National Sports

SAITAMA, Japan — Canada's Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro finished in seventh in pairs on Thursday at the world figure skating championships. Moore-Towers, of St. Catharines, Ont., and Marinaro, of Sarnia, Ont., scored 126.

VANCOUVER — Getting some bounces on the power play has helped put the Vancouver Canucks back into the NHL playoff picture.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Forced to play overtime after blowing a 20-point second-half lead, the Toronto Raptors found their groove again in the extra period.

Wednesday's Games NHL Vancouver 7 Ottawa 4 Winnipeg 3 Anaheim 0 Toronto 4 Buffalo 2 Tampa Bay 5 Washington 4 (OT) --- AHL Belleville 3 Utica 1 Charlotte 4 Syracuse 2 Toronto 2 Bridgeport 1 (OT) Laval 3 Providence 2 (SO) Rockford 2 Chicago 1 (SO) Texa

Wednesday's Games NHL Vancouver 7 Ottawa 4 Winnipeg 3 Anaheim 0 Toronto 4 Buffalo 2 Tampa Bay 5 Washington 4 (OT) --- AHL Belleville 3 Utica 1 Charlotte 4 Syracuse 2 Toronto 2 Bridgeport 1 (OT) Laval 3 Providence 2 (SO) Rockford 2 Chicago 1 (SO) Texa

ANAHEIM, Calif. — No goalie had played more NHL games this season without a shutout than Connor Hellebuyck, who was beginning to wonder why he couldn't keep a clean sheet.

DAYTON, Ohio — Montreal's Luguentz Dort overcame a hard foul and a leg injury, scored 21 points and led Arizona State to a long-awaited NCAA Tournament victory Wednesday night, 74-65 over St. John's in the First Four.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Mike Babcock sensed his slumping Toronto Maple Leafs were showing signs of turning the corner. Auston Matthews and John Tavares delivered on their coach's belief.

MIAMI — Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime has advanced to the main draw at the Miami Open.

This week's Valspar Championship is playing right into Nick Taylor's hands. Taylor, from Abbotsford, B.C., is looking forward to taking on the difficult Copperhead Course at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor, Fla.