sey[/url] . Toronto has lost six of its last eight games but is

The Montreal Canadiens hope to turn last years playoff disaster into this years success. The Canadiens finished second in the Eastern Conference in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign only to see their attack fizzle and their players take a pounding in a five-game setback to the Ottawa Senators. Their offence, if not so much their mettle, will be tested again when they face the tight-checking Lightning in a best-of-seven conference quarter-final starting tonight in Tampa. You can listen to the game live on TSN Radio or on TSN.ca/Montreal. Captain Brian Gionta feels the experience gained a year ago, along with a strong finish to the regular season, has the Canadiens in better shape going into the post-season. "Weve had a good last run coming in," said Gionta, whose club went 11-3-1 down the stretch. "And we have more guys with playoff experience now. "Last year we had a lot of guys who hadnt played in the playoffs. Hopefully with that experience theyll understand more what its about." What this series looks to be about is goaltending and patience. The Bolts won the season series between the teams 3-1, but three of the games ended 1-1 in regulation time and were decided either in overtime or a shootout. In the last meeting April 1 in Tampa, the Lightning won 3-1 with an empty-net goal by Alex Killorn. Special teams was the difference, with Tampa Bay going 2-for-9 with the man advantage while Montreal was 0-for-4. "I dont expect it to be much different," added Gionta. "Theyve got a great team that plays in-your-face and doesnt give you much time and space. Itll be a good series, for sure." A key will be goaltending, and whether Carey Price can carry the experience of leading Canada to gold at the Winter Olympics in February into the similarly pressure-packed NHL playoffs. The 26-year-old has a 9-17 career post-season record with a 2.90 goals-against average, but his game took a big step forward this season. "Its all about preparing for the (next) game, regardless of whats happened before, or whether youre playing good or bad," said Price. In Tampa, there were fears the season was ruined when six-foot-seven Ben Bishop went down with an arm injury on April 8, but six-foot-six Anders Lindback — who had struggled — went 3-0-0 with two shutouts in the final week of the regular season. Bishop has no NHL playoff experience and Lindback played only 13 minutes of one game for Nashville in 2011, so how either will react to the spotlight is a question mark. Tampa Bay also has Latvian Kristers Gudlevskis, who gave Price and Canada a scare in Sochi with 55 saves in a 2-1 defeat. Coach Jon Coopers Lightning managed a 101-point season despite massive setbacks, including the loss of superstar Steven Stamkos for 45 games with a broken leg and captain Martin St. Louis successful demand for a trade. The Bolts got the gritty Ryan Callahan from the Rangers in return for the last player left from Tampa Bays 2004 Stanley Cup team. That year marked the only previous playoff meeting between the teams, and Tampa Bay swept it 4-0. Last week, Ryan Malone was arrested for impaired driving and cocaine possession, although the veteran forward is no longer a key player. The Canadiens were boosted by some sharp deadline dealing by general manager Marc Bergevin, who picked up veteran defence help in Mike Weaver, a useful checker in Dale Weise and a first-line scorer in Thomas Vanek. Vanek had six goals and nine assists in 17 games after the trade and his play with David Desharais and Max Pacioretty gave Montreal one of its most dangerous first-line units in years. Now the Austrian right-winger will be looked upon to be an offensive leader in the playoffs. "They got me here for the stretch run to help them out and hopefully to help evolve their game, which is a good challenge for myself," said Vanek. "Its a new season now. "One guy isnt going to make the difference, but whats good is I found chemistry on a good line. The three of us need to be good, but its depth that wins in the playoffs. A line can win a game or two, but not a Cup." The Canadiens hope Vaneks unit can help a power play that went 0-for-23 in the last eight games but taking some of the attention away from point men P.K. Subban and Andrei Markov. Tampa Bay had the 13th best power play at 18.5 per cent this season, but has been deadlier since Stamkos return. The Canadiens counter with the NHLs fourth-best penalty killing unit, led by heady two-way centre Tomas Plekanec. A wild card for Montreal is winger Daniel Briere, who was signed last summer mostly for his history of playoff magic. He has 109 points in 108 career post-season games. But mostly, it will be about discipline - both teams sticking to their system and minimizing mistakes because goals will likely be hard to get. "Were very comfortable playing in those types of situations," said Price. "Weve done well in those types of games all season. "Thats playoff hockey to a T. Every team plays solid defensively and that one goal can make a difference. Limiting scoring chances and scoring on your own chances is a key." The Canadiens will have Brandon Prust back for Game 1 after the rugged winger missed the end of the season with a suspected rib injury, but they will be missing young playmaker Alex Galchenyuk for the series with a knee injury. Canadiens projected lines for Game 1 Pacioretty - Desharnais - VanekBourque - Eller - GiontaPrust - Plekanec - GallagherBournival - Brière - Weise Markov - EmelinGorges - SubbanBouillon - Weaver Price - Budaj Cheap MLB Jerseys . Ribery terrorized the Schalke defence throughout and put the home side ahead in the 36th minute