National Sports

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Kyle Okposo hopes he and the Buffalo Sabres provided general manager Jason Botterill a reason to rethink his approach a day before the NHL's trade deadline.

MONTREAL — The Ilya Kovalchuk era in Montreal has come to an end. The Canadiens traded Kovalchuk to the Washington Capitals for a 2020 third-round pick on Sunday, ending the Russian winger's time in Montreal after 22 games.

TORONTO — The Carolina Hurricanes aren't done with David Ayres just yet. Ayres, a 42-year-old Zamboni driver, was forced to be Carolina's emergency goalie for its road game Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ayers, of Whitby, Ont.

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Toronto designated hitter Rowdy Tellez's two-run single keyed a three-run sixth inning as the Blue Jays rallied to tie the Minnesota Twins 5-5 in pre-season action Sunday. The teams agreed to end the game after nine innings.

MOOSE JAW, Sask. — Jennifer Jones will have to wait for another chance to win a record seventh Canadian women's curling championship. The decorated skip believes she has the team and the time to get that opportunity.

LOS ANGELES — Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid will return to the lineup Sunday night against the Los Angeles Kings. The Oilers captain has missed six games since suffering a quadriceps injury Feb. 8 against the Nashville Predators.

TUKWILA, Wash. — Sam Malcolm's boot accounted for 24 points as the unbeaten Toronto Arrows defeated the defending champion Seattle Seawolves 39-17 in Major League Rugby play Saturday night.

TORONTO — Raptors Uprising GC, the gaming arm of the Raptors, has wanted Eric (Timelycook) Donald since the NBA 2K League started in 2018. It took two years and a season-long suspension, but the American is now part of the Canadian esports team.

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — American Reilly Opelka defeated Canadian Milos Raonic on Sunday to advance to the final of the Delray Beach Open men's tennis tournament. The six-foot-11, 225-pound Opelka secured a 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-3 semifinal win over Raonic.

MARSEILLE, France — Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime has dropped an ATP Tour final for the second week in a row. The No. 7 seed from Montreal lost 6-3, 6-4 to No.