National Sports

TORONTO — Mike Babcock has made a habit during recent media availabilities of trying to head off questions concerning the Maple Leafs' goalie situation before reporters even get a chance to ask.

NORTH BATTLEFORD, Sask. — Rachel Homan is on a roll.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady recognizes that there are some who believe the Patriots are nearing the end of their run of unprecedented playoff success. New England took its first step toward possibly silencing those voices for a little longer.

WASHINGTON — The Toronto Raptors began with a rush. They scored the first nine points against the Washington Wizards, built a 19-point lead in the first quarter and went ahead by 23 in the second quarter.

NEW YORK — The NFL on Sunday ended months of uncertainty by officially announcing Maroon 5, Big Boi and Travis Scott as the performers at this year's Super Bowl halftime show.

PHILADELPHIA — In-game announcer Shawny Hill and the Philadelphia Wings apologized on Sunday after he made racially insensitive remarks about Georgia Swarm forward Lyle Thompson.

OBIHIRO, Japan — Maddi Wheeler scored in overtime as Canada defeated the United States 3-2 on Sunday to win its fifth under-18 women's world hockey championship. Wheeler, from Erinsville, Ont.

DUESSELDORF, Germany — Canadian international Alphonso Davies' debut for Bayern Munich came with a trophy.

TORONTO — Forward Trevor Moore signed a two-year contract extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday. The deal, which carries through to the 2020-21 season, carries an average annual value of US$775,000.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Sharks defenceman Brent Burns was honoured in a pregame ceremony for skating in his 1,000th career game two weeks earlier.