National Sports

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Real Madrid has won its record-extending 36th Spanish league title after securing an insurmountable 13-point lead over second-place Girona with four games remaining.

Financially challenged Canada Soccer took a step toward improving its bottom line Saturday, voting to increase its annual membership fee for players by $4 starting in 2025.

ESPOO, Finland — Ryder Ritchie and Taj Iginla both had a goal and an assist as Canada held on to edge Sweden 5-4 in semifinal action Saturday at the world under-18 men's hockey tournament. Canada will face the United States in the final Sunday.

BOSTON — Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday. The Maple Leafs centre snapped the puck around, took part in drills and seemed to be moving well at Toronto's morning skate.

SINGAPORE — Canada's rugby sevens women were blanked 24-0 by France in Saturday's Cup quarterfinal at the Singapore Sevens.

NEW YORK — Centres Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks were named finalists for the NHL's Lady Byng Memorial Trophy on Saturday. The other finalist was Carolina Hurricanes defenceman Jaccob Slavin.

The Vancouver Canucks made it out of the first round Friday night, while the Toronto Maple Leafs look to accomplish something they haven't done in decades on Saturday.

Friday's Scoreboard NHL Playoffs First Round Vancouver 1 Nashville 0 (Vancouver wins best-of-seven series 4-2) Vegas 2 Dallas 0 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3) --- AHL Playoffs Division Semifinals Cleveland 4 Belleville 3 (OT) (Best-of-five series ti

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.

SASKATOON — Fraser Minten capped a two-goal effort with the game-winning goal 18:15 into overtime as the Saskatoon Blades topped the Moose Jaw Warriors 5-4 on Friday in Western Hockey League playoff action.