National Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Jimmy Vesey had two goals, Igor Shesterkin made 22 saves and the New York Rangers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1 on Thursday night for their fifth straight win. Vesey snapped a tie with 4:27 left in the second period.

NORTH BAY, Ont. — Josh Bloom had two goals and an assist as the North Bay Battalion used a four-goal third period to pull past the Mississauga Steelheads 7-3 on Thursday.

CALGARY — Travis Green is getting back behind the bench. The former Vancouver Canucks head coach has been tabbed to lead Canada's entry at the annual Spengler Cup tournament later this month.

TORONTO — Expansion Vancouver FC added to its roster Thursday by taking Anthony White and Ameer Kinani with the first two picks of the CPL U Sports draft.

TORONTO — Sunny Sareen is a busy man these days. The Unified MMA president is in the midst of putting on three fight cards in 15 days, a run that started Dec. 2 with Unified MMA 47 in Calgary. "An ambitious plan," Sareen himself said.

TORONTO — Veteran outfielder Kevin Kiermaier said a lot of teams "checked in" on him when he became a free agent in the off-season.

VANCOUVER — Defender Derek Cornelius was transferred by the Vancouver Whitecaps to Sweden's Malmo FF on Thursday.

CALGARY — The women's hockey world championship is returning to the Greater Toronto Area after nearly 25 years. Brampton, Ont.

TORONTO — While Precious Achiuwa has resumed some light practising, Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse erased any expectations the athletic forward would be back playing any time soon. "Probably each day getting a little closer . . .

BOSTON — After a year-long delay the Premier Hockey Federation's all-star weekend will make its Canadian debut next month in Toronto.