Five things to watch in Canadian sports this weekend

Here are five things to watch in Canadian sports this weekend:

HOME SWEET HOME

The Canadiens return to Montreal with momentum after beating the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 in Game 2 of their NHL semifinal on Wednesday night. The series is now tied at 1-1 with the underdog Habs hosting the next two games on Friday and Sunday. Quebec is allowing 3,500 fans into the game, 1,000 more than the Habs’ past three home contests.

IN THE POOL

Some of Canada’s top swimmers will be in the pool in Toronto starting Saturday at the Olympic trials. The five-day event will finalize Canada’s team for the Tokyo Games, starting next month. Six swimmers were pre-selected to Canada’s team, including Penny Oleksiak and Kylie Masse.

GOING FOR GOLD

Canada’s women’s basketball team plays its semifinal at the FIBA AmeriCup tournament against host Puerto Rico on Friday. Canada is 5-0 at the competition after crushing the Dominican Republic 90-53 in quarterfinal action on Thursday. With the win over the Dominicans, Canada clinched a spot in a World Cup qualifying tournament in February.

ON THE FAIRWAY

Four Canadians are in action at the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego. Adam Hadwin, Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes and Taylor Pendrith represent Canada’s hopes at the major. Hadwin got off to the best start among Canadians on Thursday, shooting 1 under. He was three shots behind leader Russell Henley among golfers who finished their rounds before play was suspended due to darkness.

COURT SURFING

Fresh off one of the biggest wins of his career Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime returns to action on Friday at the Noventi Open in Germany. Auger-Aliassime faces American qualifier Marcos Giron in the quarterfinals of the grass-court event after upsetting Swiss legend Roger Federer in the second round. Canadian Denis Shapovalov also is in quarterfinal action at the Queen’s Club tournament in London.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2021.

The Canadian Press