Stammtisch » has 18 points in 41 games this season

In a rematch of last years all-Spanish final, eight-time champion Rafael Nadal once again beat David Ferrer, while another quarterfinal on Wednesday saw Andy Murray hold off French crowd favorite Gael Monfils at Roland Garros. The world No. 1 Nadal improved to 64-1 lifetime at the French Open with a come-from-behind 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, 6-1 victory over his fifth-seeded compatriot Ferrer on Court Lenglen. The match started late in the day after a three-hour rain delay prevented the ladies from taking to the famed clay courts at Chatrier and Lenglen on Day 11. Nadals semifinal opponent on Friday will be the seventh-seeded Wimbledon champion Murray, who outlasted the 23rd-seeded Monfils 6-4, 6-1, 4-6, 1-6, 6-0 on Chatrier. After rolling past four unseeded players, Nadal faced his first big test at the 2014 French championships when he came up against the world No. 5 Ferrer. Ferrer stunned Nadal by taking the first set, but Nadal promptly rebounded to claim the second. The bout then turned into a runaway affair for the reigning champ, who also had to beat out impending darkness in Paris for his 33rd straight match win here. The 13-time Grand Slam winner captured a fourth straight French Open title and eighth overall championship here a year ago by besting Ferrer in the finale. Nadal, who turned 28 on Tuesday, is now 22-6 lifetime against the 32- year-old Ferrer, including a perfect 4-0 mark at Roland Garros. Ferrer upset Nadal on some clay in Monte Carlo back in April. The amazing Nadal is trying to become the first man to capture five straight French Open championships. The Murray-Monfils match was a see-saw affair, as the British star pounced on the Frenchman for a two-sets-to-love lead, only to see the 2008 French Open semifinalist Monfils turn things around by stunningly taking sets three and four. After the fourth set, Murray sat in his chair and complained to the tournament referee about the darkening conditions at 9:20 p.m. local time, but it was decided the two men would play on. Murray appeared to struggle mightily with some sore legs in the fourth set against Monfils, but he showed no signs of problems in a lopsided fifth, which was played out in a mere 24 minutes as the stunned French faithful looked on. The 27-year-old Murray will appear in his second French Open semi. He missed the event last year due to injury. Nadal and Murray will meet for a 20th time on the ATP World Tour, with the mighty Spaniard leading their all-time series, 14-5, including a 5-0 record on clay. Nadal beat the two-time Grand Slam titlist Murray in a French Open semi three years ago. Fridays other semifinal will pit second-seeded former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic against 18th-seeded Ernests Gulbis, who will appear in his first-ever major semi. Djokovic will perform in his sixth French Open final four (1-4) and is 4-1 in his career versus Gulbis. The six-time major champion Djokovic was the French Open runner-up two years ago and still needs this title to complete a career Grand Slam. And if he wins the championship this week he would also reclaim the world No. 1 ranking. The 27-year-old Djokovic is a 22-time Grand Slam semifinalist. The 25-year-old Gulbis is currently riding a nine-match winning streak and already owns a pair of titles in France this season, including one in Nice just one day before the French Open commenced. Hes 13-0 on French soil for the year. Gulbis has not lost to a seeded player at a Grand Slam event since the 2010 Australian Open, compiling a 5-0 mark. Cheap Nike Zoom Shoes . Gorges is believed to have suffered the injury while blocking a shot with a hand during Montreals win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. The Canadiens added to their defensive depth this week by acquiring veteran Mike Weaver from the Florida Panthers. Nike Zoom Wholesale . In five games last month, Billings led all scorers with 11 goals, 27 assists and 38 points as the Rock posted a 2-3 record. http://www.cheapnikezoom.net/. -- Alex Anthopoulos spoke volumes with what he didnt say on right-hander Ervin Santana. Nike Zoom For Sale .C. -- Kurt Busch put his chances at "70 per cent" at running the Indianapolis 500 this year because of recent developments that have pushed a potential program along. Nike Zoom Online Shop . The 25-year-old native of Milford, Conn., has 18 points in 41 games this season. The five-foot-eight 166-pound centre also has 28 points (10-18) in 15 games with AHL Oklahoma City. NEWARK, N.J. -- Martin Brodeur is staying with the New Jersey Devils. Despite speculation that the Devils were considering dealing the NHLs career leader in wins, the 41-year-old will finish his 20th consecutive season in New Jersey after Wednesdays trade deadline expired. Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello refused to say whether any teams either inquired about Brodeurs availability or they offered him to anyone. He also refused to say whether Brodeur had waived his no-trade clause or given him a list of teams to which he would agree to be traded. Lamoriello blamed the recent trade speculation about Brodeur on the media. "Its just a shame that without no substance at different times and no facts that people say things," Lamoriello said. The longtime Devils executive, however, refused to say whether Brodeur was a topic in his trade discussions. "Why are we dealing in hypotheticals, I have no idea," Lamoriello said. "Its not the case. So why we react and try to look for something thats no there and create a story out of nothing." Brodeur did not attend the Devils optional practice Wednesday and he was not immediately available for comment. The NHLs career leader in wins, minutes played, games played, losses and shutouts had fuelled some of the trade talk by saying he was not happy with playing time in recent weeks. Counting his 4-3 win over Detroit on Tuesday, he had started two of the Devils last 10 games, playing a backup to Cory Schneider. Brodeur started the season as the Devils top goaltender but he has taken a back seat to Schneider. Devils coach Pete DeBoer said there isnt a No. 1 goaltender for the Devils. "I think Cory grabbed the ball here prior to the Olympic break and ran with it for a while," DeBoer said. "Prior to that, Marty ran with it for a while. So I think its been there for either of them to grab and they have at different respective times. And thats the case moving forward." Brodeur has a special place in the hearts of Devils fans. They chanted "Mar-tee, Mar-tee" at times during the win over the Red Wings, in case Tuesday was the last game for the man who has been awarded the Vezina Trophy as the leagues top goalie four times and is a three-time Stanley Cup champion while playing his entire career with the Devils.dddddddddddd "I dont think you ever replace Marty," Schneider said after Wednesdays workout. "I am not him. I am not going to be him. I will try to be myself and do my thing and take some of the stuff that I learned from a lot of great people that I played with along the way, him being one of them." Brodeurs contract expires after this season and he could explore free agency next season. In their only move of the day, the Devils acquired forward Tuomo Ruutu from the Carolina Hurricanes for centre Andrei Loktionov and a conditional third-round pick in 2017. "He does the things we like to see, he gets right in your face," Lamoriello said of Ruutu, who has five goals and 11 assists in 57 games this season and waived a no-trade clause to come to New Jersey. The 31-year-old Finn has shown scoring ability. He has 138 goals and 186 assists in 606 career games over 10 seasons with Chicago and Carolina. "Our intention certainly was to try and get a top nine forward with a lot of grit, who competes and who has a habit of playing in big games," Lamoriello said. "Weve played against him enough over the years. We feel good about it." The Hurricanes have agreed to retain some of Ruutus salary, which is $5 million annually. Loktionov had four goals and eight assists in 48 games. He was acquired from Los Angeles in 2013. Lamoriello is confident that Devils can find a way to get back to the playoffs after missing them last season. "I think some of our players are just starting to find themselves after the break, and a couple of others who are ready to achieve," he said. "We are a team. We play like a team. Our coaching staff has done a great job of maximizing that. Once you get in the playoffs, its anyones chance but first you have to get there. Were right there in the mix. We have to win. Ii cant put it any simpler than that." ' ' '