Dein erstes Forum » but thats part of

MONTREAL -- When Lars Eller and Rene Bourque are outscoring anyone on the top line, you know that something is going right for the Montreal Canadiens. But it took until the playoffs for the Canadiens to find the balanced attack they have sought all season. Getting offensive production from all four forward lines has helped them win the opening three games of their first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. They can sweep the best-of-seven series with a win on Tuesday night at the Bell Centre. "Thats a big strength," Eller said Monday. "I cant stress how important it is to have everybody involved, everybody contributing." Players who underachieved on attack all season, notably Eller and Bourque, have found new life in the post-season. It has helped the normally low-scoring Canadiens average four goals per game against the Bolts, who are missing top goaltender Ben Bishop to an arm injury. Bourque, a two-time 27-goal scorer who had a dreadful campaign of only nine goals, has three in as many games in the playoffs while playing left wing with centre Eller and right-winger Brian Gionta. Eller, who had 12 goals in 77 games including stretch of 24 games with only one assist, has two goals and shares the team scoring lead with four points with Brendan Gallagher and defenceman P.K. Subban. The Eller line has produced five goals, one more than Gallaghers unit with Tomas Plekanec and Brandon Prust. The top line of David Desharnais, Max Pacioretty and Thomas Vanek has scored only twice, but has combined for 29 shots in three games. The fourth line of Daniel Briere with Michael Bournival and Dale Weise has only one goal, but it was a big one as Weise scored in overtime in Game 1. "Right now we have momentum and were riding that wave," said Eller. "We knew depth was going to be important and I think a big part of why were having success is we have all four lines contributing in one way or another. "I guess the playoffs are just bringing out the best in all of us." The Lightning are aware they have dug themselves a deep hole. Only three teams have ever come back from a three-game deficit to win an NHL playoff series, most recently the Philadelphia Flyers against Boston in the second round in 2010. The Canadiens are 31-0 when holding a 3-0 lead. Tampa Bay had its best outing in Game 3 on Sunday night, but dropped a 3-2 decision. They thought they had a 2-1 lead in the second period, but Ryan Callahans goal was waived off due to Alex Killorns incidental contact on goalie Carey Price. "That was obviously a tough one to swallow," said Lightning star Steven Stamkos. "A couple of calls didnt go our way. "We cant dwell on it now. We realize the situation were in. We just have to win one game. Our backs are against the wall. Im pretty sure youre going to see a good effort from us. Thats our motto right now: Just win one, then lets go back home and see what happens." Some wondered if Stamkos would be fit to play after taking an accidental knee to the head from Canadiens defenceman Alexei Emelin late in the second period. He returned for the third, but admitted later he took a major whack to the head. "I feel pretty good so, yeah, Im expecting to play," he said. "I got tangled up with Prust there and slid in. "I dont think Emelin saw me and I got a pretty good knee to the head. Now that I saw it, I dont think there was any intention or anything. It was just kind of a play that happens in a game." Emelin and his defence partner Andrei Markov were given a day off as the Canadiens held a short practice at their suburban training centre at the same time the Lightning skated at the Bell Centre. The talk was mostly about how all four Montreal lines have played well in the series, which is a surprise on a team whose first unit carried the attack for much of the season. After Vanek was acquired at the NHL trade deadline, he, Pacioretty and Desharnais produced 20 goals in the last 18 games of the regular season. "Im not surprised," said coach Michel Therrien. "We have to play well as a team defensively and that includes our forwards and our defence. "We have to stick to our structure, stick to the game plan. This is when were at our best offensively. When we start running around, thats when we get in trouble. But a lot of credit goes to the players. They stick to the game plan and they believe in it. And they have a lot of fun to play in that structure because they get results." Montreals only area of concern is special teams. The power play that went 0-for-23 over the final eight regular season games has only one goal in 11 chances in the playoffs. They spent the time leading up to the series working on the power play, but it continues to struggle. "The only thing we need to improve on is the power play," said Vanek. "We got some good chances again, but weve got to start burying our chances. Its something Im sure well address and get better at." The Lightning have two goals on six chances against Montreals penalty killing, which was fourth best in the league in the regular season. So far, the Canadiens have done enough at even strength to beat coach Jon Coopers young Lightning. Now they hope to end it in four games. As teams have always done in that situation, the Canadiens told each other the fourth win in the hardest to get. "The first three were pretty tough, too," said Vanek. "Cliches are cliches. We enjoyed the win. Everyone felt good about it. Todays a new day. Well get back to work and hopefully we can close it out." Coopers message was much the same -- just win the next one. "Im not going to throw out all the cliches and lets win one for the Gipper and all those little kinds of things," he said. "The reality is you cant win a series in one game. "I truly believe theres not much more wrong that can go against us. At some point karmas going to come around and we just need it for one night. All of a sudden you just gotta win one and you win that one and everybodys back on a plane. Who knows what happens after that?" Brian Allen Jersey .C. -- The shot that would have beaten No. Aqib Talib Jersey . Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane wanted to stay in Chicago and the Blackhawks wanted to keep the high-scoring forwards in the only NHL uniform they have ever known. http://www.ramsrookiestore.com/ . Despite 11-1 records, theyre out and Big Ten winner Ohio State is into the national semifinals. Brandin Cooks Jersey . Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. The latest from Bob As tweeted by TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie on Monday, the Columbus Blue Jackets need to resolve their offseason plans with forward R. Sam Shields Jersey . Five straight losses (and six in the past seven) now dot the schedule – matching their longest skid of the year – after they fell again in New Jersey on Sunday night, topped 3-2 by Cory Schneider and the Devils.HOUSTON - Peyton Manning had to prepare for a 2-point conversion and couldnt celebrate when he set the NFL record for touchdown passes in a season in 2004. On Sunday, when Denvers quarterback regained the record against the Houston Texans, he was able to soak in the historic moment. "It was very special," he said. "Very rarely during an NFL game do you get to have a moment like that." Manning regained his record with 51 when he threw for 400 yards and four touchdowns, including three in the fourth quarter to give Denver its third straight AFC West title. He surpassed the 50 TD passes Tom Brady threw in 2007 and led the Broncos (12-3) to a 37-13 win over the Texans (2-13) that extended Houstons franchise-record skid to 13 games. Manning did it on a 25-yard pass to Julius Thomas with 4:28 remaining. Just 2 1/2 minutes earlier, he tied the mark with a 20-yard pass to Eric Decker. Manning figures Brady will overtake him again one day, especially if the NFL moves to an 18-game regular season. "I think its a unique thing and a neat thing to be a part of NFL history, even though it may be temporary," he said. "So Im going to enjoy it as long as it lasts, and hopefully the Hall of Fame will send the ball back once somebody throws for more." He entered the game with 47 and his first touchdown came on a 36-yard pass to Demaryius Thomas in the second quarter. The second was a 10-yard throw to Decker earlier in the fourth period. The Broncos already had a spot in the playoffs, but their victory, combined with Kansas Citys loss to Indianapolis, gave them the division crown. "This only means something because it helped our team win games and we won the division today in a competitive AFC West," Manning said. "Thats a good thing." Manning had previously established the record by throwing 49 touchdown passes in 2004. He has a career-high 5,211 yards passing this season, which is third in NFL history and 265 yards shy of the 5,476 yards Drew Brees gained in 2011. "The guy is a great quarterback, obviously," Houston interim coach Wade Phillips said. "The last one, I was surprised that they threw it deep late in the game, but thats part of football." Matt Schaub started for the first time since Oct. 13 in place of an injured Case Keenum. He finished with 176 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions for the Texans. The Broncos couldnt do anything offensively in the third quarter, gaining just 38 yards, and had to punt on each of their four possessions. Their defence helped them out after that, with Mike Adams intercepting Schaub at the Houston 28. Manning wasted no timme making Houston pay, and found Decker two plays later for the touchdown that extended the lead to 23-13.dddddddddddd "I thought the turning point was the Mike Adams interception," Denver coach John Fox said. It was all Broncos after that, with Manning grabbing the record with two more touchdown passes. Manning made the record-setting throw to Julius Thomas and walked toward the end zone, where his teammates patted him on the head. He then took off his helmet and walking to the sideline and pumped his fist once. His teammates came out to greet him and he gave dozens of high-fives as he grinned and walked to the bench. Decker picked up the ball after Thomas dropped it after the touchdown and tucked it in the side of his jersey, where it remained as he walked off the field. Manning laughed when asked about Thomas not holding onto the ball after the score. "It wouldnt have surprised me if Julius would have went and handed it to some babe up in the stands, trying to get her phone number in exchange for the ball," he joked. "That would be right up Julius alley." Thomas didnt realize his reception set the record when he caught it. "I came back to the sidelines and Im sitting down on the bench and somebody said: That was the one," he said. "Maybe I shouldnt have dropped it so carelessly, I should have kept it." Decker led the Broncos with 10 receptions for 131 yards, and Demaryius Thomas had eight catches for 123 yards. Wes Welker missed his second straight game after sustaining his second concussion in four weeks on Dec. 8. Schaub found Keshawn Martin on a 15-yard touchdown pass to get Houston within 16-13 early in the third quarter. Andre Johnson finished with four catches for 63 yards. He has 103 catches this season to reach 100 for the fifth time in his career, tying an NFL record for most seasons with at least that many receptions. Johnson entered the game needing one catch to reach the mark held by Welker. He did it on a 33-yard reception in the first quarter. Mannings TD pass to Demaryius Thomas on the first play of the second quarter put Denver up 10-3. Houston used a 35-yard field goal to cut the lead to 10-6 after a 51-yard punt return by Martin. Matt Prater made field goals of 25 and 44 yards to extend Denvers lead to 16-6 at halftime. NOTES: The Broncos lost star linebacker Von Miller to a knee injury in the first quarter, and Houston cornerback Johnathan Joseph went out with a foot injury in the second quarter and didnt return. Neither coach had updates on the injuries after the game. ... Houston TE Ryan Griffin had a career-high 66 yards receiving. Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '