National Sports

TORONTO — A group of stars primed to hit free agency, the potential first volleys in another round of labour unrest and the possibility of Canada's first Stanley Cup winner since 1993 are among the NHL storylines to look for in 2019.

Thursday's Games (All Times Eastern) 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship At Vancouver Russia 4, Denmark 0 Canada 3, Switzerland 2 At Victoria Sweden 5, Slovakia 2 Finland 5, Kazakhstan 0 --- Spengler Cup At Davos, Switzerland Kuopio 3, Trinec 1 Davos

Thursday's Games (All Times Eastern) 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship At Vancouver Russia 4, Denmark 0 Canada 3, Switzerland 2 At Victoria Sweden 5, Slovakia 2 Finland 5, Kazakhstan 0 --- Spengler Cup At Davos, Switzerland Kuopio 3, Trinec 1 Davos

VICTORIA — Emil Bemstrom scored twice, including the eventual winner, as Sweden topped Slovakia 5-2 at the world junior hockey championship on Thursday. Erik Brannstrom, Lucas Elvenes and Isac Lundestrom rounded out the scoring for Sweden (2-0).

VANCOUVER — MacKenzie Entwistle may be the 13th forward on Canada's junior hockey team, but the 19-year-old right-winger isn't concerned about his spot in the lineup.

EDMONTON — The Vancouver Canucks have climbed back to .500, but head coach Travis Green isn't satisfied yet.

WINNIPEG — Johnny Gaudreau got the hat trick, but he heaped praise on netminder David Rittich. Rittich made 35 saves as the Calgary Flames ended a three-game losing skid with a 4-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday.

MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens will be without goaltender Carey Price for their upcoming three-game road trip. The Canadiens announced Thursday that Price will not travel with the team to Florida because of a lower-body injury.

VANCOUVER — A catchy tune by rapper Pitbull may be stuck in the heads of many Canadians after it was played 14 times in the country's first win at this year's world junior hockey championship.

Toronto FC, which conceded a franchise-worst 64 goals last season, moved to bolster its defence on Thursday by acquiring veteran Belgian international centre back Laurent Ciman.