National Sports

PRINCETON, N.J. — The ECHL plans a two-phased start to its 2020-21 season during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thirteen of the 25 active teams will begin play Dec. 11 and the other 12 kick off on Jan. 15, 2021.

VANCOUVER — It's been a rough season for the Vancouver Whitecaps, but striker Lucas Cavallini is simply trying to stay positive. “I don’t want to get frustrated anymore, I don’t want to get upset," he told reporters Friday.

TORONTO — Mike Keogh finds himself in a similar position to the surviving members of the 1972 Miami Dolphins. Miami remains the NFL's last unbeaten team, capping a perfect 17-0 run by downing Washington 14-7 in the Super Bowl.

A win Sunday in Cincinnati and Toronto FC becomes the first MLS team to clinch a playoff berth in the pandemic-rejigged season. A tie might do it too.

SAN DIEGO — The New York Yankees didn't flinch under the pressure of an elimination game and got the AL Division Series against Tampa Bay into the hands of ace Gerrit Cole for the decisive Game 5.

LOS ANGELES — Three years after a sign-stealing scheme propelled the Astros to their first championship, Houston's star-studded lineup did little during the regular season to quiet criticism it could only hit when cheating.

DALLAS — A white police officer charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a Black man in a small East Texas city was fired Thursday.

The Bills-Titans game has been moved from Sunday to Tuesday night at 7 p.m. EDT as long as Tennessee has no more positive tests for COVID-19 in the interim. CBS will televise the game.

MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens have agreed to a seven-year contract extension with forward Josh Anderson. Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin made the announcement on Thursday, with the contract having an average annual value of US$5.

HOUSTON — Not since the days of John Smoltz, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine had the Atlanta Braves pitched like this in the playoffs. And even those future Hall of Famers didn't throw the way these Braves have this post-season .