handing Calgary its team record sixth consecutive home regulation loss

LONDON -- The independent panel investigating doping in cycling hopes the chance for reduced bans and even immunity will encourage witnesses -- including Lance Armstrong -- to come forward. Adidas Eqt Norge . Tasked with shedding more light on the sports tainted past, the three-man commission, which is also investigating whether cyclings governing body colluded with Armstrong, has the power to propose reduced sanctions against testimonies. It has been set up with the approval of the World Anti-Doping Agency and will be able to seal deals with cheats offering valuable information. "The reduced bans will obviously apply to people who have not been already sanctioned," commission chairman Dick Marty told a conference call on Tuesday, adding that immunity could also be granted in some cases if the information is of "great importance." Armstrong has already been banned from Olympic sports for life but can still hope his case will be reviewed if he gives substantial information to the panel based in Lausanne, Switzerland. "For those who have already been punished and are still willing to give important information, the commission can advise the competent authorities to reconsider and shorten their bans," Marty said. The panel, which had a UCI-funded budget of 3 million Swiss francs ($3.35 million) was a key element in the manifesto of Brian Cookson, who was elected UCI president last year after defeating Pat McQuaid. It started its work on Tuesday with the aim of producing a comprehensive report within a year. "Its not just about learning from the past, its also learning lessons for the future so we dont make the same mistakes," Cookson said. The commissions main job is to determine how the culture of doping was able to flourish within cycling and to "discover the main providers and facilitators of doping in cycling" since the Festina affair in 1998. Armstrong has said he would co-operate with any international commission on doping in cycling. He has so far refused to provide sworn testimony to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, whose detailed report in 2012 of drug use by Armstrongs U.S. Postal Service team led to him being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles. Cookson did not say whether Armstrong or former UCI presidents Hein Verbruggen and McQuaid had been contacted by the commission but added they would be more than welcomed. The UCI and Verbruggen have been accused of protecting Armstrong and helping cover up his doping. The American might be interested in co-operating after telling a British newspaper last year that Verbruggen helped him cover up doping at the 1999 Tour de France. Verbruggen dismissed it as a "ridiculous story." "There will an invitation to anyone who comes forward," Cookson said. "To anybody, Lance Armstrong or anybody else. Please come forward and offer your information to the commission. ... This is a window of opportunity." Both Marty and Cookson said confidentiality will be granted to witnesses but all the criminal offences compiled will be transmitted to the relevant authorities, whichever the country. They added that negotiations will take place with possible witnesses ahead of their testimonies in order to determine if the information they can provide justifies a reduced ban. "There can be preliminary discussions but until the evidence has been heard it is impossible to determine the amount of sanction reduction," Cookson said. "The reduced sanctions will only apply for the period that the commission is operating, and the danger is other people will come forward. If anyone has something to hide now is the time to come forward and tell all of the truth before someone else comes and tells the truth about your activities." The other members of the commission are German anti-doping expert Ulrich Haas and Peter Nicholson, a former Australian military officer and war crimes investigator. Adidas Neo Lite Racer Norge . The 57-year-old Tietjens has coached New Zealand to nine IRB World Sevens titles and to four Commonwealth Games gold medals as its only coach in the professional era. New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew said the re-signing was made with a focus on 2016 when sevens will be in the Olympics. Adidas Ultra Boost Norge . -- Washingtons Bradley Beal seemed to make every shot he took in setting a career high with 37 points. http://www.nmdnorgesalg.com/ . Marc-Andre Fleury made 27 saves to backstop the Penguins to a 2-1 victory over the Flames, handing Calgary its team record sixth consecutive home regulation loss.SAN JOSE, Calif. - Cory Schneider and the New Jersey Devils found a way to get rid of the bad taste from a lopsided loss at Anaheim before heading into a lengthy break.Schneider made 34 saves and Mike Cammalleri scored a tiebreaking, power-play goal late in the second period to help the New Jersey Devils beat the San Jose Sharks 5-2 on Monday night in their final game before the All-Star break.We can feel good about ourselves, Schneider said. We just have to capture this and realize this is what we have to do night in and night out. We have a lot of time here to rest up. Hopefully we can play like this afterward.Steve Bernier, Jordin Tootoo, Travis Zajac and Jacob Josefson also scored for the Devils, who bookended wins over Los Angeles and San Jose around a 5-1 loss to the Ducks before taking an eight-day break for the All-Star game.You go in feeling good but you cant feel too good, said general manager and interim co-coach Lou Lamoriello. You just have to realize what you did to have success and take that from the game and just pick it up when you get back. Unfortunately were going into a break right now. I wish we werent.Joe Pavelski and Matt Nieto scored for the Sharks, who have lost five of six home games and have already surpassed last years total of regulation home losses with their eighth this season. Alex Stalock made 29 saves as he set a career high in goals allowed in a game.There wasnt a lot of good in that game, coach Todd McLellan said. Our power play was probably the best part of our game and we gave up a short-handed goal. That tells you all you need to know about the game.Making matters worse for the Sharks was the fact they lost two key players to upper-body injuries. Defenceman Justin Braun left after blocking a shot in the second period and forward Tommy Wingels was hurt after being slashed in the third.. Ultra Boost Norge. McLellan said both will be out for a while.The Sharks tied the game early in the second when Nieto scored on a one-timer off a feed from Tyler Kennedy. Brent Burns set up the goal with a good rush from the defensive zone.But Burns gave it back when he committed his third minor penalty of the game later in the period when he was called for hitting Tom Sestito in the head.The Devils made Burns pay when Cammalleris shot on the power play beat Stalock to give New Jersey the lead for good.Zajac scored an insurance goal in the third and Josefson added a short-handed goal.Once we score we have to keep the momentum going our way, Nieto said. We have to have that killer instinct. Every game counts and we have to find ways to win in our building.Schneider helped New Jersey kill three penalties while protecting a one-goal lead, including 12 seconds of a two-man advantage early in the third.If they get one on any of those power plays its a different game, Schneider said. I thought our killers did a fantastic job, especially there at the end getting a short-handed goal was really the nail in the coffin. We bent a few times but we didnt break.After allowing an early goal to Pavelski following a turnover by Scott Gomez, the Devils controlled the play. They struck twice in a span of 35 seconds late in the period to take a 2-1 lead. Tootoo tied it when he beat Stalock on his third attempt from in close.Gomez then made up for his earlier error by forcing a turnover from Brenden Dillon to set up Berniers goal that made it 2-1. New Jersey outshot San Jose 17-8 in the period one game after being held to 15 shots overall by Anaheim.NOTES: The Sharks have been outscored 16-8 in the first period of their last 13 home games. ... New Jersey Fs Jaromir Jagr and Tuomo Ruutu missed their third straight game with the flu. ' ' '