Schmidt banned 20 games

The Vegas Golden Knights will begin defense of their Western Conference title without valuable defenseman Nate Schmidt, who was suspended without pay by the NHL for 20 regular-season games for violating the terms of the NHL/NHL Players Assn. Performance Enhancing Substances Program.

In announcing Schmidt’s suspension in a release, the NHL did not specify the substance for which Schmidt tested positive.

Schmidt was a vital factor in Vegas’ run to the Stanley Cup Final in the team’s first season. He had a team-leading average of 22 minutes 13 seconds’ ice time during the regular season and 24:25 during the playoffs.

Abraham Ancer of Mexico opened with three straight birdies on his way to a six-under 65 to take a one-shot lead over Bryson DeChambeau going into the final round of the Dell Technologies Championship at TPC Boston.

DeChambeau and Tyrrell Hatton (69) were one shot behind.

Marina Alex rallied to win the Cambia Portland Classic for her first LPGA Tour title, closing with a seven-under 65 for a four-stroke victory over Georgia Hall . ... Scott McCarron had a one-hop ace on the par-three 14th and closed with a birdie to successfully defend his Shaw Charity Classic title in Calgary. McCarron shot a seven-under 63 for a one-stroke victory over Scott Parel, Joe Durant and Kirk Triplett at Canyon Meadows .... Kramer Hickok completed a wire-to-wire victory in the DAP Championship at Beechwood, Ohio, beating Hunter Mahan and Matt Jones by three strokes in the second of four Web.com Tour Finals events.

Brittney Griner scored with 14.1 seconds to play then prevented Breanna Stewart from getting a shot off before the buzzer as the Phoenix Mercury rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat the Seattle Storm 86-84 and force a deciding Game 5 of their WNBA semifinal series . ... Elena Delle Donne had 15 points and 10 rebounds in her return from a bone bruise in her left knee and the Washington Mystics forced a decisive Game 5 with a win over the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA semifinal series.