National Sports

BRANTFORD, Ont. — Walter Gretzky's family thought the end was coming quickly in the middle of February.

The NBA is expecting arenas to be filled again next season and a return to its normal calendar, commissioner Adam Silver said Saturday.

LAS VEGAS — Kyle Larson was out of NASCAR long enough to wonder if he'd still feel comfortable in a Cup car. He raced in nearly 100 events last year, just not in 3,400-pound stock cars.

NEWARK, N.J. — Ryan Strome scored twice and streaking New York Rangers beat the Devils 6-3 Saturday, sending New Jersey to its fifth straight loss and eighth in nine games.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Mathew Barzal and Scott Mayfield each had a goal and an assist, and the New York Islanders beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 on Saturday for their fourth straight win.

NASHVILLE — The Nashville Predators placed Matt Duchene on injured reserve Saturday with a lower-body injury. The ailment is expected to sideline the veteran centre for three-to-five weeks.

Canadian internationals Evelyne Viens and Vanessa Gilles both scored in French league play Saturday. Viens' 90th-minute goal closed out the scoring in Paris FC's 4-1 win at Stade Reims. The 24-year-old from L'Ancienne-Lorette, Que.

OBERSTDORF, Germany — Canadians Katherine Stewart-Jones and Cendrine Browne posted top-30 finishes Saturday in the women's 30-kilometre classic-ski race at the world nordic ski championships. Stewart-Jones, of Chelsea, Que.

SHEFFIELD, England — Southampton shrugged off the disappointment of losing Danny Ings to another injury by beating last-place Sheffield United 2-0 to end its nine-match Premier League winless run Saturday.

JASNA, Slovakia — Mikaela Shiffrin denied her Slovakian rival Petra Vlhova a home victory Saturday, winning the first World Cup slalom following the world championships. Shiffrin trailed first-run leader Vlhova by 0.