National Sports

BROSSARD — Ivan Demidov is excited to face off against Alex Ovechkin — but more importantly, he wants to win.

ST. STEPHEN — The rise in patriotism prompted by a hostile U.S. president is renewing focus on everything Canada has given the world, and a small New Brunswick mill town wants people to know the sport of basketball belongs on that list.

ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICE — Canadian women's hockey team forward Daryl Watts has been cleared to play the world championship final.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Yohei Takaoka made two saves for Vancouver on Saturday night to help the Whitecaps play St. Louis City to a 0-0 tie at Energizer Park.

DALLAS (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon took a stick to the face, had a part in both of Colorado's strange goals in the second period and capped his night with an empty-netter for his 50th career playoff goal.

Saturday's Scoreboard NHL Playoffs First Round Winnipeg 5 St.

SANDY — Toronto FC finally got a reward for its efforts Saturday, defeating 10-man Real Salt Lake 1-0 for its first win of the season. Theo Corbeanu's first Major League Soccer goal also gave Toronto its first victory in Utah since July 2007.

VICTORIA — Andrew Cristall's goal with two seconds left in the first overtime period lifted the visiting Spokane Chiefs to a 5-4 Western Hockey League playoff victory over the Victoria Royals on Saturday night at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena.

MONTREAL — CF Montreal could not capitalize on a late red card, settling for a scoreless draw against Orlando City SC at Stade Saputo on Saturday night.

DALLAS (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon had a part in both of Colorado’s strange goals in the second period before adding an empty-netter late as the Avalanche beat the Dallas Stars 5-1 in the opener of their first-round Western Conference playoff series Satu