{allcanada} Da Silva scores career-high 25; Magic overcome loss of Suggs to beat Raptors

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TORONTO (AP) — Tristan da Silva scored a career-high 25 points and the Orlando Magic overcame the loss of guard Jalen Suggs to back spasms to beat the struggling Toronto Raptors 106-97 on Friday night.

Goga Bitadze had 11 points and 13 rebounds and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 15 points to help the Magic win for the fourth time in 10. Orlando's Cole Anthony matched a career high with 11 assists.

Orlando came in as the NBA's worst shooting team from 3-point range, but made 9 of 14 from distance in the first quarter, tying the franchise record for 3s in a quarter.

Suggs was playing defense late in the second when he stumbled without any contact and fell over clutching at his lower back. He stayed down for several minutes before being helped into a wheelchair. The fourth-year guard covered his face with a towel as he was wheeled off.

Jakob Poeltl scored 25 points for the Raptors. Scottie Barnes added 20, and Immanuel Quickley had 11 points and 11 assists.

Takeaways

Magic: Orlando made nine 3-pointers in the third quarter against San Antonio on Feb. 8, 2024. They also had nine in the third against the Lakers on Jan. 31, 2018.

Raptors: Toronto snapped an 11-game losing streak by beating Brooklyn on Wednesday but couldn't maintain any momentum. The Raptors haven't won consecutive games since home victories over Miami and Indiana on Dec. 1 and 3. They've only won back-to-back games twice this season.

Key moment

Four Magic players connected from deep in a 14-4 run late in the first that gave Orlando a lead it would never relinquish.

Key stat

Orlando shot 19 for 44 from 3-point range, improving to 18-6 this season when making 10 or more from distance. The Magic are 3-9 when they make nine or fewer 3s.

Up next

Orlando hosts Utah on Sunday night. Toronto hosts Milwaukee on Monday night.

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{allcanada} Hughes, Pettersson 'getting closer' to return for Canucks

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Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson are each "getting closer" to returning from an upper-body injury and will join the Canucks on a five-game road trip that starts at the Montreal Canadiens on Monday.

Neither Hughes, the Canucks top defenseman, nor Pettersson, their No. 1 center, played against the Nashville Predators on Friday, but both continue to skate on their own.

"They're getting close," Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet said Friday. "'Petey' has been skating and Quinn quite a bit, so we'll see how that goes. They'll be with us (on the road trip) for sure."

Hughes, who entered Friday leading the Canucks and third among NHL defensemen with 42 points (eight goals, 34 assists) in 34 games, was labeled questionable going into the Dec. 23 game against the San Jose Sharks. He played and had two assists in a 4-3 win but has missed three straight games since and was considered week to week.

Pettersson, who was tied for third on the Canucks with 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in 34 games, scored twice in the second period of the Dec. 23 game but only played one shift in the third and hasn't played in a game or practice since. Tocchet said on Sunday he is day to day.

Vancouver also was without No. 1 goalie Thatcher Demko against the Predators on Friday after he sustained back spasms during a 4-3 shootout win at the Seattle Kraken on Thursday, leaving in the second period after getting spun around in a collision with Canucks defenseman Juulsen and falling hard on his backside in the first.

Vancouver recalled goalie Arturs Silovs from Abbotsford in the American Hockey League to back up Kevin Lankinen against Nashville.

"I haven't checked in with [Demko] this morning, but you know back spasms, they can go away in 24 hours or 48 hours," Tocchet said. "I don't know. I've had them before, so we'll see how we go with that."

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{allcanada} Canucks place star F Pettersson on retroactive IR, recall G Silovs

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The Vancouver Canucks have placed forward Elias Pettersson on injured reserve, retroactive to Dec. 23, and recalled goaltender Arturs Silovs on an emergency basis, GM Patrik Allvin announced on Friday.

Pettersson, 26, last played in Vancouver's 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Dec. 23. He departed from that game in the third period after scoring two goals.

TSN's Farhan Lalji reported on Sunday that Pettersson was about a week away from a return from the undisclosed injury he suffered in the game against Buffalo.

"[Pettersson] and [defenceman Quinn Hughes] aren't in [tonight's lineup], but they're getting close," head coach Rick Tocchet told reporters on Friday. "[Pettersson's] been skating ... So we'll see how that goes."

Pettersson has 10 goals and 28 points in 34 games this season, his seventh with the Canucks since Vancouver selected him with the fifth overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

The former Calder Trophy winner has been embroiled in drama with fellow Canucks star J.T. Miller, with reports circulating over tension between the two teammates.

Silovs' return to the Canucks comes following goaltender Thatcher Demko's injury in Thursday's game against the Sabres.

