BROSSARD, Que. - Brian Gionta knows what happened the last time the Montreal Canadiens opened a playoff series with a pair of wins on the road. It was in 2011, and the Boston Bruins stormed back to win on a Nathan Horton shot off a defencemans leg in Game 7 overtime. Before that was 2006, when the Canadiens took the opening two games in Carolina only to drop the next four, partly through losing star centre Saku Koivu to a series-ending eye injury from an accidental high stick by Justin Williams in Game 4. Both times, the team that came back to beat the Canadiens went on to win the Stanley Cup. After taking their opening two games of this years playoffs with wins of 5-4 and 4-1 over the Lightning in Tampa, Fla., Gionta doesnt want history to repeat itself. "Its huge, but at the end of the day, we fell into that trap against Boston a few years back," the Canadiens captain said Saturday. "We won two games in their building and we came back and let off the gas a bit. "So we need to make sure that our focus is on (Sunday) night and make sure we do what we did in the first two games." Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is set for Sunday night at the Bell Centre, where a wall of sound from the 21,273 spectators is expected to greet the Canadiens. They didnt skate after a late-night flight home from Tampa, but the message from the coach Michel Therrien and his staff was about taking care of business on home ice. "We all understand that the farther you get in the playoffs the more difficult the games are to play," said Therrien. "Were glad were back at home, but I like our focus. "We have a business mentality. Its about preparing ourselves for (the next game)." Therrien has much to be pleased about. His team has had the edge on the Lightning for all but the first period of Game 2 on Saturday night, when strong goaltending from Carey Price kept the game scoreless until Montreal took control in the second frame on a power-play goal from David Desharnais and Rene Bourques first of the game. Brendan Gallagher and Bourque added goals in the third before Teddy Purcell got one — on a power play plus the goalie pulled for an extra attacker — at 18:01. The Desharnais goal broke a nine-game drought for the Montreal power play. They have also been getting scoring from all four lines. Eight different forwards have scored goals, which takes some pressure off the top unit of Desharnais, Max Pacioretty and Thomas Vanek. Desharnais got his first goal in 12 career post-season games, while Paciorettys assist on the same tally was his first point in six career playoff games. The line combined for 22 shots in two games, so it should produce more as the playoffs go on. The Canadiens also took advantage of the absence of Tampa Bays injured top goalie Ben Bishop by beating Anders Lindback eight times in two games and adding another against Kristers Gudlevskis — the Latvian who made 55 stops in a 2-1 loss to Canada at the Sochi Olympics. Gudlevskis let in one goal on three Montreal shots. And they held Tampa Bay star Steven Stamkos to two goals, both in Game 1, and no assists, although the gifted sniper has nine shots on goal. So the Canadiens are in good position to win a playoff series for the first time since goalie Jaroslav Halaks heroics got them to the Eastern Conference final in 2010. But they know how far away that goal is. All-time, the Canadiens are 49-5 when leading a best-of-seven series 2-0, but have lost three of the last four times in that situation. "Theyre going to make adjustments," said Gionta. "Its the playoffs and youve got to try to read what theyre going to do, make adjustments on the fly, and see what happens. "I thought we did a fairly good job of that (Friday) night. We need to do it again." Giontas line with centre Lars Eller and left-winger Bourque has been particularly solid. Eller entered this years post-season with two assists in eight career games, but now leads the team with a goal and two assists. Bourque was a target for fans all through a sub-par regular season with nine goals in 63 games in which he was made a healthy scratch for the first time in his career. He sat out five straight games in March. He may get a warmer reception after two solid games in Tampa, including his first career playoff game with more than one goal. "Since hes back in our lineup, before the playoffs, Rene Bourque was playing the way we expect him to play," said Therrien. "We dont judge players only on goals and assists. "What I like is that hes engaged in the game. Hes physical. Hes going hard to the net and he got rewarded." . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. . -- The Oakland Raiders expect to have starting right tackle Tony Pashos back for Sundays game against the Houston Texans.
http://www.cheapflyersjerseysauthentic. ... nds-jersey. -- C.J. Cron hit an RBI single on the first pitch he saw in the major leagues, doubled his second time up and hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the sixth inning to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 5-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday night. . Sijsling, ranked 74th in the world, was leading 6-0, 4-1 when his Italian opponent called it quits after just 39 minutes on court. In a match pitting together two qualifiers, Michal Przysiezny of Poland defeated local favourite Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (4) for only his second Tour win of the season. . If there is one club built to handle an off-field controversy, its the Bill Belichick era Patriots. Even if New Englands offence stumbles a bit out of the gate, their defence can help them stay in games, especially in the AFC East with the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets in the first two weeks.BUFFALO, N.Y. - Buffalo Bills fans are rallying to support Darryl Talley after the teams former star linebacker revealed he is dealing with depression and experiencing financial difficulties.As of noon Monday, more than 3,000 contributors have donated nearly $139,000 on a fundraising website set up to assist Talley and his family.Its completely overwhelming, said Frank Croisdale, a longtime Bills fan who established the campaign (
http://www.gofundme.com/hvkgjo# ) on Thanksgiving Day.I had hopes that it would spur some involvement from people, but I had no idea it was going to be such a nationwide effort.Croisdale set up the fund shortly after reading about Talleys troubles in a lengthy story published in The Buffalo News.Talley said he was experiencing bouts of memory loss, had trouble sleeping and had contemplated suicide in what he considered to be side effects from his hard-hitting playing days. He said he lives in constant pain as a result of the 14 operations he had during his 14-season NFL career spanning 1983-96.Im not convinced that Im dead yet, said Talley, who played his first 12 seasons in Buffalo. But the future doesnt look bright.The two-time Pro Bowl selection and member of the Bills Wall of Fame also noted that he is having difficulty making ends meet after the company he owned was forced to close during the 2008 financial crisis.Former Bills teammates, including Hall of Famers Bruce Smith and Thurman Thomas, have provided monetary assistance to Talley and his wife to rent their home in Orlando, Florida. They also assisted in paying part of his daughters college tuition.Croisdale said the fund has also attracted attention in West Virginia, where Talley played college, and even from fans of the Bills AFC East rival Miami Dolphins.When you talk about bridging the divide between Bills and Dolphins fans, youve done something, Croisdale said.dddddddddddd. Its humbling. Its heartwarming. Ive shed so many tears over the past few days, and its been amazing.Croisdale has been in contact with Talleys wife, Janine, and said its unclear yet how the family will deal with the donations.Croisdale said the fund is set up in a way that only the Talleys have access to the money raised, minus a 5 per cent fee to the website, and a 2.9 per cent credit card-processing fee.Darryl Talley did not return a phone and text message on Monday.Thurman Thomas wife, Patti, said the response makes her proud to call Buffalo home.Its a beautiful thing when people give of their time and money to anyone in need without judging their situation: They just give, she said. The Talleys didnt expect it, and have not stopped crying over the support for their family.Bills Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly showed his support by wearing Talleys No. 56 jersey while waving the teams flag during player introductions before Buffalos home game against Cleveland on Sunday.Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy is heartened by the support.Its just wonderful. It attests to what I always thought about Buffalo fans: Theyre the best, Levy said. Their response to someone like Darryl Talley represents the sense of community there is there.In speaking with his former player over the weekend, Levy said Talley seemed very uplifted to hear about the tremendously positive responses hes received.Levy wondered if the Bills might have a role for Talley in alumni or player relations.I would hope they might consider bringing him in, Levy said. Because if he came in and went to work on something, he would go at it like you cant believe.The Bills declined comment.___AP NFL website:
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