades — even for the work that didn’t quite work. Which, yes, sounds like ingratitude. But do we even want more conventional or better-behaved work from talents such as Francis Ford Coppola? Even if we’re talking about “Megalopolis” ? If Clint Eastwood’s “Juror #2” gave audiences a less morally complicated courtroom drama, would that have mattered, given Warner Bros.’ butt-headed decision to plop it in less than three dozen movie theaters in the U.S.? Coppola is 85. Eastwood is 94. Paul Schrader, whose latest film “Oh, Canada” arrives this week and is well worth seeking out, is a mere 78. Based on the 2021 Russell Banks novel “Foregone,” “Oh, Canada” is the story of a documentary filmmaker, played by Richard Gere, being interviewed near the end of his cancer-shrouded final days. In the Montreal home he shares with his wife and creative partner, played by Uma Thurman, he consents to the interview by two former students of his. Gere’s character, Leonard Fife, has no little contempt for these two, whom he calls “Mr. and Mrs. Ken Burns of Canada” with subtle disdain. As we learn over the artful dodges and layers of past and present, events imagined and/or real, Fife treats the interview as a final confession from a guarded and deceptive soul. He’s also a hero to everyone in the room, famous for his anti-Vietnam war political activism, and for the Frederick Wiseman-like inflection of his own films’ interview techniques. The real-life filmmaker name-checked in “Oh, Canada” is documentarian Errol Morris, whose straight-to-the-lens framing of interview subjects was made possible by his Interrotron device. In Schrader’s adaptation, Fife doesn’t want the nominal director (Michael Imperioli, a nicely finessed embodiment of a second-rate talent with first-rate airs) in his eyeline. Rather, as he struggles with hazy, self-incriminating memories of affairs, marriages, one-offs with a friend’s wife and a tense, brief reunion with the son he never knew, Fife wants only his wife, Emma — his former Goddard College student — in this metaphoric confessional. Schrader and his editor Benjamin Rodriguez Jr. treat the memories as on-screen flashbacks spanning from 1968 to 2023. At times, Gere and Thurman appear as their decades-young selves, without any attempt to de-age them, digitally or otherwise. (Thank god, I kind of hate that stuff in any circumstance.) In other sequences from Fife’s past, Jacob Elordi portrays Fife, with sly and convincing behavioral details linking his performance to Gere’s persona. We hear frequent voiceovers spoken by Gere about having ruined his life by age 24, at least spiritually or morally. Banks’ novel is no less devoted to a dying man’s addled but ardent attempt to come clean and own up to what has terrified him the most in the mess and joy of living: Honesty. Love. Commitment. There are elements of “Oh, Canada” that soften Banks’ conception of Fife, from the parentage of Fife’s abandoned son to the specific qualities of Gere’s performance. It has been 44 years since Gere teamed with Schrader on “American Gigolo,” a movie made by a very different filmmaker with very different preoccupations of hetero male hollowness. It’s also clearly the same director at work, I think. And Gere remains a unique camera object, with a stunning mastery of filling a close-up with an unblinking stillness conveying feelings easier left behind. The musical score is pretty watery, and with Schrader you always get a few lines of tortured rhetoric interrupting the good stuff. In the end, “Oh, Canada” has an extraordinarily simple idea at its core: That of a man with a movie camera, most of his life, now on the other side of the lens. Not easy. “I can’t tell the truth unless that camera’s on!” he barks at one point. I don’t think the line from the novel made it into Schrader’s script, but it too sums up this lion-in-winter feeling of truth without triumphal Hollywood catharsis. The interview, Banks wrote, is one’s man’s “last chance to stop lying.” It’s also a “final prayer,” dramatized by the Calvinist-to-the-bone filmmaker who made sure to include that phrase in his latest devotion to final prayers and missions of redemption. “Oh, Canada” — 3 stars (out of 4) No MPA rating (some language and sexual material) Running time: 1:34 How to watch: Opens in theaters Dec. 13, running 1in Chicago Dec. 13-19 at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St.; siskelfilmcenter.org Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic.IRVING, Texas , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Commercial Metals Company (NYSE: CMC ) today published its sustainability report for 2024, showcasing the company's industry-leading environmental performance. 2024 marks the tenth year of sustainability reporting for the Company. The document, which can be found on CMC's sustainability website ( https://esg.cmc.com/ ), includes progress updates regarding the environmental goals that were established in the Company's 2019 / 2020 report. "The 2024 report highlights the progress CMC is making towards our social, environmental and governance goals," said Peter Matt , President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are committed to continuous improvement across all facets of our business, from the way we reduce our impact on our environment to how we engage with our employees, suppliers, customers and other stakeholders." About CMC CMC is an innovative solutions provider helping build a stronger, safer, and more sustainable world. Through an extensive manufacturing network principally located in the United States and Central Europe, we offer products and technologies to meet the critical reinforcement needs of the global construction sector. CMC's solutions support construction across a wide variety of applications, including infrastructure, non-residential, residential, industrial, and energy generation and transmission. SOURCE Commercial Metals Company
In conclusion, Xiaohua and Xiang Zuo's hairstyling collaboration not only entertained millions of viewers but also showcased the magic that can happen when creativity and talent come together. The live stream's success serves as a reminder of the boundless possibilities in the world of online content creation and the enduring appeal of authenticity and genuine connection with audiences.
