Sports

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Carter Verhaeghe scored twice and Spencer Knight stopped 27 shots for his second career shutout as the Florida Panthers beat the Ottawa Senators 4-0. With the victory and Nashville’s 5-4 shootout win over Western Conference-leading Colorado (56-18-7), the Panthers (58-17-6) clinched their first Presidents’ Trophy for the best record in the

By SCHUYLER DIXON AP Pro Football Writer FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys took Tulsa tackle Tyler Smith with the 24th overall pick in the first round, targeting a once-dominant offensive line that is in a state of flux for the first time in years. Smith was the choice after two other targets were

By PETER FINNEY Jr. Associated Press NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Chris Paul has accomplished so many things in his 17 NBA seasons that it’s nearly impossible to rank his Mount Rushmore moments. Short of a title, perfection, however, might be hard to beat. Paul was 14 for 14 — the most field goals without a

By KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports Writer HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans drafted LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. with the third overall pick in the NFL draft. They also added versatile Texas A&M offensive linemen Kenyon Green with the 15th pick. The Texans had the 13th pick. which they received from Cleveland in the Deshaun

By MITCH STACY AP Sports Writer CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Bengals selected Michigan defensive back Daxton Hill with the 31st pick of the draft. The Bengals passed up some other enticing defensive players to get someone they expect to contribute right away in their secondary. The 6-foot, 191-pound Hill mostly played safety but also

By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer LAS VEGAS (AP) — In an NFL draft focused early on stoppers, it was the goers — wide receivers — who stole the spotlight Thursday night. Not simply prospects, either. Yes, the first five selections came on the defensive side of the ball, including edge rushers Travon Walker

By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer Two more prominent wide receivers switched teams with Tennessee’s A.J. Brown and Baltimore’s Marquise Brown getting swapped during a dizzying stretch of the NFL draft. The Ravens traded Marquise Brown and the 100th overall pick to Arizona for the 23rd pick in the draft. Then the Titans dealt

By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Pro Football Writer EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings have selected Georgia safety Lewis Cine in the first round of the NFL draft. They had the No. 12 pick and packaged it in a trade with a division opponent to move down 20 spots. The Vikings sent the 12th overall

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The Patriots made a move to replenish their offensive line, selecting guard Cole Strange with the 29th pick in the NFL draft. The 6-foot-5, 307-pounder was a five-year starter at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga and was selected as a third-team FCS All-American for the Moccasins

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets are adding some Big Apple Sauce to their defense. A big-time edge rusher, too. And get ready for some Wilson-to-Wilson connections on offense. Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner was taken by the Jets with the No. 4 overall

By STEVE OVERBEY Associated Press ST. LOUIS (AP) — Dakota Hudson pitched six shutout innings, Paul Goldschmidt drove in three runs and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-3 Thursday night. St. Louis star Nolan Arenado had two hits after deciding to appeal a two-game suspension from Major League Baseball for his role

By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens did it again, trading a key player and picking up an extra first-round selection in the NFL draft for the second straight year. This time it was Marquise Brown, a 1,000-yard receiver last season, who was dealt away by the Ravens.

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Brett Veach kept eyeing the draft board as the first round ticked away, knowing full well that two picks Thursday night and 10 more over the next couple of days gave him plenty of options on both sides of the ball. The Chiefs’ general

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers held off on addressing their issues at receiver and instead continued their recent tradition of focusing on defense in the first round by taking Georgia linebacker Quay Walker with the 22nd overall pick Thursday. Walker started all 15 games for

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs traded up to select cornerback Trent McDuffie with the 21st pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night, sending to New England the 29th pick along with selections in the third and fourth rounds to fill one of their biggest needs. McDuffie

By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer The Philadelphia Eagles acquired wide receiver A.J. Brown from Tennessee after swapping picks with Houston to move up and select Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis at No. 13 in the first round of the NFL draft. The Eagles gave the Titans the 18th overall selection and a third-rounder

By NICOLE KRAFT Associated Press COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Oliver Bjorkstrand led Columbus with a goal and an assist, and the Blue Jackets beat Tampa Bay 5-2 and kept the Lightning from clinching the No. 3 seed in the Atlantic Division. Jakub Voracek, Cole Sillinger, Jack Roslovic and Andrew Peeke also scored in the Blue