National Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — With the broadcast television season winding down and most scripted series about to go into hibernation for the summer, it's instructive to look at the power of network franchises.

Three huge matchups to kick off the college football season, the XFL, a new Australian Open agreement and two new “30 for 30” documentaries were announced Tuesday by ESPN as part of its presentation to advertisers in New York.

TORONTO — Brendan Shanahan got his housekeeping out of the way quickly.

CALGARY — The Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers meet in the playoffs for the first time since 1991 in a best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal starting Wednesday.

VANCOUVER — Vanni Sartini believes Vancouver Whitecaps fans are finally getting a glimpse of the team's Canadian star. And with a goal and two assists in his last two Major League Soccer games, Lucas Cavallini is finding his form at the perfect time.

CALGARY — The NHL's first playoff Battle of Alberta in 31 years will be a game of keep away. The Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers will try to keep the puck off the sticks of each other's top scorers by keeping it on the sticks of their own stars.

JÖNKÖPING, Sweden — Canada's men's team split its games Tuesday at the world junior curling championship, while the women's squad fell to undefeated Norway. Owen Purcell's squad from Halifax opened 10-2 win against William Becker of New Zealand.

Canada Soccer, which has been riding a wave of goodwill since John Herdman's team qualified in style for the World Cup, now finds itself engulfed in controversy over a scheduled friendly match with Iran next month in Vancouver.

TORONTO — Mitch Marner, a star winger with the Maple Leafs, was the victim of a carjacking in Toronto on Monday evening, the hockey team said as local police investigated what has become an increasingly common crime.

EDMONTON — It was not the Edmonton Oilers’ finest hour, but a big loss to their Battle of Alberta archrivals might have been instrumental to their playoff push.