Furthermore, other key players such as Eric Bailly and Phil Jones are also facing extended spells on the sidelines with various injuries. The defensive depth of Manchester United has been tested in recent weeks, with Solskjaer having to rely on makeshift options to fill the void left by the injured players.
In a statement released by Manchester United, the club expressed their delight in securing the signing of such a promising young talent. The club's youth development director praised the youngster's dedication, work ethic, and passion for the game, highlighting his potential to make a significant impact at the club in the years to come.Country star Zach Bryan swore at the crowd at one of his concerts after an object was thrown on stage – the second time this has happened in a week. The singer halted his show at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon , on Wednesday and scolded gig-goers after an object resembling a can was hurled at him. It comes after Bryan stopped mid-performance to scold one concert-goer on Monday after they launched an object on-stage and hit one of his guitarists at the Tacoma Dome in Washington . Footage shared by TMZ shows Bryan being hit in the leg by the object as he performed his 2023 song Tourniquet. He then picked up the object and asked his fans, “All right, who threw it?”Let’s not be d----, huh? Throwing stuff at concerts?” before throwing the object back into the crowd. Zach Bryan reveals why he missed CMAs following Brianna Chickenfry split Brianna 'Chickenfry' LaPaglia claims Zach Bryan bought her an engagement ring before split Footage of the Washington incident showed the object hit a guitarist before the 28-year-old singer bent over, picked it up and angrily asking the jam-packed crowd, "Who threw this? Who was it? Does anyone know? Who was it? Don’t throw s--- at concerts! Huh? And if you guys do know who threw it we can get them out of here, if we ever find out who did it.” In the comment section of the now-viral video posted by Country Central on TikTok , many users stood by Zach's outburst agreeing it was inappropriate to put him and his fellow bandmates in harms way. One person wrote, "I'll never not appreciate Zach Bryan. Most artists don't appreciate garbage thrown at them. He did nothing wrong." And another fan said, "It's the fact too that it hit one of his bandmates. People don't like things being thrown at them period. I would've been p----- too." And a third chimed in, "With him 100%. Concert etiquette is horrible these days. No one knows how to act in public." The singer's gig outburst come after he split up with his podcaster girlfriends, Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia last month. He announced their breakup in an Instagram post, saying, “Addressing something: Brianna and me have broken up with eachother [sic] and I respect and love her with every ounce of my heart. “She has loved me unconditionally for a very long time and for that I’ll always thank her. I’ve had an incredibly hard year personally and struggled through some pretty severe things. I thought it would be beneficial for both of us to go our different ways. I am not perfect and never will be.” LaPaglia, 25, later claimed she was “blindsided” by his remarks in an Instagram post, saying, “Hey guys I’m feeling really blindsided right now. Gonna hop off social media for a while and attempt to heal privately, when I’m ready I’ll be back and ready to talk.I love you guys so much thank you for all of your kind words. Remember you are so loved and everything’s always gonna be OK.” Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sport and entertainment stories. DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.In conclusion, the case of the alleged indecent photos involving Greenland Group's chairman raises important considerations about the power of information, the impact of rumors, and the need for ethical conduct in the business world. Let us use this incident as an opportunity to reflect on the importance of accuracy, accountability, and integrity in all our dealings.
