National Sports

VANCOUVER — Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet says Thatcher Demko has "improved immensely the last 72 hours" as the all-star goaltender works his way back from a lower-body injury.

Toronto FC will be missing its coach and four players through suspension for Wednesday's game at Nashville SC after the MLS Disciplinary Committee handed down its initial verdict on Saturday night's ugly post-game melee with New York City FC.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The New York Rangers looked headed for an easy push through the second round of the NHL playoffs when they quickly moved within a win of a sweep of the Carolina Hurricanes.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Adley Rutschman's two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning gave Baltimore a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday, enabling the Orioles — yet again — to avoid a sweep.

TORONTO — CFL players will have the option of wearing protective soft-shell helmet covers known as Guardian caps during games this season but mouthguards will be mandatory.

Everything has changed for Taylor Pendrith over the past two weeks. Pendrith won The CJ Cup Byron Nelson on May 5 for his first-ever PGA Tour victory, then tied for 10th at the Wells Fargo Championship on Sunday.

GUELPH, Ont. — Quarterback Chad Kelly isn't on the Toronto Argonauts' suspended list but remains away from the CFL team.

PRAGUE (AP) — JJ Peterka scored twice in Germany's 8-1 rout of Latvia at the ice hockey world championship on Wednesday.

DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Stars centre Roope Hintz is out for Game 5 of their Western Conference playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night because of an upper-body injury.

It was untreated anxiety and depression that Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard blamed for his alcohol abuse, a problem that reached the point where he needed to step away from hockey.