National Sports

WINNIPEG — Nikolaj Ehlers scored on a breakaway 1:28 into overtime to help the Winnipeg Jets clinch a playoff spot by downing the Washington Capitals 3-2 in Tuesday's showdown between the NHL's top two teams.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Tage Thompson scored the go-ahead goal 1:23 into the third period, and Lindy Ruff became the NHL’s second coach to win 600 games with one franchise in the Buffalo Sabres’ 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night.

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Charge’s playoff hopes took a beating Tuesday night following a 6-3 loss to the New York Sirens. The Charge (9-1-4-11) blew a 3-0 third-period lead and allowed the last-place Sirens (6-4-4-12) to score six unanswered goals.

TORONTO — William Nylander had two goals and two assists to lead the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 7-2 thumping of the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night.

With the top of the podium closer than ever, Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier are keeping to the same tried and true script.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Defending champion Argentina qualified for the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday when Bolivia failed to beat Uruguay.

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays have signed catcher Alejandro Kirk to a US$58-million, five-year extension, the team announced Tuesday. The 26-year-old from Tijuana, Mexico, hit .253 last season with five home runs and 54 runs batted in.

Iran qualified for the 2026 World Cup after Mehdi Taremi scored twice in a 2-2 draw with Uzbekistan on Tuesday. The point takes Iran to a fourth straight appearance at the World Cup and a seventh overall.

Forward Kaylee Hunter and goalkeeper Olivia Busby, part of the Canadian squad that qualified for the CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship last month, now look to do the same with the under-17 side.

Jakob Chychrun in his first season with the Washington Capitals delivered them offense from their blue line that helped them become the top team in the NHL. Now, he's sticking around for the long term.