TORONTO – RJ Barrett drilled a 29-foot three-pointer in the dying seconds of overtime as the undermanned Toronto Raptors staved off playoff elimination with a 112-110 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.

Barrett released the shot with three seconds left on the clock but after a high bounce it swished through the net with 1.2 seconds left.

The best-of-seven series is now tied 3-3.

Game 7 will be at Cleveland’s Rocket Arena on Sunday, a venue where the Raptors have never won a post-season game in 10 tries.

Scottie Barnes had a double-double with 25 points and 14 assists, adding seven rebounds. Barrett, from Mississauga, Ont., had 24 points and nearly had a double-double of his own with nine rebounds.

Evan Mobley had his best performance of the series with a double-double, scoring 26 points and grabbing 14 rebounds.

Donovan Mitchell overcame a slow start to finish with 24 points and James Harden flirted with a triple-double with 16 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.

Toronto was without two of its regular starters: point guard Immanuel Quickley and all-star forward Brandon Ingram, who was the team’s scoring leader in the regular season.

Second-year guards Ja’Kobe Walter and Jamal Shead started in their stead. Walter finished with 24 points.

Ingram was ruled out by the Raptors less than two hours before opening tipoff. He had been listed as questionable after leaving early in Wednesday’s 125-120 road loss in Game 5.

The two-time all-star aggravated inflammation in his right heel and the Raptors said it has not improved despite a day of rest.

Quickley has missed the entire series with a strained right hamstring.

Sandro Mamukelashvili stole the ball from Cavaliers point guard Dennis Schroder with 35.5 seconds left in the first quarter. Mamukelashvili sprinted down the court and laid it in to tie the game 32-32.

Barnes had a slam dunk with 7:02 left in the first half and then blocked Harden on the ensuing Cleveland possession, screaming and giving a fan in the front row a high five to celebrate the defensive play.

Both Barnes and Barrett had six points in the second quarter but Walter led the period with eight as the Raptors built a 61-51 lead by intermission.

Cleveland’s dominance in the paint — and its inability to capitalize on second chances — was apparent in the final minute of the third quarter.

Michell missed a 27-foot three-point attempt but Jaylon Tyson rebounded it, allowing Schroder to get take another three-point shot that he missed. Thomas Bryant rebounded that shot and fed Mitchell who went for a driving floater, but he also missed.

A 12-2 Cavaliers run, capped by Mobley’s dunk with 5:48 left to play, cut Toronto’s lead to one.

The two teams stayed neck-and-neck for the next few minutes of play with the Raptors holding on to their narrow lead but Cleveland’s offence firing right back.

Barnes was sent to the free-throw line with 1:17 left to play, but he only made one of his shots to give Toronto a 104-102 lead. Mitchell missed a three-pointer with 42.4 seconds on the clock and Barrett gathered the rebound.

The Canadian swingman put up a three-point attempt with 15.8 seconds to go, but the referees called a 24-second shot clock violation on the Raptors, giving Cleveland one last possession.

After a Cavaliers timeout, Mobley scored on a simple layup to tie the game 104-104. Although Shead got an awkward jumper off at the other end of the court before time expired, he didn’t make the basket and the game went to overtime.

Cleveland outscored Toronto 23-12 in the fourth, the first period that the visitors had outscored the Raptors.

The two teams traded field goals through overtime, with Mitchell seemingly sealing the Cavaliers comeback when he made a layup with 33.7 seconds left.

Shead made one of two free throws on the next possession. After Mobley put the ball out of bounds with 10.9 seconds left, Toronto got one last possession to set up Barrett’s heroics.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 1, 2026.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

It’s three wins apiece after another classic between these two clubs. It’s two overtime wins each after Tampa Bay came into the Bell Centre and scored the only goal of the game after 70 minutes of hockey.

There will be a Game 7 Sunday night in Tampa Bay after a 1-0 Lightning win.

Wilde Horses 

Thrilling moments all over the offensive zone for the Canadiens in the first period. They created excitement, but could not solve Andrei Vasilevskiy, who had his best game of the series. He also got a little help from a goal post on Cole Caufield’s sizzling shot from 20 feet.

Caufield and Nick Suzuki lined up with Josh Anderson and it worked tremendously. Anderson was a wrecking ball of pain for the Lightning players who faced his wrath at every turn. Anderson levelled just about everyone in the first frame. The Lightning started to turn it over fearing his physicality. Even Nikita Kucherov gave away the puck when he saw Anderson coming.

The forward lines worked well with head coach Martin St. Louis not shy to change them from shift to shift to make sure that Jon Cooper couldn’t get comfortable. One shift Juraj Slafkovsky was with Caufield and Suzuki, and the next he was with Jake Evans and Ivan Demidov.

