National Sports

Canadians Julia (The Jewel) Budd and Rory (Red King) MacDonald, both former Bellator champions, kick off their Professional Fighters League season Friday, the first step hopefully toward a world title and US$1-million payday.

CALGARY — Milan Lucic is fine with his broad shoulders employed as a public safety message.

TORONTO — The Canadian men's rugby team will host Belgium and the French Barbarians this summer. The 21st-ranked Canadians will play No.

EDMONTON — He's far from the biggest player in the Oilers' lineup, but Kailer Yamamoto is making his presence felt in Edmonton's first-round series against the L.A. Kings.

MADRID — Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime is through to the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open tennis tournament following a lopsided 6-1, 6-2 win over Italy's Jannik Sinner on Thursday.

Toronto will host the FINA Swimming World Cup for the first time in more than 20 years. The Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre will welcome the world's top swimmer in the second of the three-stop short-course swimming series Oct. 28-30.

TORONTO — The Tampa Bay Lightning harnessed their inner anger on Wednesday night, a skill that has helped them win back-to-back Stanley Cups.

TORONTO — The third day of NHL playoff action featured a bloodied goaltender, another goalie redeeming himself with a shutout, and another penalty-filled tilt.

EDMONTON — Mike Smith wanted to atone for a mishandled puck — and he did it in dramatic fashion on Wednesday. The veteran goalie posted a 30-save shutout to lead the Edmonton Oilers to a decisive 6-0 victory over the L.A.

TORONTO — The Maple Leafs survived some undisciplined play in Game 1 of their series against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions. It was a different story Wednesday.