National Sports

Hockey Canada did just enough to provisionally regain its funding. But rebuilding the trust it once had with major sponsors will be another challenge in itself, suggests a marketing expert.

VANCOUVER — Defenceman Elias Pettersson has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday. The 19-year-old is not related to Canucks star centre Elias Pettersson.

OTTAWA — Canada will host five international speedskating events in the 2023-24 season. Montreal will host back-to-back short-track speedskating World Cups on Oct. 20-22 and again on Oct. 27-29. The following weekend will see nearby Laval, Que.

The Edmonton Oilers, trying to put a positive spin on blowing a two-goal lead on home ice in Monday's NHL playoff opener against the never-say-die Los Angeles Kings, insist there's no reason to panic.

LAS VEGAS — Jets forward Morgan Barron never had any doubt that he'd return to the ice after taking a skate to the face in the opener of Winnipeg's first-round series against Vegas on Tuesday night.

LAS VEGAS — The Winnipeg Jets struggled after poor starts in their previous trips to Las Vegas during the regular season. They made sure there wasn't a repeat of that now that the playoffs have arrived.

DENVER (AP) — Alex Wennberg had a goal and an assist, Philipp Grubauer stopped 34 shots and the Seattle Kraken made a successful playoff debut by beating the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche 3-1 on Tuesday night.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Rangers had the ton of experience coming into the playoffs against the young New Jersey Devils, and it certainly was the difference Game 1 of their first-round series, along with Igor Shesterkin.

TORONTO — John Tavares didn't have an answer. Sheldon Keefe didn't sense any nerves. Once the puck dropped, however, one team was confident in its battle-tested, championship pedigree.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Michael Bunting will have a hearing on Wednesday for his illegal check to the head on Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Erik Cernak, the NHL department of player safety announced.