National Sports

The sprint to the NHL's 56-game finish line started in earnest Sunday.

LONDON — Even facing a Manchester City side depleted by the coronavirus, Frank Lampard couldn't prevent Chelsea slumping to a fourth loss in its past six games. And Lampard is aware the 3-1 defeat will only increase the pressure on him.

It seems like Canada's road to gold at the world junior men's hockey championship often runs through Russia, given each country's hockey pedigree. The two rivals square off in Monday's semifinal in Edmonton for the right to play for gold Tuesday.

VANCOUVER — Nearly four months after they were ousted from the NHL playoffs, the Vancouver Canucks are back — and with big expectations.

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks have been given the go ahead to play in British Columbia this season. B.C.

EDMONTON — Quarterfinals in international hockey tournaments are tense affairs. A win means playing for a medal and a loss means not.

EDMONTON — Roni Hirvonen scored with 25 seconds remaining and Finland edged Sweden 3-2 in quarterfinal action Saturday at the world junior hockey championship.

NEW ORLEANS — Eric Bledsoe capped a 19-point, 10-assist performance with a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute, and the New Orleans Pelicans held on for a 120-116 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday night.

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas was tired of waiting for Tom Herman to deliver a Big 12 title and turn the Longhorns back into national championship contenders.

Paul Westphal, a Hall of Fame player who won a championship with the Boston Celtics in 1974 and later coached in the league and in college, has died. He was 70. The Phoenix Suns confirmed Westphal’s death in a statement Saturday.