Hockey

MONTREAL — NHL commissioner Gary Bettman wants a cycle of best-on-best hockey every two years. The first step in making that happen is complete.

MONTREAL (AP) — When Canada won the two most recent major international tournaments featuring the best hockey players in the world, the goaltending of Carey Price was one of the biggest reasons why.

TORONTO — Paul Morris, who served as the Toronto Maple Leafs PA announcer for 38 years, has died. He was 86. Morris died Thursday in Oshawa, Ont., after a lengthy illness, according to the Mount Lawn Funeral Home and Cemetery in Whitby, Ont.

BROSSARD, Quebec (AP) — After missing Pittsburgh's final two games before the NHL break for the 4 Nations Face-Off , Sidney Crosby took part in Canada's first practice Monday and declared himself good to go.

VANCOUVER — The United States will not have star defenceman Quinn Hughes in the lineup at the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off. The Vancouver Canucks captain has been ruled out of the competition due to an undisclosed injury.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nick Schmaltz scored the shootout winner , leading the Utah Hockey Club to a 5-4 win over the Washington Capitals on Sunday.

MONTREAL — Sidney Crosby flashed a wide smile and hoisted the trophy over his head. It was Sept. 29, 2016, and Canada had just defeated Team Europe 2-1 in a knife-edged World Cup final. The tournament's format wasn't perfect.

MONTREAL — Victor Hedman didn't plan to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning’s winning streak with head coach Jon Cooper on Sunday night.

MONTREAL (AP) — Victor Hedman had a goal and an assist as the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the slumping Montreal Canadiens 5-3 Sunday in the final NHL game before the 4 Nations Face-Off.

MONTREAL — Victor Hedman had a goal and an assist as the Tampa Bay Lightning hung on for a 5-3 win over the slumping Montreal Canadiens in the final game before the 4 Nations Face-Off on Sunday afternoon.