National Sports

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators are missing the playoffs for a sixth straight year, but unlike years past there’s a belief this will be the last time for the foreseeable future. There’s good reason for that optimism.

MONTREAL — With CF Montreal off to their worst start ever in Major League Soccer, something needed to change ahead of a three-game homestand beginning Saturday against D.C. United.

VANCOUVER — The last time the Vancouver Whitecaps won on the road in Major League Soccer play was June 2022. Since that long-ago victory — a 2-0 decision over Dallas FC at Toyota Stadium — the ‘Caps have failed to secure a win as a visiting team.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Blues made immediate changes to Craig Berube’s coaching staff after missing the playoffs, firing assistants Craig MacTavish and Mike Van Ryn.

Kevin Rouet, who coached Canada to a fourth-place finish at last year's Women's Rugby World Cup, has been rewarded with a contract extension through the 2025 tournament.

He's disruptive on the football field but Anthony Lanier II wants to enhance people's lives off it.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins fired general manager Ron Hextall, director of hockey operations Brian Burke and assistant general manager Chris Pryor on Friday after the club failed to reach the playoffs for the first time in 17 years.

There isn't much Afshin Ghotbi hasn't done when it comes to coaching soccer.

Rob Friend will be proud but likely conflicted Saturday when expansion Vancouver FC takes the field for the first time in the Canadian Premier League to face Pacific FC at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C. Both B.C.

TORONTO — The 13-0 Tampa Bay Rays are one win away from setting a modern-day baseball record for most consecutive victories to start a season. The Toronto Blue Jays — also off to a strong start at 8-5 — stand in their way.