when he chipped the goalkeeper before stroking the ball into the empty net. The French winger struck again after the interval, combining with Thomas Mueller on the left before firing a deflected shot beyond the helpless Timo Hildebrand in the 55th, as Bayern bounced back from Wednesdays 1-0 loss at FC Basel in the Champions League. Cheap Houston Astros Jerseys . Venus Williams advanced to the ASB Classic final in Auckland on a walkover when fellow American Jamie Hampton withdrew from their semifinal Friday with a right hip injury. http://www.cheapastrosjerseys.com/?tag=c...well-jersey.com) - Its fair to call Mike McCarthy one of the best coaches in the NFL but its also more than objective to point out that the veteran mentor bookended the Green Bay Packers season with two, truly awful game plans in Seattle. Cheap Mike Scott Jersey .com) - A pair of programs shooting for their 10th win of the season get together at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, as the NC State Wolfpack tangle with 22nd-ranked West Virginia during the challenge round of the Gotham Classic. Cheap Nolan Ryan Jersey . Toronto has lost six of its last eight games but is coming off Thursdays 7-3 victory at Kansas City. Juan Francisco and Colby Rasmus both went deep for the Blue Jays, who are second in the American League with 34 home runs on the season.MONACO, Monaco - European greats Real Madrid and Liverpool will meet again in the group stage of the Champions League after a draw on Thursday that promised many reunions. Aiming to be the first club to retain world footballs most coveted club trophy for 25 years, the road for ten-time winner Madrid leads to five-time champion Liverpool on Oct. 22. "Its going to be a very tough game in their home," said Cristiano Ronaldo, whose Madrid team also faces Basel and newcomer Ludogorets Razgrad of Bulgaria. "I think in general the group is nice. Its going to be good for Real Madrid." Madrid and Liverpools past history includes the English teams victories in the 1981 final and a 4-0 rout at Anfield in the Round of 16 six seasons ago. Star forwards Luis Suarez and Zlatan Ibrahimovic can both return to former club Ajax in a group where their current teams, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, respectively, are favoured. APOEL of Cyprus completes the group. Suarez is next eligible for the Champions League, after serving his four-month ban for biting, on Nov. 5 when Barcelona visits Amsterdam. There, he earned the nickname "Cannibal of Ajax" for sinking his teeth into a Dutch league opponent in 2010. In a draw heavy with England vs. Germany repeat rivalries, Bayern Munich will face Manchester City and Arsenal has been grouped with Borussia Dortmund, each for the third time in four seasons. Bayern and Man City also played CSKA Moscow last season, and they are now joined by Roma in perhaps the most difficult quartet. "I think this is the toughest group," Man City director of football Txiki Begiristain said. "We are ready to fight for everything." The eight four-team groups begin play on Sept. 16-17. The top two teams in each group advance to knockout round. Madrid and Liverpool provide almost half of the 36 European Cup and Champions League titles shared among 10 former winners in the draw. Liverpool, runner-up to title-winning Man City last season, returns to the Champions League after a four-season absence. "That was last seasons hard work, what we were working toward," manager Brenddan Rodgers said, "getting Liverpool back into a competition where we are synonymous.dddddddddddd" Liverpool kicks off on Sept. 16 hosting Ludogorets which debuted in European competitions just two years ago. The Bulgarian team had perhaps the most memorable qualifying route: It got a 90th-minute equalizer in a playoff Wednesday against Steaua Bucharest before defender Cosmin Moti had to go in goal in extra time and saved two penalties in the decisive shootout. Arsenal and Dortmund, both beaten finalists in recent years, will also face Galatasaray and Anderlecht. "We surely know Arsenal the best," said Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp, whose team advanced with the top-seeded English side a year ago. Chelsea and Schalke also advanced together last season and now will play Sporting Lisbon and Maribor. Atletico Madrid, last seasons runner-up, was grouped with Juventus, Olympiakos and Malmo, the 1979 runner-up as a semi-professional club. "Its a likable group. Of course there are hidden dangers," said Juventus chief executive Giuseppe Marotta, noting a home opener against Malmo, a clear league leader deep into the Swedish season. In perhaps the toughest group to predict, Benfica is with Zenit St. Petersburg, Bayer Leverkusen and Monaco. Despite having Colombia forward Radamel Falcao, Monacos absence from UEFA competitions since 2006 left it among the lowest-ranked teams. The longest travel times face the group of Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Athletic Bilbao and BATE Borisov of Belarus. By UEFA order for security reasons, Shakhtar will play home matches in Lviv in western Ukraine. Its home stadium in eastern Ukraine which borders Russia, was damaged this week in the conflict there. The Champions Leagues commercial strength allows UEFA to share nearly 1 billion euros ($1.34 billion) in prize money among the 32 teams. UEFA pays a basic 8.6 million euros ($11.5 million) fee for entering the group, plus 1 million euros ($1.34 million) per win and 500,000 euros ($670,000) per draw. Teams also get a share of television rights money. The final will be played at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin on June 6. 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