That led to the best period of the series for Evans and Demidov. Demidov had a tremendous chance late in the first period, but was robbed by Vasilevskiy. Evans had a couple of close-in looks as well that were stopped.
What became the best fourth line in the NHL playoffs also raged on with dominating shifts. Kirby Dach continued his hard work to win pucks. Alexandre Texier is playing taller than he ever has in his career. Zachary Bolduc is a physical force and has improved his understanding of how to extend zone time in a big way this season.
On defence, Arber Xhekaj timed two huge hits in the opening frame to make two Tampa Bay players crumble. Kaiden Guhle and Alexandre Carrier also took the men effectively. However, for all the greatness in the first period, they only had gaining confidence to show for it, but no goals.

They would need the first one in the second period. It would not come. The chances were piling up. Bolduc had a clear look, but couldn’t find the far side. On the power play, Demidov had two shots at it in succession. The second was an acrobatic save while off-balance.

It was as exciting a game without a goal that could be imagined. At the start of the third period, it was still without a goal despite excellence all over the ice offensively.

To start the third, the first five minutes were the best of the series for Montreal. Anderson set the tone with a massive hit on Brandon Hagel. They had outstanding chances. On one shift, Lane Hutson was a magician figuring out how to win space for himself and his mates. Hutson truly is one of the game’s greats.

Texier had a shot down the left side that hit the post. Texier has a tremendous release on his shot. Newhook had a chance in tight.  The Canadiens had an expected-goals total of 3.38, yet had nothing to show for it after 60 minutes.

Wilde Goats 

The Lightning must think that the Canadiens goaltender can’t handle his rebounds effectively, because they were throwing pucks at the net from anywhere. Many of the shots had no chance to score, and they knew it. All they wanted was to see if Jakub Dobes could keep the puck where he wanted it.

They were funnelling it to the net with the plan to see that he couldn’t direct it to the corner or keep it for a whistle. There were a lot of shots from 45 feet with screens. Not much of a plan in the regular season, but in the playoffs, it always seems to prove fruitful.

Late in the second, it appeared they had Dobes and the Canadiens beaten as the puck rolled toward the line and beyond it, except Danault swept it away just before it crossed the line. It felt like the Lightning were taking control of the contest, but they also couldn’t finish.

It was a beautifully officiated game as well until 3:18 remained when Demidov made a tremendous drive toward the net earning a scoring chance. As he was held back near the goal by the Tampa Bay defender, he lunged forward and hit Vasilevskiy. Goaltender interference was called on Demidov.

Somehow, even though it was a shooting gallery, the Canadiens killed one of the worst penalty calls anyone could imagine. The series on the line, and they chose a penalty when the attacking player was manhandled into the goalie to decide the series. Folly.

Dobes still didn’t blink in a head-to-head against Vasilevskiy for the ages. The Lightning had an Expected Goals total of 2.99 in the first 60 minutes, yet had nothing to show for it. There truly is almost nothing between these two teams.

Midway through overtime period one, it was a pick that the Lightning ran on Dach so he couldn’t get at the point man. It funnelled down to Gage Goncalves who basically made his first good play of the series. The Lightning stayed alive to force a Game 7.

Wilde Cards

The Laval Rocket continued their series against the Toronto Marlies on Friday night. Game 1 went well with the Rocket winning 3-1 in a tightly contested defensive affair.

Game 2 saw the Rocket take a 2-0 lead on goals from Laurent Dauphin and Joshua Roy, before Toronto responded for a 2-1 Laval lead after one. The rest of the way, it was Toronto dominance. They scored six unanswered goals to take down the Rocket easily 6-2.

The series is now even with the next two in Toronto. The Rocket have had a terrible time against the Marlies this season losing their last four meetings before the playoffs, and it continues still.

Only one other Canadiens note as the top prospect in the Western Hockey League playoffs continues his playoff journey. When Bryce Pickford finishes his WHL season he will head to the Rocket, if Laval is still playing.

The Eastern Conference final is a tight one with the series between Pickford’s Medicine Hat Tigers and the Prince Albert Raiders tied at two wins each.

It’s a best-of-seven series.

Brian Wilde, a Montreal-based sports writer, brings you Call of the Wilde on globalnews.ca after each Canadiens game.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

For the past 114 years, Lethbridge, Alta.’s first responders have operated under an integrated firefighter and paramedic model.

After provincial changes, though, the integrated service could cease to exist later this year.

On Thursday, Lethbridge city council, acting as the Community Issues Committee, voted in favour of a motion to direct city administration to reject the province’s conditions.

