LOCAL SPORTS
AUS: On Coach K Court, the X-Women dropped the AUS leading UNB REDS in a 73-67 overtime thriller. The win improves the X-Women record to 12-5, as they remain third in the AUS standings. It was only the second loss of the season for UNB, and their first since November. Gabriel Pizza Player of the Game Ava MacNutt led the comeback win with 13 points on the night, while Shannon Neita became only the fourth X-Women in program history to score 500 points and 500 rebounds in a career.
Then, the AUS leading X-Men picked up their ninth win in a row with a commanding 103-76 victory over the visiting REDS. AUS leading scorer DJ Jackson netted 28 points in the win, good enough to earn Gabriel Pizza Player of the Game.
The X-Men fell 6-4 to the UPEI Panthers Saturday night at the Keating Centre. After the X-Men got out to a 3-0 lead, the Panthers scored five unanswered goals and added an empty netter to seal the win. This afternoon will be the X-Women’s turn at the Keating Centre, as they host Mount Allison at 3 pm.
Junior B: The Bulldogs routed the Strait Pirates 6-1 at the Arena. On the schedule today (subject to change), the Bulldogs are in Eskasoni to play the Jr Eagles at 5:30, while the Jr. Miners face the Scotians in Trenton at 6.
Maritime League: The Pictou County Weeks Crushers lost 4-1 to the Ramblers in Amherst.
Seniors League: The Pictou County Pipers fell 6-5 to the East Hants Penguins, while the Bulldogs lost to the Bearcats in Truro 6-3. Tonight, the Bulldogs are scheduled to play the Penguins at 7 pm in East Hants.
U15: The Novas tamed the Harbour Rage 7-1 at the Arena. The Novas are back at the Arena this morning at 11:30 hosting the Wolverines: other games will likely be re-scheduled because of the forecast.
U16 AAA: The Cabot Highlanders easily handled the Buccaneers 5-1 in Port Hood. The teams play again at the Al MacInnis Sports Centre at 10:30 am .
U18 Major: In Membertou, the CB West Islanders shut down the Rush 3-0. The teams will tangle in Port Hood this afternoon at 2 pm. The Weeks Majors host the Halifax Macs at the Wellness Centre at 1 pm today.
Maritime Major Girls U18 League: The CB Lynx shutout the Kraken 6-0 in Membertou: teams face off again this morning at 10.
NATIONAL SPORTS
Kaitlyn Lawes of Manitoba is one win away from becoming the Scotties Tournament of Hearts champion. Lawes scored four in the first end en route to a dominating 10-2 win over Team Canada’s Kerri Einarson in Saturday night’s Page 1 versus 2 playoff game. Einarson will play Alberta’s Selena Sturmay in today’s semifinal, with the winner advancing to play Lawes in tonight’s title game.
Quinn Hughes, Joel Eriksson Ek, Brock Faber and Mats Zuccarello each had a goal and assist as the visiting Minnesota Wild beat the Edmonton Oilers 7-3. Kirill Kaprizov, Vladimir Tarasenko and Tyler Pitlick also scored for the Wild. Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jack Roslovic scored for the Oilers, who had their three-game win streak halted.
Kaapo Kakko’s goal early in the third period snapped a 2-2 deadlock and lifted the visiting Seattle Kraken to a 3-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Eeli Tolvanen and Jared McCann also scored for the Kraken, who have won four in a row. Ivan Barbashev and Mitch Marner scored for the Knights.
Joel Embiid had 40 points and 11 rebounds, Kelly Oubre Junior had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the visiting New Orleans Pelicans 124-114. Saddiq Bey had 34 points for the Pelicans in a losing cause.
Amen Thompson had 21 points and eight rebounds, Jabari Smith Junior had 19 points and eight rebounds, and the Houston Rockets edged the visiting Dallas Mavericks 111-107. Cooper Flagg had a game-high 34 points and 12 rebounds for the Mavericks.
Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak interviewed for head coaching positions with the Las Vegas Raiders and Arizona Cardinals. This marks the second round of interviews for both teams. If Kubiak accepts a position, no announcement can be made until after the February 8th Super Bowl between the Seahawks and New England Patriots.
Saturday’s Scoreboard
NHL
Toronto 3 Vancouver 2 (SO)
Montreal 4 Buffalo 2
Calgary 3 San Jose 2
Winnipeg 2 Florida 1
Ottawa 4 New Jersey 1
Minnesota 7 Edmonton 3
Los Angeles 3 Philadelphia 2 (OT)
Washington 4 Carolina 3 (OT)
Colorado 5 Detroit 0
Pittsburgh 6 N.Y. Rangers 5
Dallas 3 Utah 2
Seattle 3 Vegas 2
Columbus 5 St. Louis 3
Nashville 4 N.Y. Islanders 3
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League
Rouyn-Noranda 1 Gatineau 0
Saint John 7 Charlottetown 3
Moncton 5 Baie-Comeau 0
Newfoundland 3 Cape Breton 2 (SO)
Victoriaville 3 Halifax 2
NBA
Charlotte 111 San Antonio 106
Indiana 129 Atlanta 124
Philadelphia 124 New Orleans 114
Chicago 125 Miami 118
Minnesota 131 Memphis 114
Houston 111 Dallas 107
Sunday’s Games (All times Eastern)
NHL
Los Angeles at Carolina, 3 p.m.
Boston vs. Tampa Bay at Raymond James Stadium, 6:30 p.m.
Vegas at Anaheim, 9:30 p.m.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League
Baie-Comeau at Saint John, 2 p.m.
Newfoundland at Moncton, 3 p.m.
Halifax at Sherbrooke, 3 p.m.
Gatineau at Val-d’Or, 3 p.m.
Shawinigan at Chicoutimi, 4 p.m.
Blainville-Boisbriand at Drummondville, 4 p.m.
NBA
Milwaukee at Boston, 3:30 p.m.
Orlando at San Antonio, 4 p.m.
Utah at Toronto, 6 p.m.
Brooklyn at Detroit, 6 p.m.
Chicago at Miami, 6 p.m.
Sacramento at Washington, 6 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at New York, 7 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Phoenix, 8 p.m.
Cleveland at Portland, 9 p.m.
Oklahoma City at Denver, 9:30 p.m.