Title: Unusual Adjustment in Monetary Policy Orientation! Mortgage Rates Expected to Dip Below 3% Next Year, Deposit Rates May Also DeclineThe Brand Department of Hisense Group: Current Internet speculation about layoffs at Hisense is misleadingBlogger: Bayern Forward Mathis Terho Returns to Team Training After Recovery
Is the NORAD Santa tracker safe from a government shutdown?
Title: Herona's Manager: The Game Against Liverpool is Worth Enjoying, But We Must Give Our AllNORMAL, Ill. (AP) — Wenkers Wright ran for 118 yards and two touchdowns and No. 13 Illinois State knocked off North Dakota for the first time, 35-13 in the regular season finale for both teams Saturday. The Redbirds are 9-2 (6-2 Missouri Valley Conference) and are looking to reach the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2019 and sixth time in Brock Spack's 16 seasons as head coach. Illinois State opened the game with some trickery. Eddie Kasper pulled up on a fleaflicker and launched a 30-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Loyd to cap a seven-play, 70-yard opening drive. Simon Romfo tied it on North Dakota's only touchdown of the day, throwing 20 yards to Nate DeMontagnac. Wright scored from the 10 to make it 14-7 after a quarter, and after C.J. Elrichs kicked a 20-yard field goal midway through the second to make it 14-10 at intermission, Wright powered in from the 18 and Mitch Bartol caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Tommy Rittenhouse to make it 28-10 after three. Seth Glatz added a 13-yard touchdown run to make it 35-10 before Elrichs added a 37-yard field goal to get the Fighting Hawks on the board to set the final margin. Rittenhouse finished 21 of 33 passing for 187 yards for Illinois State. Loyd caught eight passes for 121 yards. Romfo completed 11 of 26 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown with an interception for North Dakota (5-7, 2-6). Illinois State faced North Dakota for just the fourth time and third time as Missouri Valley Conference opponents. The Redbirds lost the previous three meetings. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballThe Montreal Canadiens fell 4-3 to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden Saturday afternoon. The Rangers force teams to be at their best, and the Canadiens gave a good account of themselves, allowing the winning goal with just 23 seconds left. It feels as though it’s all going wrong with the Montreal Canadiens, but they actually entered their weekend afternoon series against the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins with a 4-2-1 record in their last seven. Wilde Horses Head Coach Martin St. Louis changed up just about every line and pairing for this contest, and he got a good response from his troops. A new line that he tried had some good moments – including the first goal. It was Christian Dvorak in the middle for Brendan Gallagher and Juraj Slafkovsky. That’s an interesting threesome because Gallagher will always drag his mates into the fight, but if his mates don’t have any talent, it really doesn’t matter. Gallagher excels at bringing out the best in good players. Dvorak should do more overall. He has the talent to do more, and there has been an expectation since he was acquired for a first-round draft choice that he’s a better player than he has shown in Montreal. Slafkovsky is in the learning phase of his career and one of the things that he can learn is to compete harder. Slafkovsky can benefit from seeing just how much Gallagher works and demands from his mates. On the first goal, it was Gallagher who won the puck in the corner. He then fed Slafkovsky who battled for his puck win, then Slafkovsky fed Mike Matheson in front of the net for the goal. It was a goal that demanded hard work from players who have the balance and strength on their skates to achieve wins in puck battles. Nick Suzuki had a strong game with Cole Caufield and Alex Newhook. Suzuki kept in a puck at the blue line in the third period. He fed to Cole Caufield who somehow find the five-hole even though the gap was the diameter of the puck. Caufield has 14 on the season. He is on pace for exactly 50 goals in the season. Late in the third period, the Canadiens tied the game on a tremendous play from the same line. It was Caufield with the pass to free Lane Hutson who faked a shot and slid a perfect pass cross-crease to Suzuki for the tally. Jonathan Quick had no chance. It was also one of Kirby Dach’s best games of the season as he lined up with Josh Anderson and Joshua Roy. Dach played with a lot of edge. The Canadiens actually won the analytics battle but fell short in special teams allowing three power-play goals. Suzuki’s line had an 87 Goals Expected share and Dach’s line had a 77. It’s not always beautiful, this game of hockey. The Rangers make you play an ‘ice-pack’ game with a lot of tough and known battlers like Jacob Trouba, Chris Kreider, Sam Carrick and Matt Rempe in their line-up. If you are not ready to fight, this Rangers team will make