Silovs has a 4.11 goals-against average and .847 save percentage in seven starts this season.

Demko exited midway through the second period with back spasms and was replaced by backup Kevin Lankinen. Conor Garland had just scored to make the game 2-1 for Vancouver when Demko left for the locker room. 

Including Thursday's start, the 29-year-old appeared in six games this season, going 2-1-3 with an .879 save percentage and 3.43 goals-against average.

The Canucks play the Nashville Predators at home on Friday in their next contest.

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{allcanada} CF Montreal signs German midfielder Herbers to two-year contract

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MONTREAL — CF Montreal has signed German midfielder Fabian Herbers to a contract for the next two seasons.

The Major League Soccer club announced the deal Friday after Herbers spent the last six seasons with Eastern Conference rival Chicago Fire.

Herbers recorded 15 goals and 15 assists in 152 games in Chicago, including 105 starts.

The 31-year-old was the Philadelphia Union's sixth overall pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft.

The six-foot, 165-pound Herbers produced four goals and nine assists over 53 games in Philadelphia from 2016 to 2018.

Montreal says Herber will not take up an international roster spot because he holds a United States green card.

"We are delighted to acquire Fabian, an experienced player who has played over 200 MLS games," President and chief executive officer Gabriel Gervais said in a statement. "He is a versatile player who can play as a central midfielder or in a more advanced role behind the striker, and is known for his work ethic and team spirit. He is a veteran who will set a good example for the young players on our team."

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{allcanada} Canucks recall Silovs following Demko injury

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The Canucks have recalled goaltender Arturs Silovs from the AHL following goaltender Thatcher Demko's injury in Thursday's game against the Buffalo Sabres.

Silovs has a 4.11 goals-against average and .847 save percentage in seven starts this season.

Demko exited midway through the second period with back spasms and was replaced by backup Kevin Lankinen. Conor Garland had just scored to make the game 2-1 for Vancouver when Demko left for the locker room. 

Including Thursday's start, the 29-year-old appeared in six games this season, going 2-1-3 with an .879 save percentage and 3.43 goals-against average.

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{allcanada} QMJHL Roundup: Guite scores two, Sagueneens best Cataractes

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SAGUENAY, Que. — Emile Guite scored twice and the Chicoutimi Sagueneens topped the Shawinigan Cataractes 4-1 in Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League play on Thursday.

Loic Usereau contributed a goal and two assists for the Sagueneens (21-6-8), who also got a goal from Jonathan Prud'homme.

Felix Lacerte scored for the Cataractes (19-14-2), temporarily levelling the score at 1-1 early in the second period.

Chicoutimi then pulled away with three unanswered goals in the third.

Special teams played an important part, with the Sagueneens going 2-for-5 on the power play and holding the Cataractes scoreless on their lone man advantage.

Raphael Precourt made 31 saves for the Sagueneens and Cataractes goalie Mathys Fernandez stopped 27 of the 31 shots he faced.

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{allcanada} Benevides named Lions defensive co-ordinator on Pierce's staff

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VANCOUVER — Mike Benevides is back as the B.C. Lions defensive co-ordinator.

Benevides assumes the role on new head coach Buck Pierce's staff, the Lions announced Thursday.

Benevides had spent the last two years as B.C.'s special-teams co-ordinator and replaces Ryan Phillips, who remains with the organization as secondary coach and pass-game co-ordinator.

Benevides enters his 15th season with the organization (2003-14, 2023-present). He served as the Lions' defensive co-ordinator from 2008-12 and head coach from 2012-14.

He was also served the defensive co-ordinator with Ottawa (2021-22) and Edmonton (2016-18). A three-time Grey Cup champion, Benevides began his CFL coaching career with the Calgary Stampeders (2000-02) serving as a defensive assistant, linebackers coach and special teams co-ordinator.

Corey McDiarmid replaces Benevides as Lions special-teams co-ordinator. He held the same position with the Ottawa Redblacks from 2022-24.

The remainder of the staff includes: Kevin Bourgoin (receivers); Paul Charbonneau (offensive line); Randy Melvin (defensive line); Glen Young (linebackers) and Derek Oswalt (assistant coach).

The Lions also announced Pierce will also serve as their offensive co-ordinator. A running backs coach will be hired at a later date.

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{allcanada} Top prospect Schaefer expected to miss three months with broken collarbone

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Team Canada and Erie Otters defenceman Matthew Schaefer suffered a broken collarbone at the World Juniors and is expected to be out three months, according to Mike Morrale of NHL.com.

Schaefer, 17, sustained the injury during Canada's 3-2 shootout loss to Latvia during the preliminary round to repair the injury on Monday.