This means the integrated service moved one step closer to being lost.

“It’s hard for me to believe they chose to go with the administrative recommendation of moving away from this system,” said Brent Nunweiler, president of the IAFF Local 237 firefighter union.

It was a slim margin for the vote, ending 5-4 to carry. Some of the concerns included taxation.

“It’s cost-prohibitive. It’s put on taxpayers and it’s a tough decision — trust me. I’m sure a lot of us had sleepless nights last night,” said Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen.

The current contract with Emergency Health Services (EHS) Alberta is set to end in September and city administration says the price could rise immediately if Lethbridge keeps the integrated model — and then continue to rise.

“We’ve gone through and done a bunch of analysis on information provided by EHS. What we’ve come to the conclusion on is that based on the information, they will be reducing their contract by $2.7 million,” said Darrell Mathews, chief financial officer for the city.

“With other pressures we’re facing, and running that service, by 2027 we’d be up to a $3.7-million differential. That’s additional to the money we’d have to fund, which would cause a 1.8 per cent tax increase.”

Even if the city does proceed with the move away from an integrated service, there would be a certain level of cost, according to the city and firefighter union.

The decision is not yet final and council will be meeting on May 5th to further discuss it.

“The net difference is 1.3 per cent — that’s approximately $10 per month. We have an opportunity to tell mayor and council before Tuesday that 10 per month for the life and death of your family is worth it,” said Nunweiler.

EHS-Alberta told Global News in a statement the services will remain, no matter what happens:

“EHS-Alberta (EHS-AB) ground ambulance agreements with the majority of contracted service partners expire on September 30^th, 2026. EHS-AB is conducting a strategy that provides the opportunity for new long-term agreements focused on the delivery of high-quality patient care throughout the province, ensures fiscal sustainability, and maintains Alberta’s blended model of public service delivery and contracted partners.

“In alignment with these principles, EHS has asked municipalities with integrated fire/EHS services for a decision on whether they wish to continue to provide service, at EHS-Alberta costing. Should they not wish to, those services will become a part of the competitive Request for Expression of Interest or Qualification (RFEOIQ).

“If a change in ground ambulance service provider happens, EHS will ensure that both the number of resources, and the service levels, are maintained and will work with in partnership with communities to ensure continuity of ambulance service provision and delivery of patient care. EHS-Alberta continues to engage service providers, municipalities, and partners throughout the process, and provide support and information as we are able to.”

However, Nunweiler says there is real fear that services won’t be as strong as they currently are.

“A change to this system will mean less ambulances available, less trained practitioners on those ambulances. That will mean greater gaps in our system and lives will be lost.”

City council is meeting next week, but has until the end of this month to inform EHS-Alberta of its decision.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Canada will not compete for its first world curling mixed doubles gold medal this year after a 6-4 loss to Sweden in semifinal action on Friday.

The Gimli, Man., team of Kadriana and Colton Lott trailed the Swedes 5-2 after giving up a steal of three in the fifth end.

The Canadians scored two in the sixth to cut into Sweden’s lead, but Therese Westman and Robin Ahlberg put the game away with a point in the seventh.

“I thought we had a good game and we made lots of good shots,” Kadriana Lott said. “There were just some rocks that we didn’t get on the right side of the inch. They played well, and it was a very good mixed doubles game.

“We had some chances and some misses, so it hurts. But we still have a medal to play for, and we’re going to come out strong tomorrow.”

Sweden will face Australia in the final, while Canada will meet Italy for bronze.

Australia upset the defending champions 7-6 in the other semifinal when they entered an extra end with the hammer and scored a decisive point.

Canada has two silver and two bronze medals since the mixed doubles championship made its debut in 2008.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

A policing expert recommended Friday that Winnipeg police factor in age and someone’s cultural background when responding to high-risk situations.

Peter Rampat, a former Toronto officer and an instructor at the Ontario Police College, testified at an ongoing fatality inquest into the police-shooting death of a 16-year-old First Nations girl.

Rampat said the Winnipeg Police Service’s use-of-force policy doesn’t take into account recently developed de-escalation tactics, scenario-based training, alternative options as well as someone’s age, ethnicity or ability to carry out a threat.

Eishia Hudson was shot in April 2020, after officers responded to reports of a liquor store robbery and chased a stolen Jeep that Eishia was driving.

The inquest has heard the vehicle rammed a police cruiser and hit other vehicles during the pursuit before an officer fired two shots.

“This is both a tragic situation, and a complicated and challenging situation for anybody involved,” said Rampat.

