National Sports

EDMONTON — It certainly had the feel of a potential first-round playoff matchup.

PANAMA CITY — Canada's 20-game World Cup qualifying marathon is done. Now the real work begins.

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) — The United States men are returning to the World Cup after the trauma of missing the 2018 tournament, clinching a berth for this year’s championship in Qatar on Wednesday despite a 2-0 loss to Costa Rica on the final night

TORONTO — Two nights after scoring 40 points against Boston, Pascal Siakam played facilitator against Minnesota -- and it earned him the second triple-double of his career.

WINNIPEG — Danick Martel had a goal and an assist to pace the Laval Rocket to a 4-2 win over the Manitoba Moose in AHL action Wednesday night. Joel Teasdale, Louie Belpedio and Gabriel Bourque had the other goals for Laval (31-21-3-2).

Phillippe Daoust had two goals and an assist to pace the Saint John Sea Dogs to a 6-4 win over the Halifax Mooseheads in the Quebec Major Hockey League on Wednesday night.

FLINT, Mich. — Dmitry Kuzmin scored at 4:21 of overtime to earn the Flint Firebirds a 5-4 win over the London Knights in the lone game in the OHL on Wednesday night. Sahil Panwar scored twice for Flint (37-19-1-4).

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Bruce Arians has decided to retire as coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and move into a front-office role with the team, a stunning move announced Wednesday night.

Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet has been named a finalist for the 2021-22 Twyman Stokes Teammate of the Year Award.

VANCOUVER — A trial date has been set for a former Vancouver Canucks forward charged with sexual assault. Jake Virtanen's case is set to be heard by a judge and jury in B.C. Supreme Court starting on July 18.