National Sports

WASHINGTON — The playoff fate of the Montreal Canadiens is out of their hands — for now.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Sabres forward Jason Pominville began the day unable to contain his emotions by choking up when coming to the realization he might be playing his final home game in Buffalo.

CALGARY — Canadian Olympians Jennifer Abel, Pamela Ware, and Vincent Riendeau all advanced through their preliminaries and semifinals on Thursday to qualify for finals at the Canada Cup FINA Diving Grand Prix.

TORONTO — As far as losses go, this was one the Maple Leafs could stomach. Steven Stamkos scored once and also set up Alex Killorn's winner with under six minutes to go in regulation as the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated Toronto 3-1 on Thursday.

CLEVELAND — Trevor Bauer never backs down from any challenge or debate. He accepted this call. Health mattered more than history.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Vladimir Guerrero Jr., went 1 for 4 and scored a run as the Class-A Dunedin Blue Jays routed the Clearwater Threshers 11-2 on Thursday in extended spring training action.

TORONTO — Kierra Smith earned some redemption Thursday night at the Canadian swimming trials. The native of Kelowna, B.C., won the women's 100-metre breaststroke in a personal-best time of one minute 6.54 seconds at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.

Jim Blundell chose to play for Vancouver Firefighters FC in the late 1950s "because I was going to get a job out of it." That's exactly what happened.

TORONTO — Maple Leafs defenceman Jake Gardiner returned to Toronto's lineup against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night following an 18-game absence due to a back injury. The 28-year-old blue-liner last suited up on Feb.

TORONTO — Between a mid-season trade, heartbreak at the world junior championship and a disappointing NHL debut with the Vancouver Canucks, Mikey DiPietro hasn't had many reasons to smile this season.