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he reared back and competed and let it go,"
BOSTON - It started with a torrent of hate. Stephen Strasburg Jersey . But P.K. Subban was feeling the love after the Canadiens disposed of the Boston Bruins. The charismatic Montreal defenceman, the target of racial abuse after his winning goal in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series, planted a kiss on broadcaster Pierre McGuire to wrap up their post-Game 7 interview Wednesday night. "Yeah baby," said a jubilant Subban after McGuire congratulated him for reaching the Eastern Conference final, which starts Saturday in Montreal against the New York Rangers. More than a few hockey fans may have fallen for the underdog Habs after their performance against the big bad Bruins. The Canadiens are hard-working, proud and tenacious. "Its definitely a special team and if we didnt know it before the playoffs, we definitely know it now," said forward Max Pacioretty, who bounced back from a slow start in the series. "I said when I got here, I just feel like this is a special team," echoed forward Dale Weise, acquired from the Canucks on Feb. 3. "I was on Vancouver the year after they went to the Cup final, we won the Presidents Trophy — theres something about this team thats just special. "Were real resilient. When our backs are against the wall (and) we need a big performance, our big players show up. And weve got so much depth. I really like our team." The Canadiens work ethic was eloquently voiced by coach Michel Therrien prior to Game 2, in words most saw as a prod at Thomas Vanek and other underachieving forwards. "One thing thats not negotiable with our team ... work ethic is not negotiable, attitude is not negotiable and competing is not negotiable," he said. "This is something we ask from every player on our hockey team. We have to make sure that everyone brings those elements to every single shift and every single game." Therrien was rightly proud Wednesday. "This is a great accomplishment from that group. We just beat the best team in the league. We were down 3-2 (in the series) and we showed a lot of character, a lot of passion. To be able to win the series here in Boston, its a tough place for teams to come and play here. Im really proud about the performance of our players." Carey Price was majestic in goal, with ice water in his veins. His rebound control was exceptional, he declined to bite on any of the Bruins forwards shake and bake, and he was there to clean up when a mess was left in front of him. He was unflappable. When the zombie apocalypse finally hits, those nearest Price will likely be thanking their lucky stars. The Habs star had plenty of help. Price faced 230 Bruins shots during the series with his team blocking another 146. Mike Weaver, all five foot 10 of him, stopped 20 of those. "A human wall," said Weise. But as Price and Therrien noted, the Boston series win will be yesterdays news come the Eastern final. Montreal faces another Original six rival in the Rangers, who are coming off an emotional win of their own over Pittsburgh. And having survived Vezina Trophy finalist Tuukka Rask with Boston, the Canadiens now face Rangers stopper Henrik Lundqvist who strapped the Rangers on his back in the elimination game against the Penguins. Price and Lundqvist met at the Olympic final in Sochi, where the outclassed and depleted Swedes were beaten 3-0. King Henrik has a 13-11-2 career record against the Canadiens and has struggled in Montreal where he is 4-5-2 with a 3.87 goals-against average and .876 save percentage. That may explain why backup Cam Talbot played the two games at Montreal this season. Lundqvist has not played at the Bell Centre since a 4-3 shootout victory in March 2009. His last regulation victory there was a 5-3 decision in February 2008. His career save percentage against the Habs is .897. Price, meanwhile, is 8-5-1 with five shutouts and a .934 save percentage against the Rangers. Montreal finished four points ahead of New York in the regular season. The Canadiens blanked New York 2-0 in the Rangers home opener on Oct. 28, lost 1-0 at the Bell Centre on Nov. 16 and edged the visiting Rangers 1-0 in overtime on the final weekend of the season. Its the first playoff meeting between the two since 1996 when the Rangers defeated Montreal 4-2 in the Eastern Conference quarter-final. It marks their 15th post-season meeting, with each team having won seven times. And its the third playoff series between the two since the 1979 Stanley Cup final, won four games to one by Montreal. Anthony Rendon Jersey . The biggest collapse in franchise history was a long time ago, and he was too busy trying to make sure it didnt happen again. Bryce Harper Jersey . Top-seeded Djokovic, who is making only his second appearance this year after reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, was a 6-3, 6-3 winner over 54th-ranked Istomin of Uzbekistan. "It wasnt as easy as the scoreline indicates," said Djokovic, who has won in Dubai on four occasions. CLEVELAND -- Michael Bourn took a risk and it backfired. He got stopped dead in his tracks on Friday night and so did the Indians. Bourn got thrown out trying to steal third base in the pivotal sixth inning, defusing Clevelands last scoring threat and the Indians had their climb back into the