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MONTREAL — Dylan Larkin scored the go-ahead goal in the second period and the United States defeated Canada 3-1 in the 4 Nations Face-Off on Saturday night, wrapping up a spot in the championship game by winning a game that started with three fights in nine seconds and was played at a blistering pace with physicality throughout.

The most anticipated game of round-robin play did not disappoint, from the fisticuffs off the opening faceoff to big hits from Charlie McAvoy on Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid and more than a few vital saves by Connor Hellebuyck among his 24. And the U.S. showed it could keep up with Canada’s speed, skill and talent in the first international event with the NHL’s best players in nearly a decade.

“That was one of the best experiences of my life — just an unbelievable hockey game,” Larkin said. “What a start, and credit to those guys for answering the bell. And the crowd, just a great night for our sport and a great night for this rivalry.”

But it wasn’t easy for the visitors. McDavid accelerated around the top defensive pair of McAvoy and Zach Werenski and roofed a backhander over Hellebuyck that few goaltenders around would be able to stop, giving Canada a 1-0 lead early in the first period.

But Canada’s questions in net — a major storyline headed into the tournament — continued when Jake Guentzel beat Jordan Binnington 5-hole midway through the first period to tie it. And Crosby, Canada’s perpetually reliable captain, made a rare mistake with a turnover that, combined with a bad line change, paved the way for Larkin to score on a 2-on-1 past the midway mark of regulation.

Binnington, wrapped around that play, made some timely stops, and Canada — without top defenseman Cale Makar because of illness — had plenty of chances to tie it but could not get the puck past Hellebuyck again. Guentzel scored into an empty net with 1:19 left to seal it.

“What an incredible hockey game,” U.S. coach Mike Sullivan said.

The result puts an all-world roster led by McDavid, Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon in a must-win situation Monday against Finland at TD Garden in Boston.

“Getting a win here on a Saturday night, that puts us in the finals, that’s a pretty neat feeling,” American forward Brady Tkachuk told ESPN’s Emily Kaplan in his postgame interview. “I feel like they’re a lot of unhappy people here, especially in Montreal, a place that isn’t my favorite.”

The U.S. has nothing to play for against Sweden in Boston on Monday night. Staying healthy will be key as the finale awaits later in the week. The game might give Sullivan a chance to rest some players, including Hellebuyck. His backups for this tournament are Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Coach Sanders back at Colorado practice

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Coach Sanders back at Colorado practice

Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders was back at practice Wednesday, a day after undergoing surgery related to his blood clots.

Sanders had a procedure called an aspiration thrombectomy, which involves the left popliteal — located behind the knee — and tibial arteries. He appears on track to be on the sideline Saturday when the Buffaloes (2-4, 0-3 Big 12) host No. 22 Iowa State (5-1, 2-1).

His son Deion Sanders Jr. posted a short video of him on social media Wednesday as the Buffaloes coach stood at the 35-yard-line with a play sheet dangling from his waist. His team was practicing on the other side of the 50.

On Tuesday night, in a video posted by Well Off Media, which chronicles the Buffaloes, Sanders and his medical team talked about the procedure that would clean out his arteries to prevent more clots. Sanders said it was his 16th surgery over the past few years.

“Same position,” Sanders said as he got comfortable in the hospital bed. “Never doubting God. Never stressing. Never second-guessing.”

Sanders received a visit from longtime NFL cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones, who gave his friend a kiss on the head. Sanders also took calls from sons Shedeur and Shilo.

“If you give me $5 million just to have, I will make sure that you don’t have to get surgery anymore,” Shilo Sanders cracked on the phone call.

“I know where your care is coming from,” his dad playfully responded. “I don’t want nothing to do with your care.”

“If you give me five, I’ll make sure you’re alive,” Shilo said, drawing a laugh from his father and Jones.

Soon after, Deion Sanders was taken away to the operating room.

The 58-year-old was in pain during a 35-21 loss at TCU last Saturday, alternating between sitting and limping along the sideline with his leg throbbing. He didn’t wear a shoe on his left foot in the second half, and after the game he said he was “hurting like crazy.”

Sanders dealt with blood clot issues while at Jackson State in 2021, with doctors amputating two of the toes on his left foot. He also skipped a Pac-12 media day session in 2023 following a procedure to remove a blood clot from his right leg and another to straighten toes on his left foot.

Last spring, Sanders was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bladder cancer. He revealed details of his treatment, which involved doctors removing his bladder and reconstructing a section of his intestine to function as a bladder.

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Follow live: Must-win for Cubs as Brewers seek sweep

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Jays hoping Bichette can return later in playoffs

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Jays hoping Bichette can return later in playoffs

NEW YORK — Bo Bichette was set to run Wednesday for the first time since spraining his left knee last month, and the Toronto Blue Jays still hope their starting shortstop will be able to return to the lineup later this postseason.

A two-time All-Star, Bichette ended the regular season on the injured list and was left off the roster for the AL Division Series against the New York Yankees. He took at-bats in a simulated game Tuesday in Toronto against teammates Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt, then joined the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium.

“The last three days have been pretty positive for him,” manager John Schneider said Wednesday. “Running today for the first time. We’ll take it a day at a time and just listen to how he’s feeling.

“… I think he’s probably turned the corner a little bit in terms of making some steady progress. It wasn’t just kind of hitting in the cage; it was facing some live pitching and knowing that he was going to be running today for the first time.”

Bichette hasn’t played since Sept. 6, when he sprained his knee in a collision with Yankees catcher Austin Wells.

“I think he’s making some strides, and we’ll continue to take it a day at a time,” Schneider said.

If Toronto advances, they would open the best-of-seven AL Championship Series at home on Sunday.

Andres Gimenez, a three-time Gold Glove winner at second base with Cleveland Guardians, has shifted from second to shortstop with the Blue Jays lately to help fill in for Bichette.

The 27-year-old Bichette put together a strong season before getting injured, hitting .311 with 18 home runs, 94 RBIs and an .840 OPS in 139 games. He finished second in the majors in batting average to Yankees slugger Aaron Judge.

Bichette, who can become a free agent after the World Series, is the son of former major league slugger Dante Bichette.

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