National Sports

Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs came into the NHL's pandemic-shortened campaign desperately looking to change the narrative.

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps have acquired midfielder Caio Alexandre via transfer from Brazilian club Botafogo FR.

The Canadian Premier League is looking to add a team in Saskatchewan, awarding "exclusive rights" to an expansion club to a company planning to start a franchise in Saskatoon.

CALGARY — Darryl Sutter dedicated his first win in his second stint with the Calgary Flames to his mother and the team's late president. Josh Leivo scored twice for the Flames in a 2-1 win Thursday over the visiting Montreal Canadiens.

CALGARY — Wild Card Two's Kevin Koe was the first to book his championship pool ticket. Wild Card Three's Wayne Middaugh was the next to make the eight-team cut at the Canadian men's curling championship.

TORONTO — Auston Matthews clearly isn't at 100 per cent.

TAMPA, Fla. — Tony Snell hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer Thursday night and the Atlanta Hawks came back from a 15-point deficit in the final six minutes to beat the Toronto Raptors 121-120.

WINNIPEG — Garret Sparks made 24 saves as the Stockton Heat edged the Manitoba Moose 2-1 on Thursday in American Hockey League play.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Eugenie Bouchard has reached the semifinals at the Abierto De Guadalajara tennis tournament in Mexico. Bouchard, from Westmount, Que.

VANCOUVER — Thomas Hasal doesn't believe in curses, even if it seemed that there must have been a jinx on the Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeepers last season.