National Sports

EDMONTON — The Edmonton Oilers are asking their fans to not turn cups and containers into projectiles at Rogers Place after a beverage nearly hit Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar in the aftermath of the series opener.

Hockey Canada did just enough to provisionally regain its funding. But rebuilding the trust it once had with major sponsors will be another challenge in itself, suggests a marketing expert.

VANCOUVER — Defenceman Elias Pettersson has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday. The 19-year-old is not related to Canucks star centre Elias Pettersson.

OTTAWA — Canada will host five international speedskating events in the 2023-24 season. Montreal will host back-to-back short-track speedskating World Cups on Oct. 20-22 and again on Oct. 27-29. The following weekend will see nearby Laval, Que.

The Edmonton Oilers, trying to put a positive spin on blowing a two-goal lead on home ice in Monday's NHL playoff opener against the never-say-die Los Angeles Kings, insist there's no reason to panic.

LAS VEGAS — Jets forward Morgan Barron never had any doubt that he'd return to the ice after taking a skate to the face in the opener of Winnipeg's first-round series against Vegas on Tuesday night.

LAS VEGAS — The Winnipeg Jets struggled after poor starts in their previous trips to Las Vegas during the regular season. They made sure there wasn't a repeat of that now that the playoffs have arrived.

DENVER (AP) — Alex Wennberg had a goal and an assist, Philipp Grubauer stopped 34 shots and the Seattle Kraken made a successful playoff debut by beating the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche 3-1 on Tuesday night.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Rangers had the ton of experience coming into the playoffs against the young New Jersey Devils, and it certainly was the difference Game 1 of their first-round series, along with Igor Shesterkin.

TORONTO — John Tavares didn't have an answer. Sheldon Keefe didn't sense any nerves. Once the puck dropped, however, one team was confident in its battle-tested, championship pedigree.