National Sports

MONTREAL — Big moves the Florida Panthers made ahead of the NHL trade deadline are already paying off. Claude Giroux and Ben Chiarot both picked up their first points as Panthers in a 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.

VICTORIAVILLE, Que. — Frederic Brunet scored the game-winning goal on a third-period power play and the Rimouski Oceanic doubled up the Victoriaville Tigres in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play on Thursday.

Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby started Thursday versus the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers in his first game since Feb. 16. Anunoby missed 15 games due to a fractured right ring finger.

PALERMO, Sicily (AP) — European champion Italy will miss the World Cup. Again.

DUNEDIN, Fla. — Centre-fielder Randal Grichuk was traded Thursday by the Toronto Blue Jays to the Colorado Rockies. Toronto got left-fielder Raimel Tapia and infield prospect Adrian Pinto in return, the Blue Jays have confirmed.

MONTPELLIER, France — Canada's Vanessa James and Eric Radford have ended their season — and perhaps their career together — on a high note, earning bronze in pairs figure skating at the world championships.

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Legislature passed bills Thursday to prohibit gender reassignment surgery for minors and ban transgender athletes from playing on girls sports teams, joining a growing list of Republican-controlled states attempting to rest

Canadian Leylah Fernandez was eliminated from the Miami Open Thursday, falling in straight sets to the Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova. Muchova beat Fernandez 6-4, 7-6 (3) and will face former No.

ARCADIA, CALIFORNIA — Canadian-bred thoroughbred Messier is one of four horses trainer Bob Baffert has transferred to other conditioners to allow them to attempt to qualify for the Kentucky Derby.

Nathan Young's Newfoundland and Labrador team had some of the best seats in the house to watch Brad Gushue win another Tim Hortons Brier.