The 6-foot-2 left-shot defenceman exits the tournament after recording a goal and two points with a plus-2 rating in two games. Team Canada is set to take on Czechia on Thursday as they look to advance to the World Juniors semifinals.

Schaefer is a key component to the Otters defensive corps, recording seven goals and 22 points in 17 games this season.

The Stoney Creek, Ont., native starred at the CHL USA Prospects Challenge in November, registering a goal and two points and a plus-3 rating during Team CHL's two-game sweep of the U.S. National Development Program.

Schaefer is eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles and was listed as No. 2 on TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie's preseason rankings and ranked No. 4 on TSN's Director of Scouting Craig Button's November list.

The Otters sit fourth in the Ontario Hockey League's Western Conference with an 18-10-4 record.

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{allcanada} OHL roundup: Edwards scores OT winner in Sarnia's upset win over London

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SARNIA, Ont. — Beckham Edwards scored the overtime winner and goalie Nick Surzycia made 29 saves for the Sarnia Sting in a 3-2 win over the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League on Wednesday.

Dylan Luecke and Daylen Moses also scored for Sarnia (13-9-2-5) which halted London's win streak at five straight.

Denver Barkey and Sam O'Reilly countered for London (29-6-1-0), which remained atop the Midwest Division. Knights goalie Aleksei Medvedev stopped 31 shots in a losing cause.

GENERALS 4 ATTACK 3

OSHAWA, Ont. — Brady Smith's third-period goal stood up as the winner for the Generals in the win over Owen Sound.

Smith's goal at 6:20 of the third period gave the hosts a 4-2 lead before Pierce Mbuyi pulled the Attack within a goal at 10:38.

Anthony Figliomeni, Harisson Franssen and Lauri Sinivuori also scored for Oshawa (22-12-2-1) atop the East Division. Generals goaltender Isaac Gravelle contributed 31 saves to the win.

Landen Hookey and Antonio Tersigni scored for Owen Sound (10-21-2-3). Trenten Bennett stopped 24 shots in the loss.

FRONTENACS 4 STEELHEADS 3

KINGSTON, Ont. — Jacob Battaglia scored the third-period, game-winner for Kingston in a win over Brampton.

The Calgary Flames' draft pick scored at 16:29 of the third and also had an assist.

Ethan Miedema, Ben Pickell and Kieren Dervin also scored for the Frontenacs (17-10-5-2). Kingston's goalie Nolan Lalonde stopped 26 shots for the win.

Finn Harding, Aidan Lane and Angus MacDonnell were goal scorers for the Steelheads (15-15-5-0). Jacob Gibbons stopped 23 shots in Brampton's net.

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{allcanada} MacKinnon leads 3 Stars of the Month for December

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NEW YORK – Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl and New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the month of December presented by GEICO.

FIRST STAR – NATHAN MacKINNON, C, COLORADO AVALANCHE

MacKinnon led the NHL with 7-18—25 in 13 games to lift the Avalanche (23-15-0, 46 points) into third place in the Central Division via a 10-3-0 month (20 points) – tied for the most wins and points in the League (w/ VGK: 10-2-0, 20 points). This marked the fifth time that MacKinnon has produced at least 25 points in a single calendar month, after December 2023 (11-18—29 in 15 GP), March 2024 (11-16—27 in 13 GP), January 2024 (12-14—26 in 12 GP) and November 2019 (10-15—25 in 14 GP). MacKinnon finished December 2024 among the League leaders in even-strength assists (1st; 13), even-strength points (1st; 20), assists (2nd; 18), shots on goal (t-6th; 52), even-strength goals (t-7th; 7) and plus/minus (t-7th; +11). He found the score sheet in 11 of his 13 appearances, ending the month on a five-game assist/point streak (Dec. 19-31: 1-10—11), and recorded seven multi-point performances – highlighted by his ninth career five-point outing, including his 600th NHL assist, Dec. 10 at PIT (1-4—5). The 29-year-old MacKinnon, the reigning Hart Memorial Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award winner, tops the League with 47 assists and 61 points through 38 total contests this season (14-47—61).

SECOND STAR – LEON DRAISAITL, C, EDMONTON OILERS

Draisaitl shared the League lead with 10 goals and ranked second with 24 points in 13 games (10-14—24) to propel the Oilers (22-12-3, 47 points) to a 9-3-1 month. He also placed among the top December performers in game-winning goals (t-1st; 3), even-strength points (t-3rd; 15), power-play points (t-3rd; 9), assists (t-6th; 14) and power-play goals (t-6th; 4), collecting points in all but his first outing of the month. Draisaitl notched eight total multi-point performances, including seven straight from Dec. 5-19 (6‑12—18), and reached the 900-point milestone Dec. 19 vs. BOS. At 751 games, he became the fourth-fastest active player to accumulate 900 points, behind only Connor McDavid (602 GP), Sidney Crosby (677 GP) and Nikita Kucherov (743 GP). The 29-year-old Draisaitl, who won the Hart Memorial Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award and Art Ross Trophy in 2019-20, paces the NHL with 27 goals (as well as 8 GWG) and sits second with 56 points through 37 total appearances this season (27-29—56).

