The Coyotes kept it from getting to that point by swarming the Shark

The Duel in the Desert? Yes, Formula 1 has been here before. Two years ago in fact, when the first exclusive battle for the world title between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg came down to a final-race shootout in the opulent surroundings of Abu Dhabis Yas Marina Circuit.On that occasion it was Hamilton in the box seat - the Briton led Rosberg by 17 points following a spurt of five wins in the previous six races. Leaving Spa, and the Mercedes team-mates acrimonious collision, in late August, Rosberg had been as many as 29 points ahead but Hamilton reeled him in relentlessly thereafter. However, Hamiltons challenge in Abu Dhabi was made tougher by what turned out to be the one-off, and highly controversial, advent of double points for the season finale. The title picture going to Abu Dhabi 2014 1. Lewis Hamilton 334 points 2. Nico Rosberg 317 points +17 points The fact there were 50, rather than the usual 25, points up for grabs for the race winner meant Hamilton needed to finish at least second to secure the crown. Under the points system in place for the previous 18 races, and every one since Abu Double, sixth would have got the job done.It wasnt quite winner takes all, but the unusual permutations still meant nothing could be taken for granted heading into the decider. WIN! VIP Silverstone Experience for 2 Motorsport Manager are offering Sky Sports fans the chance to win a VIP trip for 2 to Silverstone What happened in Qualifying?Mercedes front-row lockouts have rarely been in doubt this season, and that was certainly the case in 2014 when the Silver Arrows were almost untouchable in the first year of F1s new hybrid engine era.Abu Dhabi represented their eighth successive qualifying one-two although, in the twist the title battle needed for the neutral, it was Rosberg who beat an error-strewn Hamilton to pole position.Hamilton had led the way in the first two stages of qualifying but lost out to his team-mate by 0.386 seconds when the pressure cranked up in the final shootout. Lock-ups under braking on each of his Q3 timed laps meant he ended up closer to the Williams cars directly behind than Rosberg ahead. Abu Dhabi 2014 Qualifying 1. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:40.480 2. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.386 3. Valtteri Bottas Williams +0.545 4. Felipe Massa Williams +0.639 It was a scruffy qualifying from Lewis and he could have been just fifth, said Sky F1s Martin Brundle in commentary at the time. He just over-drives the final part of qualifying - which isnt what he used to do. It will have hurt his pride to be out-qualified so comprehensively.It was Rosbergs 11th pole of the year, but he wasnt getting carried away: This weekend is about the championship and not about pole position. It would have been great if somehow a Williams could have got between the two of us but that can always happen tomorrow.As it turned out, the polesitter was right to be cautious.What happened in the Race?The start was like a rocket and probably the best Ive ever had, Hamilton later reflected.Its more often the case that a race can be lost at the first corner, rather than won, but for Hamilton the latter essentially proved true as he made the most electric of getaways to overtake polesitter Rosberg well before the first corner.His second world title was effectively clinched right there and then. Enjoying a small, but comfortable, two-second lead over his team-mate in the races opening 20 laps, Hamilton was already well on course for the title when Rosbergs W05 developed what would turn into a crippling energy-recovery failure just before half distance.The Formula 1 Gossip ColumnDown on power, and increasingly in trouble with his over-worked brakes, Rosbergs race turned into an agonising slide down the order as he attempted to get to the finish in the fifth place that would still see him become champion if Hamilton himself hit terminal car trouble.But with seven laps to go Rosberg was seventh and, with his car problems only worsening, he was asked by his race engineer if he wanted to retire. Despite the hopelessness of the situation, and the fact he was lapped by his team-mate, Rosberg manfully soldiered to the finish and came home 14th.It was a cruel end to a championship battle he had led for so long, but the German still sought out Hamilton afterwards to personally congratulate the newly-crowned double world champion. Its been so intense between us all year long, said Hamilton. Theres been good moments and bad moments. Without a doubt weve had a friendship or a relationship that we built a long, long, long time ago, so that will always be there. He was a very, very fierce competitor this year, he did an exceptional job. Hes going to be quick for a long time.Perhaps things naturally will ease up a little now. He was graceful enough to come up to me and see me after, which I really appreciated. It was really big of him to be able to do that. Its very, very tough, I know what its like losing a championship so, for sure, well keep working at it.Two years on the rivalry on track remains just as intense, with another world championship crown on the line in the Duel in the Desert...Part Two. Also See: When is the Abu Dhabi GP on Sky F1? Abu Dhabi title permutations Watch the title decider on NOW TV The F1 Gossip Column Fake Vans 2020 . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. Fake Vans Website . -- Anaheim Ducks captain and leading scorer Ryan Getzlaf has been scratched from Sunday nights game against the Vancouver Canucks because of an upper-body injury. https://www.vansfake.com/ ., and Rudi Swiegers of Kipling, Sask., took sixth spot on Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix figure skating competition. Fake Vans From China . Mitch Holmberg added a goal and three assists. Connor Chartier also scored for the Chiefs (3-0-0). Luke Harrison spoiled Garrett Hughsons shutout bid with a power-play goal at 13:17 of the third period. The Spokane goaltender finished with 28 saves, including a Brandon Fushimi penalty shot in the second period that would have tied the game 1-1. Fake Vans . -- Bobby Ryan helped the U. GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Coyotes withstood San Joses flurry in the first period and another in the closing minutes.In between, they played what may be their best period of hockey all season- against a finalist from last years Stanley Cup Final, no less.Louis Domingue stopped 39 shots, Brad Richardson scored in his 600th career game and the Coyotes picked up what should be a confidence-boosting win with a 3-2 victory over the Sharks on Tuesday night.We weathered the storm, said Coyotes left wing Jamie McGinn, who had his second goal of the season to cap Arizonas second-period flurry. Thats the best way to put it: Weathering the storm and then we took it to them.The Sharks jumped on the struggling Coyotes early on Patrick Marleaus first-period goal, but Arizona responded with three goals in the second period to win for the second time in eight games.Lawson Crouse scored his first NHL goal in his sixth game, and the Coyotes had nine different players with a point.Domingue made some spectacular saves and was solid in the crease in the closing minutes after the Sharks added an extra attacker for his second win in six starts since Mike Smith went out with a lower body injury.Ive been feeling good for almost all year, so it was just a matter of staying focused for a full 60 minutes, Domingue said.He needed to be after San Jose pulled goalie Martin Jones with 3:03 left.Mikkel Boedker scored with 11.9 seconds left in his return to Arizona, but Domingue turned away everything else before and after to preserve the victory.Jones had 27 saves after stopping 70 of 73 shots during San Joses three-game winning streak heading into Tuesday.We did some good stuff in the first period, I loved our start, Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said. But thats the thing we need to work most at: When were on top of teams, instead of getting an extra goal and put them away, we let them hang around.Thhe Coyotes have struggled since a season-opening victory against Philadelphia, losing five games on a six-game road trip and 3-2 to Colorado on Saturday in their return home.ddddddddddddArizonas biggest problem is losing close games; its last four were lost by a goal.The Coyotes kept it from getting to that point by swarming the Sharks in the second period.Marleau scored by keeping the puck on a 2-on-1 rush and wristing it past Domingue.It was all Coyotes after that.Richardson answered early in the second period, grabbing a loose puck in the corner and taking it without much resistance to the crease, where he beat Jones for his fourth of the season. Crouse scored 68 seconds later, deflecting a point shot by Kevin Connauton past Jones.McGinn made it 3-1 by whipping a shot from above the left circle to the top corner of the goal through a screen by teammate Anthony Duclair.There was definitely some lapses and they took advantage of it, Marleau said.Domingue preserved the two-goal lead with 5 seconds left in the period, doing the splits to make a snatching glove save on Brenden Dillons shot from the slot.Game notes Arizonas Ryan White and San Joses Michael Haley squared off just 2:32 into the game, both earning five-minute fighting penalties. ... Coyotes D Michael Stone missed his second straight game with an upper-body injury. C Martin Hanzal left in the first period with a lower body injury and did not return. ... The Coyotes honored Boedker with a tribute video in his first game back since being traded to Colorado last season.UP NEXTSharks: Host Calgary on Thursday before the Pittsburgh Penguins arrive in the Bay Area for a rematch of the Stanley Cup Finals.Coyotes: Host Nashville on Thursday before a two-game trip to Anaheim and Colorado. ' ' '