playoff picture slowed with a 5-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins. With one out, Bourn took off on his own and was pegged at third by Minnesota catcher Chris Hermann, who made a perfect throw to nab Clevelands speedster. "It kind of killed the inning a little bit," Bourn said of his gamble to run on a 2-0 pitch. "If I would have stayed we would have had bases loaded, but that happens. I take blame for it." There was other blame to go around as the Indians missed a chance to make up ground in the wide-open, wild-card race. Samuel Deduno pitched six solid innings and Josh Willingham busted out of a slump with a two-run double in the seventh as the Twins continued to play spoiler and befuddle the Indians. Deduno (8-7) allowed just one run and three hits for his first win since July 27 as the Twins improved to 14-7 against the Indians since last September. Willingham was in an 0-for-15 slide before his double off reliever Cody Allen put the Twins ahead 4-1. Ubaldo Jimenez (9-8) struck out 10 in six innings, but the Indians didnt support the right-hander and were leap-frogged by Baltimore in the wild-card standings. Also, the Indians dropped six games behind AL Central-leading Detroit, which won 6-1 over the New York Mets. Cleveland was home after a 6-3 road trip that put it back in the playoff conversation. One of six teams fighting for two wild-card berths, the Indians, as close to first as theyve been this late in the season since 2007, were hoping to keep their momentum going against a Twins team playing for just pride with just over a month left in the regular season. Minnesota, though, stopped Clevelands post-season push. The Indians may want to make the playoffs, but didnt show much urgency to get to October. Bourn, though, stayed positive. "We aint lost no momentum," he said. "Were all right. We just lost a game, thats all that was. Well be back tomorrow and be ready to play." Deduno walked four, including three in the sixth, but was able to work around trouble. The right-hander was clinging to a 2-1 lead when the Twins, who are missing All-Star catcher Joe Mauer because of a concussion, scored twice in the seventh. After walks by relievers Bryan Shaw and Rich Hill, Willingham came up with two outs and drove a pitch from Allen over right fielder Drew Stubbs head to give the Twins their three-run lead. "It was nice to help the team for once," Willingham said. "I havent done very much lately to help us win games. Weve been playying pretty good. Max Scherzer Jersey. Its nice to be able to contribute. It was a big win for us." But it was the Indians inability to capitalize on those three walks the previous inning that cost them. Deduno walked Bourn and Nick Swisher to open the inning, and manager Terry Francona had All-Star second baseman Jason Kipnis try to bunt. But after failing twice to get the ball down and advance the runners, Kipnis struck out looking, dropping him into an 0-for-18 hole. "I had him bunt because hes had a tough time with Deduno," said Francona, noting Kipnis was 1 of 11 with six strikeouts against the right-hander before the at-bat. "That one would be on me." Bourn was given the green light to steal on a 2-0 pitch to Carlos Santana, and thought he got a decent jump, but was thrown out by Herrmann, who is filling in for Mauer. Then, following Dedunos third walk, Michael Brantley tapped out weakly to end the threat. "I felt like I knew what was going on and he made a great throw," said Bourn, who has 19 steals but has been thrown out 10 times. "Every time I try to run this year they have a sixth sense or something. But thats part of base stealing. If I feel like I can get him, Ill try to get him." It was a typically uneven outing for Jimenez, who had some bright moments and a few where he appeared on the ropes. He gave up two runs and five hits. Jimenez struck out the side in the first two innings, but trailed 2-1 as the Twins got RBI doubles from Pedro Florimon and Herrmann in the second. "I dont know if he got mad, but he reared back and competed and let it go," Francona said. "I thought tonight was the best stuff he had all year. He was really good." Jimenez was in trouble right away. The Twins loaded the bases in the first on two walks and a double, but the right-hander, whose inconsistency has been maddening for the Indians, kept them off the scoreboard by striking out Willingham, Ryan Doumit and Trevor Plouffe, who has pounded Cleveland pitching this season. NOTES: Santana had Clevelands lone RBI with a first-inning single. ... Mauer visited a concussion specialist at the Mayo Clinic and was cleared to begin a light exercise program. ... The Twins have struck out 1,086 times and are on pace to break the club record of 1,384. ... The Indians will flip-flop starters Zach McAllister and Scott Kazmir, who will now pitch Sunday instead of Saturday. The club wants to give Kazmir an extra day to keep him fresh. He recently complained of having a tired arm. ... The Twins will recall RHP Liam Hendricks from Triple-A Rochester to start Saturday. The Australian got his first major league win in Cleveland, snapping a string of 17 starts without a victory, the third-longest streak to begin a career in history. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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Activity: May 25 '20