you look like cowards. The Canadiens were ready to battle – they did not back down; they were not intimidated. Part of becoming a regular NHL is understanding there are a lot of elements to the sport and they aren’t all pretty. Despite it being the last day of November, this one felt like a playoff game. It was also a good chance for a young line-up to learn lessons well. They got angry, and they got hungry to compete. That’s a good thing. Wilde Goats Another of the NHL’s ridiculous half-measures is a concussion spotter watching the game upstairs. It’s a great idea, but it isn’t one that the league actually cares to do properly. The rules are discretionary and different spotters seem to have different standards. In the first period, Josh Anderson sought revenge on Jacob Trouba for a vicious hit on Justin Barron the last time the clubs met. Many will argue that Trouba’s hit was clean, while here it was described as predatory. Ultimately it was a legal hit in the weird world that is the “principal point of contact” NHL: as long as any hit delivered involves contact with something else before crushing the head, then it’s fine. The Canadiens clearly didn’t think it was clean because they couldn’t wait for Trouba to get on the ice – Anderson understood the assignment and pummelled him. Two times through the 55-second beatdown Trouba lost his legs. He was concussed: losing your legs from under you is a concussion symptom. However, it was apparently not a concussion symptom in the gondola at Madison Square Garden where the spotter remained. He never made a call downstairs to pull Trouba for evaluation. When Trouba’s major penalty ended, he got a series of stick-taps from the Rangers’ players on the bench. He then took his regular shift. The NHL is perfectly happy to not penalize or suspend Trouba for his predatory hits. They are also fine with a spotter allowing the players to lose their equilibrium, instead of doing what they should know is appropriate. The NHL bylaws say that the spotter is looking for a player lying motionless, with coordination issues, or a blank look. The spotter didn’t see any coordination issues with Trouba’s legs buckling twice in 55 seconds after getting smashed on the chin. The legs must have buckled as a matter of coincidence. Though the concussion spotter is a good idea, the NHL has only paid lip service to it. Wilde Cards Ivan Demidov started his rookie season in the KHL with the best numbers ever for a ‘draft plus one’ pick. One month later, Demidov was benched and it wasn’t because of poor play. Demidov counted a magnificent 18 points in his first 20 games in the KHL for SKA St. Petersburg. He was the rookie of the month in the league. He was even near the top of the scoring in the entire league. With all of the success, the expectation was that Demidov would move from averaging 11 minutes a game to perhaps as high as 17 minutes and get elevated to the top line. What happened instead is the stuff of Russian legend. Demidov had his ice time diminished game by game, and Saturday morning in a 7-5 win for SKA, the phenom sat on the bench for the entire game – he didn’t get a single shift. ESPN’s world’s best hockey prospect sat there for 60 minutes and watched it all race by him. He’s been regularly getting five minutes and even less recently. All of these games count against his scoring record, so 18 points in 20 games is now 20 points in 31 games. Those not paying attention to details might think Demidov’s struggling. The truth is that his head coach is sabotaging his season. That head coach is also the money behind the SKA operation. Roman Rotenberg isn’t actually a hockey coach, he is an oligarch in the classic Russian style and he’s punishing Demidov for wanting to go to the NHL next season. Rotenberg’s formal educational training was to lead Gazprom, a Russian oil and gas company, not a hockey roster. The equivalent level of preposterousness would be if Geoff Molson took over behind the Canadiens bench and then didn’t play Cole Caufield. In Russia, if you have the money, you do anything you want. If you want to go from vice president of Gazprom to head coach of a hockey team, no one stops you. In fact, Rotenberg extended his own contract five seasons last year as head coach. No doubt his assessment of himself was that he thought he was excellent at coaching. The worst part about this is Demidov can not leave. He won’t be able to get out of his contract this year, and the Canadiens won’t be able to throw money at this to change events. It’s a 68-game season in the KHL. SKA has played 31. This sad story has 37 games left in it. The only hope is that the head coach decides that he wants to win games, instead of winning political points with his cronies. No doubt the Canadiens can’t wait to get him to North America. Demidov is a young man with tremendous talent. He will likely be the first 100-point player for Montreal this century when he hits his stride, and no businessman who bought his way behind a hockey bench is going to change that.