National Sports

MONTREAL — Canadian cyclist Hugo Houle is sidelined in Monaco for at least the next two weeks because of the threat of the novel coronavirus, meaning he'll miss at least one race in France. Houle, of Ste-Perpetue, Que.

KINGSTON, Ont. — Traditional handshakes still rule at the Tim Hortons Brier despite a Curling Canada suggestion for athletes to bump fists at this week's national men's curling championship.

From Brooke Henderson to Bianca Andreescu to Kia Nurse, the Canadian sporting landscape is jam-packed with female stars. But women's stories are often secondary behind the virtual blanket coverage of men's sports.

VANCOUVER — The Canadian men want to make a statement early when they face France in their first match Saturday at the HSBC Canada Sevens Rugby tournament.

SAN FRANCISCO — Stephen Curry seemed every bit himself after a four-month layoff, save for a little long-range rust. “He looks exactly the same to me,” coach Steve Kerr said.

LOS ANGELES — Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe scored in the shootout, and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 1-0 Thursday night for their fourth consecutive victory.

Thursday's Games NHL Philadelphia 4 Carolina 1 Pittsburgh 4 Buffalo 2 Tampa Bay 4 Montreal 0 N.Y. Rangers 6 Washington 5 (OT) Ottawa 4 N.Y.

CHICAGO — Alex DeBrincat scored two goals, rookie Adam Boqvist had two assists, and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 on Thursday night.

TAMPA, Fla. — Andrei Vasilevskiy made 32 saves, Victor Hedman scored twice and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-0 Thursday night.

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators were more than happy to spoil Jean-Gabriel Pageau's homecoming. Pageau made his return to Ottawa on Thursday, 11 days after being traded to the Islanders, in New York's 4-3 loss to the Senators.