National Sports

IDRE FJALL, SWEDEN. — Being patient paid off handsomely for Canadian Reece Howden on Saturday. After sitting back for most of the final, the 22-year-old from Cultus Lake, B.C., came on to capture the gold medal in a World Cup ski cross competition.

A COVID-19 scare caused Canada's planned scrimmage with the U.S. to be called off Saturday in Bradenton, Fla. The Canadian men had been scheduled to play two 70-minute soccer scrimmages against the Americans.

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — Leila Kilduff scored two first-period goals while Sonjia Shelly stopped 19 shots to lead the Metropolitan Riveters past the Toronto Six 3-0 in National Women's Hockey League action Saturday.

WINNIPEG — Nikolaj Ehlers hates to see Patrik Laine go but is excited at what Pierre-Luc Dubois could bring to the Winnipeg Jets.

HEERENVEEN, Netherlands — Canadians Ivanie Blondin, Laurent Dubreuil and Heather McLean captured medals Saturday at the ISU World Cup speedskating event. That gives Canada five medals overall at its first World Cup competition of the season.

MOSCOW — Canadian Marion Thenault finished third in a World Cup freestyle ski aerials event Saturday. It was the first career podium finish for the 20-year-old from Sherbrooke, Que.

KOENIGSSEE, Germany — Kaillie Humphries got her second win in as many attempts in a monobob sled this season Saturday, leading a gold-silver finish for USA Bobsled and Skeleton. Humphries, a Canadian now representing the U.S.

LAHTI, FINLAND — Canadian Katherine Stewart-Jones had a career-best 24th place finish Saturday in a women's World Cup cross-country ski event. Stewart-Jones, of Chelsea, Que., posted a time of 41 minutes 8.

SOUTHAMPTON, England — Defending-champion Arsenal was eliminated from FA Cup competition following a 1-0 fourth-round loss Satuday to Southampton. Adding insult to injury was the defeat came the result of Gabriel's own goal.

TORONTO — The Maple Leafs needed all hands on deck without two-thirds of their top line. Minus both Auston Matthews and Joe Thornton, Toronto didn't miss a beat Friday.