LOCAL SPORTS
AUS: The UPEI Panthers put a damper on Homecoming weekend in a dramatic come-from behind victory, 25-22 over the X-Women Rugby squad in the final game of the regular season at St. FX Stadium. Emily Duffy scored consecutive tries in extra time late in the game to give UPEI the win – an important one that clinched first place in the conference and a bye to the championship. With the loss, the X-Women finish one point behind the Panthers in the standings and will host Acadia in the AUS semifinal game next week – the winner takes on UPEI in the championship.
In Hockey, the Moncton Aigles Bleus got their first win of the season at home, 5-2 over the X-Men. Raegan Wiles and Matthew Philip scored for the X-Men. The X-Men will be in Fredericton to face UNB this afternoon at 4.
The X-Men basketball team are taking part in the UBC Okanagan Fall Classic this weekend. They opened the tournament with a 110-80 win over Mount Royal. Tonight, they face the University of Ottawa at 8 pm Atlantic time.
The X-Men football team will try to finish their regular season undefeated as they host Mount Allison this afternoon. Kickoff time is 2 pm.
NS Junior B: Last night, the Strait Pirates lost 4-1 to the East Hants Penguins at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre. In Shearwater, the Pictou County Scotians defeated the Capstone Colts 3-2 in overtime. Tonight, the Antigonish Bulldogs are in Membertou to take on the Junior Miners at 7:30.
Maritime Major Female League: After a pair of mini exhibition games last night at the Keating Centre, the Northern Subway Selects return to the Hector Arena in Pictou for a match against the Greenfoot Capitals. Puck drops at 2:30.
Rural League: Pleasantdale Panthers defeated the County Outlaws 4-3, and the Heatherton Warriors beat the St. Croix Angels 2-0.
U18: Pictou Weeks Majors take on the South Shore Mustangs in Lunenberg at 3.
U15: The Antigonish Novas host the TASA Gulls at the Antigonish Arena at 5, while the WearWell Bombers visit the Harbour Rage at 7.
U16AAA: The Cabot Highlanders visit the Dukes on Saturday at 8 pm.
NATIONAL SPORTS
The Calgary Stampeders kept their C-F-L playoff hopes alive with a clutch 26-19 win over the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders. Calgary snapped a three-game losing streak in improving to 5-and-11, while the Riders extended theirs losing skid to seven straight. Saskatchewan, at 6-and-11, still holds the third and final playoff spot in the West Division, but the Stamps are two points back with a game in hand.
Sean Whyte’s 48-yard field on the final play of regulation time lifted the B-C Lions to an exciting 33-30 C-F-L win over the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats. With the win, the Leos improve to 12-and-5, keeping their slim hopes of finishing first in the West Division intact. The Ticats, who slipped to 8-and-9, will finish third in the East.
Sidney Crosby scored twice, Evgeni Malkin had a goal and three assists, and the Pittsburgh Penguins won their first game of the N-H-L season by defeating the host Washington Capitals 4-0 in their regular-season debut. Reilly Smith also scored for the Pens, who improved to 1-and-1.
The Arizona Coyotes made their N-H-L regular-season debut a winning one as they knocked off the host New Jersey Devils 4-3 in a shootout. Matt Dumba, Nick Schmaltz and Sean Durzi scored for the Coyotes in regulation time. Clayton Keller and Logan Cooley each had two assists. The Devils got two goals from Jesper Bratt and a single from Dougie Hamilton. Jack Hughes had three assists in the loss.
The 2020s are starting to feel like the 1990s for the Atlanta Braves. Another dazzling regular season – another flop in the post-season. After tying a M-L-B record with 307 homers, the slugging Braves went down meekly to their rival Philadelphia Phillies in the N-L Division Series for the second straight year. Other than a stunning Braves comeback in Game 2, the Phillies totally dominated the best-of-five series.
Three Canadians are in great shape after Friday’s second-round P-G-A action in Las Vegas. Lanto Griffin and Cameron Champ, both of California, are co-leaders of the Shriners Children’s Open at 12-under-par. Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B-C, is two shots back of the lead, while Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ontario is at 8 under and both Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B-C are at 7-under.
Friday’s Scoreboard
NHL
Arizona 4 New Jersey 3 (SO)
Pittsburgh 4 Washington 0
CFL
B.C. 33 Hamilton 30
Calgary 26 Saskatchewan 19
NBA Pre-Season
San Antonio 120 Miami 104
Golden State 129 L.A. Lakers 125
Saturday’s Games (All times Eastern)
NHL
Philadelphia at Ottawa, 1 p.m.
Florida at Winnipeg, 4 p.m.
Calgary at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Chicago at Montreal, 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Toronto, 7 p.m.
N.Y. Rangers at Columbus, 7 p.m.
Nashville at Boston, 7 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Detroit, 7 p.m.
Buffalo at N.Y. Islanders, 7:30 p.m.
Seattle at St. Louis, 8 p.m.
Vancouver at Edmonton, 10 p.m.
Anaheim at Vegas, 10 p.m.
Colorado at San Jose, 10 p.m.
Carolina at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.
CFL
Montreal at Edmonton, 4 p.m.
Ottawa at Toronto, 7 p.m.
MLS
New England at Nashville, 8:30 p.m.
Colorado at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Real Salt Lake at LA Galaxy, 10:30 p.m.
NBA Pre-Season
New Orleans at Atlanta, 3:30 p.m.
Minnesota at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Portland at Utah, 9 p.m.