THIRD STAR – JACOB MARKSTROM, G, NEW JERSEY DEVILS

Markstrom went 8-1-1 with a 1.30 goals-against average, .937 save percentage and two shutouts in 10 games to help the Devils (24-13-3, 51 points) complete an 8-4-1 December. He yielded two or fewer goals in all but his final start of the month, highlighted by consecutive shutouts Dec. 21 vs. PIT (12 SV) and Dec. 23 vs. NYR (12 SV). Markstrom's 139:35 shutout sequence from Dec. 17-27 was the second-longest of his NHL career, behind just a 144:46 run from Oct. 25 – Nov. 2, 2021 (w/ CGY). The 34-year-old Markstrom, who was acquired by New Jersey in June, owns a 19-7-2 record with a 2.15 goals-against average, .912 save percentage and three shutouts through 28 total appearances this season. He ranks second in the League in wins, second in goals-against average (minimum: 13 GP) and tied for second in shutouts.

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{allcanada} Hutson named NHL Rookie of the Month for December

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NEW YORK – Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson, who shared the rookie lead with 13 points in 14 games (2-11—13), has been named the NHL's "Rookie of the Month" for December.

Hutson edged San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (4-9—13 in 13 GP), Philadelphia Flyers right wing Matvei Michkov (3-7—10 in 13 GP), Canadiens teammate Emil Heineman (4-5—9 in 14 GP) and Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf (4-1-1, 2.64 GAA, .905 SV%, 1 SO) for the honor.

Hutson also paced December rookies in assists (11), power-play assists (7), power-play points (7), average time on ice (21:18) and total time on ice (298:07). Only one rookie defenseman has recorded more assists or points for Montreal in a single calendar month: Chris Chelios, in both February 1985 (1‑14—15 in 12 GP) and December 1984 (1-13—14 in 15 GP).

Hutson found the score sheet in 10 of his 14 December appearances, producing two point streaks of five games: Dec. 1-9 (0-6—6) and Dec. 14-23 (2-5—7). The former extended his overall assist/point streak to seven contests (Nov. 27 – Dec. 9: 0-8—8), the longest by a rookie defenseman in franchise history ahead of Glen Harmon (Jan. 9-19, 1943: 2-5—7 in 6 GP) and Chelios (Dec. 16-27, 1984: 1-8—9 in 6 GP and March 1-14, 1985: 3-6—9 in 6 GP).

The 20-year-old Hutson, a second-round pick (62nd overall) from the 2022 NHL Draft, places third among rookies – behind only Michkov (12-17—29 in 36 GP) and Celebrini (12-15—27 in 28 GP) – with 2-24—26 through 37 total contests this season. He also ranks among the top rookies in assists (1st; 24), power-play assists (1st; 11), blocked shots (1st; 47), takeaways (1st; 17), average time on ice (1st; 22:26), total time on ice (1st; 830:10), power-play points (2nd; 11) and shots on goal (t-11th; 42).

Hutson follows Michkov (October: 4-5—9 in 11 GP) and Celebrini (November: 7-5—12 in 14 GP) as a "Rookie of the Month" winner in 2024-25. He is the first Canadiens player to receive the honor since current teammate Cole Caufield in March 2022 (7-8—15 in 15 GP).

Lane Hutson in December

Date	Opponent	G	A	P	Result
Dec. 1	at Boston	0	2	2	6-3 L
Dec. 3	NY ISLANDERS	0	1	1	2-1 OT W
Dec. 5	NASHVILLE	0	1	1	3-0 W
Dec. 7	WASHINGTON	0	1	1	4-2 L
Dec. 9	ANAHEIM	0	1	1	3-2 SO W
Dec. 12	PITTSBURGH	0	0	0	9-2 L
Dec. 14	at Winnipeg	1	0	1	4-2 L
Dec. 17	BUFFALO	0	2	2	6-1 W
Dec. 20	at Detroit	0	1	1	4-3 W
Dec. 21	DETROIT	0	2	2	5-1 W
Dec. 23	at Columbus	1	0	1	5-4 L
Dec. 28	at Florida	0	0	0	4-0 W
Dec. 29	at Tampa Bay	0	0	0	5-2 W
Dec. 31	at Vegas	0	0	0	3-2 W
Totals		2	11	13	9-5-0

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