National Sports

NEW YORK — Jose Altuve and the Houston Astros have grown together, enduring an arduous rebuild and coming out the other side among baseball's best. These days, nobody is standing taller.

Thursday's Games NHL Toronto 1 New Jersey 0 (OT) Pittsburgh 3 Ottawa 1 Arizona 5 Montreal 4 St. Louis 4 Edmonton 1 Winnipeg 3 Philadelphia 2 (SO) Vegas 5 Vancouver 2 N.Y.

Thursday's Games NHL Toronto 1 New Jersey 0 (OT) Pittsburgh 3 Ottawa 1 Arizona 5 Montreal 4 St. Louis 4 Edmonton 1 Winnipeg 3 Philadelphia 2 (SO) Vegas 5 Vancouver 2 N.Y.

WINNIPEG — Connor Hellebuyck didn't let an early two-goal deficit rattle him. It was just the opposite.

EDMONTON — Being traded to the St. Louis Blues has worked out very well for Brayden Schenn thus far. Schenn had two goals and an assist as the Blues snapped a rare two-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.

SAULT STE MARIE, Ont. — Brad Gushue keeps rolling through the third Grand Slam of Curling tournament of the season. Gushue, of St. John's, N.L., edged Greg Balsdon of Kingston, Ont.

MONTREAL — Coach Claude Julien called Montreal's loss against the league-worst Arizona Coyotes "embarrassing." The Canadiens blew three leads as the Coyotes came from behind to win 5-4 on Thursday to earn their first regulation victory of the season.

OTTAWA — Matt Murray's big save in the first period on Mike Hoffman may have been the turning point for the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night.

Toronto Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock had a simple message for William Nylander after he ended a goal slump with the winner on Thursday. Nylander struck with 2.

When Canada's Joey Votto heard that he had narrowly lost out on the National League MVP award, the Cincinnati Reds star was more shocked than disappointed. Not shocked at losing. Shocked at how close the vote was.