National Sports

TORONTO — Over his quarter century in the National Hockey League, Mark Messier witnessed sweeping technological changes to the game, from the advent of lighter hockey sticks to the use of video reviews.

VANCOUVER — Kevin Lankinen has made a point of focusing on what's in front of him — whether it's a puck or an opportunity. The goalie stuck to that ideal Friday as he made his debut for the Vancouver Canucks (0-0-2).

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Nikita Kucherov scored a third-period hat trick to help the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 in Friday night’s season opener for both teams.

MEDICINE HAT, Alta. — Gavin McKenna scored a goal and an assist as the Medicine Hat Tigers downed the Brandon Wheat Kings 6-1 in Western Hockey League play on Friday night.

WINNIPEG — Jake Ceresna credited a collective defensive effort for the Toronto Argonauts’ 14-11 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday.

Friday's Scoreboard CFL Toronto 14 Winnipeg 11 --- NHL Winnipeg 2 Chicago 1, overtime Philadelphia 3 Vancouver 2, shootout Vegas 4 St.

VANCOUVER — Morgan Frost scored in the fifth round of the shootout and the Philadelphia Flyers opened their season with a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Friday.

ST. JOHN, N.B. — Charles-Édward Gravel made 31 saves for the shutout as Saint John downed Sherbrooke 3-0 in Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League action Friday night. Eriks Mateiko, Elliot Dubé and Olivier Groulx tallied for Saint John.

WINNIPEG — Not only did Mark Scheifele win the game for the Winnipeg Jets, he recorded a significant milestone in doing so. The Winnipeg Jets assistant captain scored his 299th career NHL goal with 1:04 left in regulation to tie the game 1-1.

NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. — Konnor Smith scored a hat trick as the Owen Sound Attack downed the Niagara Icedogs 6-4 in Ontario Hockey League play on Friday night. Jake Crawford added two goals for Owen Sound.