National Sports

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Blue Jackets only had Seth Jones for two periods. It turned out to be more than enough.

WASHINGTON — Everyone around Alex Ovechkin had a hunch this was his night. His wife, Nastya, had flown back from Moscow just in time. Coach Barry Trotz noticed Ovechkin was unusually quiet.

WASHINGTON — Make it 600 goals and counting for Alex Ovechkin, and give the Washington Capitals two more points for the tough playoff race in the Eastern Conference.

NEWARK, Calif. — Steve Kerr believes the voices of America's youth are finally being heard enough to create real change when it comes to gun violence. Kerr told students at a Bay Area high school that safety in schools should be their "No.

Mike Babcock agrees, albeit somewhat begrudgingly, that Evgeni Malkin probably hasn't received all the recognition he's deserved throughout a career spent playing alongside fellow Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby.

It's been less than 2 1/2 years since Toronto FC crumbled in its first-ever foray into the MLS playoffs, stumbling to a 3-0 loss in Montreal. How times have changed.

TORONTO — Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews has taken another step towards returning to Toronto's lineup. The 20-year-old suited up for his first full practice Monday since suffering a shoulder injury on Feb. 22.

NEW YORK — Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan has been named the NBA Eastern Conference player of the week for the second week in a row and fifth time this season. DeRozan averaged a team-high 24.8 points along with 4.3 assists and 4.

TORONTO — While John Herdman's first squad as Canadian men's coach assembles in Spain next week in advance of a March 24 friendly with New Zealand, the players have already got a taste of the new regime.

JUNEAU, Alaska — Bad weather in southwestern Alaska has delayed the air search for a British Columbia man and his climbing companion near Juneau.