National Sports

TORONTO — Leaning on his stick at the conclusion of practice, Auston Matthews did all the listening in a one-way, one-on-one exchange with Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock.

VANCOUVER — It's been a season of growth for the Vancouver Canucks, but after finishing outside of the playoffs for the fourth year in a row, players and coaches feel there's still work to be done.

DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche may have All-Star forward Mikko Rantanen back for the start of their first-round playoff series against Calgary. Rantanen has been sidelined since suffering a lower-body injury at Dallas on March 21.

ESPOO, Finland — Natalie Spooner's hat trick helped Canada rumble Russia 5-1 at the women's world hockey championship Monday, but the victory was costly. Captain Marie-Philip Poulin reinjured her left knee late in the first period.

TORONTO — Jack Hughes will have a pretty good idea of where he'll be headed after Tuesday night. Expected to be the top pick at June's NHL draft, the 17-year-old centre with the U.S.

Ottawa Senators defenceman Mark Borowiecki is looking at the bright side.

EDMONTON — The fact the Edmonton Oilers have missed the playoffs in 12 of the last 13 seasons isn't all CEO Bob Nicholson's fault, but it certainly is his problem as he begins an overhaul of the team's hockey operations department this off-season.

TAMPA, Fla. — Baylor and Notre Dame capped the women's college basketball season with a thrilling championship game.

SAN PEDRO DEL PINATAR, Spain — Janine Beckie and substitute Sophie Schmidt scored early in the second half to lift Canada to a 2-1 win over Nigeria in a women's soccer friendly Monday. Jayde Riviere, an 18-year-old from Markham, Ont.

TIORONTO, Ont. — Montreal businessman Clifford Starke will formally announce Thursday his "intent to purchase" the Montreal Alouettes.