National Sports

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks leaped out to the start they wanted then got the goaltending they needed from Thatcher Demko for a 3-2 NHL win over the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday night.

The Toronto Raptors wasted a season-high 35-point and 10-rebound performance from Pascal Siakam in an agonizing defeat to Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shaquille O’Neal threw one big party, but with two different experiences. O’Neal hosted his carnival-themed event “Shaq’s Fun House” on Friday night in downtown Los Angeles ahead of the Super Bowl this weekend.

NEW YORK (AP) — Super Bowl advertisers this year want Americans to forget about pandemic woes and focus on the future: of electric vehicles, mind reading Alexas, robots and cryptocurrency — and also to harken back to the nostalgic past of '90s movies

LAVAL, Que. — Two goals from Jean-Sebastian Dea helped the Laval Rocket to a decisive 5-1 win over the Syracuse Crunch in American Hockey League action on Saturday.

MONTREAL — Even goalie Elvis Merzlikins was impressed by the Patrik Laine blast that gave the Columbus Blue Jackets a last-minute 2-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. With just 6.

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime booked his spot in the final at the Rotterdam Open with a 6(5)-7, 6-4, 6-2 win over Andrey Rublev of Russia on Saturday.

OTTAWA — After a 6-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes Thursday, the Boston Bruins wanted to right the ship early in their game Saturday against the Ottawa Senators. And they did.

AUSTIN, Texas — A goal by newly signed Spanish forward Jesus Jimenez gave Toronto FC a 1-0 win over the Chicago Fire in pre-season MLS play Saturday. The weather did not co-operate with cool conditions, not to mention a downpour, at St.

MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens have added to their goaltending depth, acquirring netminder Andrew Hammond from the Minnesota Wild. The trade, announced Saturday, saw the Habs send left-winger Brandon Baddock to Minnesota.