National Sports

DENVER — Mikko Rantanen missed training camp and the preseason, yet showed he hasn't missed a beat after a summer of uncertainty.

Thursday's Games NHL Carolina 4 Montreal 3 (SO) Buffalo 3 Pittsburgh 1 Tampa Bay 5 Florida 2 N.Y.

NEW YORK — Artemi Panarin and Jacob Trouba came through in their New York debuts, and Mika Zibanejad had a big game to help the Rangers get the new season off on a winning note.

LAS VEGAS — Canada's Nick Taylor had to scramble for par on his opening two holes Thursday, and then he couldn’t miss in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Taylor, from Abbotsford, B.C.

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes rode a second-half surge all the way to the Eastern Conference final last season. They started their follow-up season with a strong finish to their first game.

ATLANTA — Back in the playoffs for the first time since 2015, the St. Louis Cardinals look as gritty as ever. The Atlanta Braves also started down a familiar path.

Winger Taylor Paris has become the third Canadian to exit the Rugby World Cup due to injury. The 26-year-old from Barrie, Ont.

CALGARY — The Calgary Flames announced a multi-year contract extension for general manager Brad Treliving just hours before the team played its season opener Thursday. The 50-year-old from Penticton, B.C., enters his sixth season as Calgary's GM.

TORONTO — Coming off the success of the Toronto Raptors' "We The North" brand campaign, the pressure was on the organization to deliver for the 25th anniversary of the NBA franchise.

DOHA, Qatar — Canada's Damian Warner is back on the podium for a third time at the world track and field championships after a dramatic finishing day of the decathlon. The native of London, Ont.