National Sports

EDMONTON — The silver lining to the Grey Cup cloud that has seen the Edmonton Eskimos fall back into the West Division pack over their last six games is they can get a foothold and stop the slide against teams they're now battling for playoff spots.

HAMILTON — Nikita Whitlock is happy to face the B.C. Lions again. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats host B.C. on Saturday to complete a home-and-home series after the Lions rallied to win 35-32 in overtime last week in Vancouver.

BROSSARD, Que. — Montreal Canadiens defenceman David Schlemko will be out up to six weeks with a knee injury, head coach Claude Julien said Friday. Julien said Schlemko injured his knee in Montreal's 5-3 loss to visiting Toronto on Wednesday.

TORONTO — Soccer players are usually up for a challenge after training, lining up to try and hit the woodwork from distance or bend a corner directly into the goal.

MONTREAL — For a Montreal Impact side that's getting used to playing crucial games down the stretch, Saturday's clash is as big as they come. The Impact face D.C.

TORONTO — Sitting in a boardroom at the NHL Players' Association's sleek 12th-floor downtown office, a relaxed Donald Fehr doesn't seem like a man getting ready for a fight.

TORONTO — Winnipeg bantamweight Brad (Superman) Katona will take on American Matthew Lopez at UFC 231 in Toronto on Dec. 8.

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps, who are fighting for their playoff lives, will be led into battle Saturday against the LA Galaxy by a new coach with no Major League Soccer experience.

TORONTO — The Canadian Premier League has signed a long-term apparel deal with Macron.

LOS ANGELES — Any lingering questions about Jared Goff's ability to be the next standout quarterback in a horned helmet are withering while he destroys defences this season.