National Sports

Rod Brind'Amour wouldn't mind seeing his Carolina Hurricanes coast into the playoffs. Given the razor-thin margins in the battle for this season's Metropolitan Division crown, that's unlikely to be the case.

SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — Defending champion Kaori Sakamoto took the lead after the women’s short program at the world figure skating championships on Wednesday.

VANCOUVER — Rick Tocchet is still in teaching mode two months into his tenure with the Vancouver Canucks. And there were valuable lessons to be learned in a 4-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, the head coach said.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Tyler Toffoli had three assists, Calgary scored twice on the power play and the Flames bounced back from a six-goal loss one night earlier with a 5-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday.

SEATTLE — Dylan Guenther scored twice, Jeremy Hanzel added three assists and the Seattle Thunderbirds defeated the visiting Kamloops Blazers 6-3 in Western Hockey League action on Tuesday night.

WINNIPEG — Josh Morrissey was glad Connor Hellebuyck was the last line of defence for the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday. Hellebuyck made 29 saves to backstop Winnipeg to a much-needed 2-1 victory over the Arizona Coyotes.

NEW YORK (AP) — Cal Clutterbuck had two goals and an assist as the New York Islanders got all their scoring in the final two periods in a 7-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night.

BOSTON (AP) — Linus Ullmark made 40 saves, Jake DeBrusk had the go-ahead goal and the NHL-best Boston Bruins continued their pursuit of the league’s record for regular-season victories with a 2-1 win over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night.

MONTREAL — In a fourth straight start for the Montreal Canadiens, Sam Montembeault gave his team a chance to get revenge in the second of back-to-back games against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

ROUYN-NORANDA, Que. — It wasn't a good night for goalies.