National Sports

University of Michigan regent Denise Ilitch told The Associated Press she believes there’s enough support for the Big Ten school to launch a Division I women’s hockey program that it’s only a matter of when, not if, it will happen.

ORCHARD PARK — It might not be Toronto but it definitely feels like home for Joshua Palmer.

Wayne Gretzky will be in the house when history is made.

LA THUILE, Italy (AP) — Federica Brignone all but locked up the women’s overall World Cup title by winning a super-G on Friday, giving the Italian a near-insurmountable lead in the season standings.

NOME, Alaska (AP) — Jessie Holmes, a former reality television star, won the longest-ever Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Friday. Holmes was first to the finish line in the Gold Rush town of Nome, on the Bering Sea coast.

TORONTO (AP) — Sam Bennett scored power-play goals late in each of the first two periods, Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves and the short-handed Florida Panthers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Thursday night for their seventh victory in eight games

Thursday's Scoreboard NHL Vegas 4 Columbus 0 Pittsburgh 5 St. Louis 3 Florida 3 Toronto 2 Ottawa 6 Boston 3 Philadelphia 4 Tampa Bay 3 (SO) New Jersey 3 Edmonton 2 N.Y.

NORTH BAY, Ont. — Nick Lardis put away the winner at 10:58 in the third period as the Brantford Bulldogs edged the North Bay Battalion 2-1 on Thursday in Ontario Hockey League action.

OTTAWA — Chants of “we want playoffs” were raining down at Canadian Tire Centre as the Ottawa Senators picked up their fifth straight win. Much like the players, the fans in the nation’s capital are desperate for some post-season action.

TORONTO — Sam Bennett continues to prosper from his Four Nations Faceoff experience with Canada and the absence of stud Florida Panthers teammate Matthew Tkachuk.