“I try to bring balance to the conversation… I think it starts with training. That’s where it starts. Good solid training, rooted to best practice, national standards.”

Const. Kyle Pradinuk previously testified that he shot at the Jeep’s driver because he believed fellow officers could have been hit by the moving vehicle.

Rampat told court this week that Pradinuk’s actions were not reasonable and consistent with training policies. Rampat said the harm the officer caused the girl exceeded the harm he was trying to avoid.

Rampat said de-escalation tactics are important when looking at ways to avoid use of force.

“You can’t just look at a subject’s behaviour and say, ‘I can automatically go to a force option.’ You must consider: ‘What else can I do? Is that a good option? Is it a viable option right now? Or will it put me or someone else in jeopardy?”’ he told the inquest.

The service should also expand its training to include techniques like tactical breathing and mindfulness, which help to improve decision-making, said Rampat.

It should also incorporate real-life examples into its training, he added.

Issues of race and age have been prominent topics throughout the inquest. Police had initially identified the robbery suspects as Indigenous and between the ages of 15 and 18.

Rampat said age and race should have been considered when officers were deciding whether to use force.

Younger people are “more prone to panic, to knee-jerk reactions. Their inhibitions are much, much lower. So you must be aware of that,” he said.

The inquest is not only examining whether the officer’s use of force was appropriate but also whether systemic racism played a role in the shooting.

Rampat testified he couldn’t say whether the shooting was a result of systemic racism.

His conclusion contradicted evidence given in March from another use-of-force expert who said Pradinuk was following police protocol and training.

The inquest heard from Chris Butler, who was retained by Manitoba’s police watchdog as part of its investigation into the shooting, which was completed in 2021.

The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba didn’t recommend criminal charges, based in part on Butler’s opinion that Pradinuk’s actions were consistent with police practices.

Butler testified that the service’s use-of-force policy is consistent with other jurisdictions.

Rampat took issue with that assessment, because Butler didn’t use cellphone video that appears to show the Jeep backing away from officers. Butler told the inquest he was hesitant to rely on video evidence from witnesses because it could be altered or corrupted.

During cross-examination Friday, Winnipeg police lawyer Kimberly Carswell argued that Rampat excluded relevant information in his report.

Carswell questioned why Rampat didn’t include some of the witness evidence and the accounts of others in the Jeep when making his analysis.

“The reasonableness of this perception that there is a threat that existed is backed up by numerous witness statements, which say the same. How did you not deal with that in your report?” she asked.

“I guess that’s an oversight on my part,” Rampat responded.

Eishia’s death sparked protests and calls for a public inquiry into police-related deaths of Indigenous Peoples. She was one three First Nations people killed in a 10-day period in Winnipeg that year.

Inquests don’t assign blame but can issue recommendations to help prevent similar deaths.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

Prime Minister Mark Carney says a new oil pipeline out of Alberta is “more likely than not.”

In his first sit-down interview with The Canadian Press since becoming prime minister more than a year ago, on Friday Carney said given the increased global demand for secure new sources of energy due to the war in Iran, and Canada’s need to diversify to Asian markets, a new pipeline is “more probable than possible.”

“It’s all part of a bigger package. We’re making progress on that bigger package,” Carney said, referring to the memorandum of understanding his government signed with Alberta late last year.

“Part of our job is to figure out ways to make that work, to make it work that’s combined with reducing the emissions associated with oil.

“So all of that lines up to it’s more likely than not, which means more probable than possible. But none of that says it’s certain. Still a lot of work to be done.”

LaPresse was the first to report on Carney’s characterization of the likelihood of a new pipeline out of Alberta after its own interview with the prime minister earlier in the week.

And while Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has said repeatedly her preference is a new pipeline running to the north coast of B.C. — despite the objections of Coastal First Nations and B.C. Premier David Eby — Carney left the door open to alternative routes to get more Alberta oil to Asian markets.

“Well, there are multiple routes where there could be a pipeline,” Carney said.

Citing unnamed federal sources, the Globe and Mail reported last week that Ottawa was leaning toward a southern route for a new pipeline because it would face fewer environmental hurdles and less Indigenous opposition.

Carney also pointed to the recent U.S. approval of the Bridger Pipeline expansion in discussing options for other routes.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a presidential permit authorizing that project earlier this week.

It is considered a partial revival of the Keystone XL pipeline project that Trump initially approved in his first term, before it was later scrapped by Joe Biden.

In his interview with The Canadian Press, Carney also said Canada would not use energy or critical minerals as “leverage” in upcoming trade talks with U.S.

While Carney’s comments on the likelihood of a new Alberta pipeline are likely to be met with optimism in Calgary, the project still needs an energy company to step forward to build it.

