National Sports

TORONTO — Canadian Joe Fletcher has been named MLS assistant referee of the year. The 42-year-old chartered accountant from St. Catharines, Ont., by way of Niagara Falls, won 40.34 per cent of the vote by MLS players, clubs and media.

TORONTO — John Tavares has reaped the rewards of playing alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner in his first season with the Maple Leafs. Getting to know Toronto's talented 21 year olds off the ice hasn't hurt, either.

OTTAWA — Two exiles will return to Ottawa's Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday: star defenceman Erik Karlsson and former super-fan Shaila Anwar, who hasn't been to a game since the Senators traded him.

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks dropped another game on Thursday night, but head coach Travis Green says his squad's performance was one of their best so far this year. "You're playing a team that went to the Stanley Cup finals last year.

Thursday's Games NHL Edmonton 3 Los Angeles 2 Vegas 4 Vancouver 3 Winnipeg 6 Chicago 5 Ottawa 3 N.Y. Rangers 0 Columbus 4 Minnesota 2 Tampa Bay 5 Buffalo 4 Boston 2 N.Y.

Thursday's Games NHL Edmonton 3 Los Angeles 2 Vegas 4 Vancouver 3 Winnipeg 6 Chicago 5 Ottawa 3 N.Y. Rangers 0 Columbus 4 Minnesota 2 Tampa Bay 5 Buffalo 4 Boston 2 N.Y.

TORONTO — Nick Nurse looked sharp Thursday night — and very blue. The Toronto Raptors coach donned an electric blue jacket to promote Sager Strong night in honour of late NBA sideline reporter Craig Sager, known for his colourful attire.

TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors had tried to downplay the game's significance. But they were all business on a night billed as an NBA Finals preview.

TORONTO — Drake got his jersey at the end of the night. But Golden State star Kevin Durant offered up plenty of other memories for the 20,073 on hand in Toronto and a national TV audience on both sides of the border.

EDMONTON — Oscar Klefbom has gone from a massive drought to pouring in game-winning goals. Klefbom scored his second straight game winner and added an assist as the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 on Thursday.