National Sports

ESPOO, Finland — In an unfamiliar game against an unfamiliar foe, Canada summoned the brand of hockey the team believes can win gold at the women's world championship.

Residents of a small town in Southern Ontario were glued to their televisions on Thursday, rooting for a local hero playing on one of golf's biggest stages. Corey Conners, a 27-year-old from Listowel, Ont.

BOSTON — Nazem Kadri has plenty of bad memories inside TD Garden. He's hoping this spring will be different.

NASHVILLE — Miro Heiskanen turned in a post-season debut to remember, even if the Dallas rookie defenceman didn't wind up writing himself into the NHL's record book because of a late scoring change.

It might seem like Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse amassed a career's worth of medals during his meteoric rise. But the 24-year-old from Markham, Ont., is back to remind everyone he's not done yet.

Montreal businessman Clifford Starke has formally announced his intent to purchase the Montreal Alouettes. The 35-year-old chairman of Hampstead Private Capital put out a press release Thursday to confirm his interest.

VANCOUVER — Felipe Martins says the Vancouver Whitecaps' poor start won't necessarily define their season.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Joe Pavelski lost a couple of teeth, had stitches in his lip and his mouth was still bloody long after taking Brent Burns' point shot right off his chin .

TORONTO — Robyn Silvernagle scored a 7-4 victory over Jennifer Jones during the fifth round-robin draw of the Players' Championship Wednesday night. Silvernagle, from North Battleford, Sask.

Wednesday's Games NHL Playoffs First Round Columbus 4 Tampa Bay 3 (Columbus leads series 1-0) N.Y. Islanders 4 Pittsburgh 3 (OT) (N.Y. Islanders leads series 1-0) St. Louis 2 Winnipeg 1 (St.