National Sports

NASHVILLE — Rick Tocchet drew ample respect during his 18 seasons as an NHL player. Now he’s doing the same behind the bench — and leading the Vancouver Canucks to their best season in over a decade in the process.

NEW YORK — Rick Bowness of the Winnipeg Jets, Rick Tocchet of the Vancouver Canucks and Andrew Brunette of the Nashville Predators are the finalists for this season's Jack Adams Award.

MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens signed defenceman Adam Engstrom to a three-year, entry-level contract on Friday.

TORONTO — Sheldon Keefe's team had a decision to make.

CALGARY — Canada's para hockey team gets another swing at winning a world championship on home ice. Canada hosted the world para hockey championship for the first time in 2023 in Moose Jaw, Sask.

The Toronto Maple Leafs survived to see another day on Thursday night, while the Vancouver Canucks look to avoid allowing Nashville to do the same on Friday.

TORONTO — William Nylander could barely watch the Maple Leafs' first three playoff games as he worked his way back from injury — the nerves were almost too much.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Koehn Ziemmer scored two goals and had an assist as the Prince George Cougars avoided elimination with an emphatic 6-1 win over the Portland Winterhawks on Thursday in Western Hockey League playoff action.

TORONTO — An uninspired Game 5 effort put the pressure squarely on the Boston Bruins in their first-round NHL playoff series against Toronto. A Game 6 dud only made things worse.

BAIE-COMEAU, Que. — Anthony Lavoie scored the game-winning goal 10:03 into overtime and the Baie-Comeau Drakkar pulled out a 2-1 victory over the Cape Breton Eagles on Thursday to advance into the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League finals.