THURSDAY SPORTS: LEAFS CATCHING FIRE

NHL

Auston Matthews scored just over two minutes into overtime and the Toronto Maple Leafs rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks, squeaking by after taking 57 shots on goal. Martin Jones made 27 saves in his second standout performance in two nights after earning the shutout over Los Angeles on Tuesday. John Tavares scored with just under six minutes remaining in regulation to send the game into the extra period. Matthews delivered his 30th of the season in overtime to beat Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal.

Nico Hischier, Dawson Mercer and Michael McLeod each scored two goals, and the New Jersey Devils beat the Washington Capitals 6-3. Hischier’s goals were the New Jersey captain’s ninth and 10th of the season. Mercer’s big night came as he played his 200th consecutive game to begin his NHL career.

PWHL

Taylor Heise and Sophia Kunin each scored less than eight minutes into the game, Nicole Hensley made 33 saves and Minnesota beat Boston 3-2 in the Professional Women’s Hockey League debut for both franchises. Heise, the Number One overall pick, scored the first goal in Minnesota history – and the first league goal scored on American ice early in the first period.

NFL

Brock Purdy and Tua Tagovailoa were selected to their first Pro Bowl as the starting quarterbacks for their respective conferences. It’s the first time the two starting quarterbacks are first-time picks since the 1999 season when Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner were chosen. Purdy was one of nine players picked from the San Francisco 49ers, who clinched the NFC’s Number One seed.

NBA

Immanuel Quickley scored 26 points, Pascal Siakam added 24 and the Toronto Raptors weathered a late Memphis rally to defeat the Grizzlies 116-111. Quickley, who came to Toronto in a late-December trade that sent O-G Anunoby to the New York Knicks, was 8 of 18 from the field, including 5 of 8 from outside the arc.

(Canadian Press)