National Sports

WASHINGTON — Count Mike Krzyzewski and Buzz Williams among those watching the rise of Canada's basketball talent with great interest.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Trailing Montreal by two points in the standings, the Columbus Blue Jackets desperately needed a win over the Canadiens to keep their playoff hopes alive.

NEW YORK — Harder games are coming soon. In the meantime, the Raptors want to get sharper while they have things easy.

WINNIPEG — Casey Cizikas and Jordan Eberle scored 33 seconds apart in the final two minutes of the third period to propel the New York Islanders to a 5-4 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday.

OTTAWA — Jonathan Huberdeau scored twice as the Florida Panthers defeated the Ottawa Senators 5-2 on Thursday night.

CALGARY — Victoria Royals forward Kody McDonald may have played his last game in the Western Hockey League.

TORONTO — Charlie Montoyo anxiously waited at the top of the home dugout until he got a pat on his shoulder telling him that it was his turn to go on to the field at Rogers Centre.

TORONTO — Marcus Stroman has been adamant that 2019 would mark a return to form for him after a rough season last year.

TORONTO — Big-game performances are becoming the routine for Sudbury Wolves goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

LAS VEGAS — Canadian Victor Montagliani has been elected to another term as president of CONCACAF. The Vancouver native ran unopposed at CONCACAF's 34th Ordinary Congress.