WASHINGTON - The Montreal Canadiens were leading by a goal late in the game, ready to pull off a road upset of the Washington Capitals.

CLEVELAND - Christian Hanson had a hat trick and Alex Foster added two of his own as the Toronto Marlies pounded the Lake Erie Monsters 7-1 in American Hockey League play Friday.

KITCHENER, Ont. - Joannie Rochette was the picture of poise Friday, while teammate Patrick Chan showed the rust accumulated over a couple of tumultuous months.

TORONTO - Toronto Raptors head coach Jay Triano warned his team about a possible letdown before Friday's return to the Air Canada Centre after a difficult spell on the road.

HALIFAX, N.S. - Even though the schools are from different parts of the country, there's an awful lot of history between the Saint Mary's Huskies and Calgary Dinos.

OTTAWA - Members of Parliament are scrambling to climb aboard the Twitter bandwagon - and getting elbowed by controversial, satirical and even phoney postings.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A group of volunteer Santa Claus "elves" in Alaska's frigid interior is determined to save a popular holiday letter service featuring the North Pole's most beloved icon.

CAIRO, Egypt - Egypt on Thursday recalled its ambassador to Algeria for consultations as part of a growing diplomatic row caused by a bitter soccer rivalry between the two Arab nations that has sparked violence among fans.

BRUSSELS - The EU says it has solved an old problem for Washington.

OTTAWA - Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is proposing a voluntary code of conduct for credit-and debit-card companies that he says will "level the playing field" for consumers and small businesses alike.