NW Sports from the AP

KINGS-CANUCKS

McCann, Miller lead Canucks over Kings

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Jared McCann scored the winner in the second period, Ryan Miller made 40 saves and the Vancouver Canucks beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 Monday night.

Emerson Etem and Jannik Hansen also scored and Vancouver got its first three-game winning streak this season.

Tyler Toffoli and Kyle Clifford had a goal each for Los Angeles, which dropped its fifth straight game on the road in regulation and fell to 2-6-0 over its last eight.

Jonathan Quick stopped 21 shots for the Kings, who remain a point back of the Anaheim Ducks for first place in the Pacific Division and have three games left on their schedule. The Ducks play four more times, including a massive game in Los Angeles on Thursday.

MARINERS-RANGERS

Hamels, Rangers win with 1 hit, beat Hernandez, Mariners

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Cole Hamels handed Felix Hernandez his first opening day loss and the Texas Rangers managed to win with just one hit, beating the Seattle Mariners 3-2 Monday.

Prince Fielder blooped an RBI single off Hernandez during a three-run fifth inning that included three walks and two errors.

Seattle had a chance to join the Boston Beaneaters (1887-96) as the only major league clubs to win 10 straight openers. Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager homered early for the Mariners, but the midgame mistakes cost them the lead in the debut of manager Scott Servais.

Hernandez fell to 6-1 in nine opening day starts. Hampered by a lack of run support throughout much of his career, the ace gave up one earned run in six innings, walking five and striking out six.

Hamels won on opening day for the first time in three tries, giving up two runs and striking out eight in seven innings. Shawn Tolleson pitched the ninth for a save.

MLB-FOREIGN PLAYERS

Cubans on opening day MLB rosters rise to 23

NEW YORK (AP) — Twenty-three Cubans were on opening day major league rosters following a series of high-profile defections, an increase of five over last year and the most since the commissioner’s office began releasing data in 1995.

Major League Baseball said Monday that 238 of 864 players on opening day rosters, disabled lists and the restricted list were born outside the 50 states, with the percentage rising to 27.5 percent from 26.5 percent.

The percentage is the highest since 2013’s of 28.2; the high of 29.2 was set in 2005.

The Dominican Republic led with 82, followed by Venezuela with 63 and Cuba. Puerto Rico was next with 17, its most since 2011, and was followed by Mexico (12), Japan and South Korea (eight each). South Korea’s previous high was five.

Canada had six, Panama four, Colombia and Curacao three each, and Brazil and Taiwan two apiece.

Seattle had the most players born outside the 50 states with 13.

DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIP

Lubbock Christian completes perfect season with 78-73 win

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Kelsey Hoppel scored 27 points and Nicole Hampton finished with 22 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists and seven steals Monday to send Lubbock Christian past Alaska-Anchorage 78-73 for its first national championship.

It was a perfect ending for the two seniors who sat out last season so they had a chance to play for a title in the school’s first year of NCAA eligibility.

The Lady Chaps (35-0) became the second team in three years and the third in Division II history to complete a perfect season.

The Seawolves (38-3) were led by Megan Mullings with 23 points and 12 rebounds while Jessica Madison was 4 of 7 on 3-pointers and had 14 points.

Alaska-Anchorage trailed 71-57 with 4:55 left, then forced three turnovers and knocked down two 3-pointers to get within 73-69 with 1:16 to go. Hampton answered with a midrange jumper to help seal it.