— With files from Kyle Duggan and Mia Rabson, The Canadian Press

© 2026 The Canadian Press

The sun is beating down over Saskatoon, with temperatures above 20 degrees.

As the grass grows greener and the trees start to bud, it’s starting to feel like spring. With the warm weather, golf courses are finally starting to open their doors.

Golfer Shoji Gaboury is ready for the weather.

“Honestly it’s a bit of a privilege. It’s been cold winter times and now we get to go golfing, so it’s a beautiful time,” said Gaboury.

For dedicated golfers, they’ve had the simulators and the golf dome. Now that they can play in the sun, it’s making all the difference.

Golfers Don Tomkinson and Dax Zary say the season is something they’ve been looking forward to.

“Honestly it’s just awesome, it’s been super cold out. I’ve been hitting the golf dome, the golf sim but it just does not compare,” said Zary

“I did a lot of golfing indoors, so I wasn’t quite ready, but once it started getting warmer before the second-to-last snowfall, I was ready. That last one really irritated a guy a bit,” said Tomkinson.

Many of the private courses still have yet to open, but as the temperatures consistently rise above zero, courses across the province will be opening up soon.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Another Quebec-based furniture company says it is ceasing manufacturing operations effective immediately as its lenders move to appoint a court-supervised receiver to wind down the business.

The company said the Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec is expected to seek a court order on May 4 to appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. as receiver under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.

eSolutions, which includes Bush Business Furniture, Bush Furniture and Bestar, said the proposed receiver would oversee an orderly wind-down and sale of assets through a court-supervised process.

The company said the shutdown will result in job losses, with some positions ending immediately and others phased out over the coming weeks.

It said all employees will be paid wages owed up to their termination date and will receive further details on final pay and benefits.

eSolutions said it had explored restructuring and sale options with lenders but was unable to find a viable path forward.

The company cited worsening financial conditions since 2021, including U.S. tariffs, reduced post-pandemic demand, increased offshore competition and ongoing cash constraints.

It also said it has been unable to make interest payments to lenders for more than a year.

This comes after South Shore Furniture announced Monday that it would end all operations after a 77-per cent drop in sales between 2022 and 2025, bringing 86 years of manufacturing in the province to a close. South Shore Furniture also cited U.S. tariffs as a reason for its closure.

eSolutions said limited operations will continue during the wind-down. Customers and suppliers are being directed to the receiver, subject to its appointment, for claims and further instructions.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

As warmer weather sets in across the Okanagan, outdoor enthusiasts are soaking it in.

“We love it, ” said West Kelowna resident Francine Lauze. “Anytime we can get outside to enjoy the warm weather, it’s beautiful.”

But with the warm weather about to heat up even more this weekend, there’s  a concern for potential fire starts.

“Things are already dry and this, these hot temperatures are just going to exacerbate that,” said Karley Desrosiers, a fire information officer with B.C. Wildfire Service.

“We do expect that there will be some more wildfire starts, so we do have crews on standby, in anticipation of the potential for fires.”

The Okanagan is all too familiar with devastating wildfires and while the peak season is still weeks away, with highs of nearly 30 degrees by Sunday, residents are being urged to be vigilant.

“Throughout this weekend, we want people to start being a little bit more diligent,” said Dennis Craig, assistant fire chief with the Kelowna Fire Department.

“You see smoke in the hills, you call that *5555 number. Report it to BC Wildfire. If it’s within the city, you know, call 9-1-1, and report that, report that smoke.”

As of Friday afternoon, the fire danger rating was sitting at moderate at the base of Kelowna’s Knox Mountain but with temperatures set to climb over the coming days, officials are keeping a close eye on the risk.

“The grasses are very dry out there, so it wouldn’t take much to to start a fir,” said Desrosiers. “With even the slightest wind, we can see those fires grow really fast. So it’s very, very important to be especially cautious.”

An added concern this year is a record low snowpack in the region, which, depending on the amount of spring precipitation, could mean a higher risk.

“Those are certainly areas that we’re keeping an eye on in terms of those drought conditions, which can lead to those kind of a deeper burning and more prolonged or more challenging fires to suppress as we get get through the fire season,” said Desrosiers.

On Friday, the Kelowna and Lake Country fire departments were busy training crews from across the region on how residents can better protect their homes, which is considered a critical piece of reducing fire devastation.

“We all know, as we’ve seen in 2023, embers travel great distances now and they travel across bodies of water, “Craig said. “The forest is not the absolute risk, the structures are.”

As the Okanagan braces for what could come, fire officials are sending one clear message.

“Be prepared,” Craig said.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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