National Sports

VANCOUVER — Vanni Sartini accepts that the betting odds are against his Vancouver Whitecaps as they head into the Major League Soccer playoffs.

HALIFAX — When Ilia Malinin stunned the crowd with his world championship performance in Montreal last March, he left the competition with much more than a gold medal hanging around his neck.

BASEL — Canada's Denis Shapovalov was eliminated from the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament Friday with a hard-fought 6-7 (7) 6-3, 7-6 (3) quarterfinal loss to France's Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

A pair of former Toronto FC coaches meet Saturday when the Los Angeles Galaxy hosts the Colorado Rapids in the first round of the MLS playoffs.

MONTREAL — Saturday’s regular-season finale between the Montreal Alouettes and Winnipeg Blue Bombers is a clash between division leaders, though for one team the stakes are significantly higher.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Vegas Golden Knights made Shea Theodore their second highest-paid defenseman Thursday, signing him to a seven-year contract worth an average of $7.425 million per year.

Longtime skip Brendan Bottcher will be wearing Canada colours when he makes his return to the four-player game with Team Gushue at the upcoming Pan Continental curling championship. Bottcher is the new second for the St. John's, N.L.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Even 8-year-old Charlie Freeman is excited about a Dodgers-Yankees World Series .

TOKYO — Canadians Bianca Andreescu and Leylah Fernandez were eliminated in the quarterfinals at the Toray Pan Pacific Open on Friday. Andreescu was ousted after dropping a 6-2, 6-1 decision to Britain's Katie Boulter.

INZAI CITY, Japan (AP) — Nico Echavarria shot a 6-under 64 on Friday — matching his 64 on Thursday — to lead by two shots over Taylor Moore and Justin Thomas after the second round of the Zozo Championship in Japan.