National Sports

NASHVILLE — The Nashville Predators gambled that keeping Mikael Granlund instead of trading the pending free agent at the deadline could help them play their way into the post-season . Granlund certainly delivered Thursday night.

OTTAWA — Bobby Ryan could have never imagined a night like this. The Ottawa Senators forward played his first home game in over three months and had a hat trick to lead the Senators to a 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.

MONTREAL — The New York Rangers showed why they are one of the hottest teams in the NHL right now.

William Nylander scored the go-ahead goal midway in the third period to lift the Toronto Maple Leafs over the Florida Panthers 5-3 on Thursday night.

TORONTO — Canada's women's water polo team was scheduled to be on a flight to Hungary on Wednesday evening.

TORONTO — Norm Powell has been sidelined for 20 Toronto Raptors games this season with two different injuries. But the toughest to watch was Tuesday's 108-97 to the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks.

Mark Casse admits he's in somewhat uncharted waters.

LAS VEGAS — Solomon Elimimian is the new president of the CFL Players' Association. The union unveiled its executive Thursday during its annual general meeting with the veteran Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker listed as president.

DUNEDIN, Fla. — Hyun-Jin Ryu gave up three hits, including a solo home run, over two innings of work in his Toronto spring training debut Thursday as the Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins played to a 3-3 tie.

GHENT, Belgium — Canadian Jonathan David, who had a hat trick in Belgian league play on the weekend, scored again Thursday in KAA Gent's 1-1 draw with AS Roma in Europa League play.