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MONTREAL -- The Montreal Canadiens swept their way into the second round of the NHL playoffs, but not before the Tampa Bay Lightning made it interesting. After the Canadiens blew a two-goal lead early in the third period, Max Pacioretty scored on a power play with 43 seconds left to play to lift them to a 4-3 victory and a sweep of their Eastern Conference quarter-final against the Lightning on Tuesday night. "Its a great feeling," said Pacioretty, a 39-goal scorer in the regular season who got his first of the series. "Ive been in a bit of a drought since the end of the year. "Ive been getting opportunities and missing my chances. But you wait for that bounce and I got it." Montreal won the best-of-seven series 4-0 and now face a long wait for the Eastern Conference semifinal against the winner of the Boston-Detroit series. Pacioretty, who played for the United States at the Sochi Olympics in February, is glad for the rest. "Going to Sochi and not having much time off, I feel this is going to be a good chance for me to get in the weight room and find some strength for round two," he said. "We have to take advantage of it and try to stay sharp as a group at the same time," added Canadiens captain Brian Gionta. It was Montreals first sweep since they took out the Buffalo Sabres in four in 1993 en route to the last of their 24 Stanley Cups. The Canadiens built a 3-1 lead on goals from Daniel Briere, Lars Eller and Brendan Gallagher between one by Tampa Bays Ondrej Palat. But the Bolts amped up the pressure in the third period and tied the game through Victor Hedman and Tyler Johnson. The officials had swallowed their whistles through most of the third frame, but referee Chris Lee was left with little choice with Cedric Paquettes clear trip on Michael Bournival with 2:11 left to play, a foul that could have caused an even more controversial turnover. Pacioretty was at the doorstep to whack a Thomas Vanek rebound past Kristers Gudlevskis for the game-winner. "Im not going to worry too much about that penalty," said the rookie Paquette, who had been a ball of energy for Tampa Bay all game. "They didnt call anything all game long. It just happened at the wrong time. He fell, and they called it. Ill just have to learn from that." Lightning star Steven Stamkos didnt like the call either, but didnt dispute the Canadiens had the better of the play for most of the series against the rookie-laden Bolts lineup. "We played like we had nothing to lose in the third," said Stamkos. "We were the better team. "It was tough to see a penalty called at that time in the game. I thought the referees did a good job of putting their whistles away and letting us play in the third. But a play 200 feet from our net gets called. Its a tough way to lose -- a power play goal with under a minute left to play in the game. "But we learned a lot about what it takes to win in the playoffs. Lets not kid ourselves: they were the better team for most of the series." For a second straight game, the Bell Centre was at a fever pitch with old-time pop star Ginette Reno singing the Canadian anthem. But while it took Rene Bourque only 11 seconds in to score the first goal in Game 3, this time it took 2:24 for Briere to open the scoring. The Lightning defence abandoned the front of their net to chase Dale Weise in a corner and left Briere alone in front to score his first of the series and 51st playoff goal of his career. The 36-year-old Briere, whose mother played Reno records in their home when he was growing up, had shaken hands with the Quebec pop diva as she left the ice. "I guess she gave me a little energy when she walked off the ice and shook my hand," said Briere. "It worked on the first shift. "Maybe we could get a little seat for her right by the bench so she can touch all the guys." The Canadiens had a 15-6 shot advantage in the period and made it 2-0 when Gionta picked Paquettes pocket in the neutral zone and sent Eller in on the left side to blast a low shot past Anders Lindback. The Lightning caught a break while killing a penalty at 4:32 of the second frame when Alexei Emelin misplayed a puck behind the net and Palat swept around and pushed the puck in among a pile-up of players. The goal stood up to video review. But only 1:10 later, Tomas Plekenec sent Gallagher in on the right side to wrist a shot in off the post to restore the two-goal lead. The 21-year-old has five goals in nine career playoff games. That chased Lindback, who allowed three goals on 20 shots, in favour of Gudlevskis, who made 16 saves before Pacioretty finally beat him. There were flashbacks to Sochi as Gudlevskis was the goalie who threw a scare into Canada with a 55-save effort in Latvias 2-1 defeat. Carey Price was to goalie in the opposite net in that game as well. "Hes a very good goaltender," said Price. "He made a few good stops, but we were hungry and found a way to put one in. "They were playing desperate. They came at us with a lot of speed. Desperate teams tend to get more breaks, for some reason." Added Pacioretty of Gudlevskis: "It would have been a nice story. Hes a competitor and hes had a lot of success this year. My job was the make sure it wouldnt be a story and it didnt change the series." The Lightning poured it on in the third and Hedman scored at 3:29 by banking a shot in off Price from behind the net. Three minutes later, J.T. Brown threw a pass in front that went off P.K. Subbans skate right to Johnson for a goal on a quick shot from close range. Then Pacioretty ended it, giving each of Montreals four lines one goal. It was only the second power play goal of the series for the Canadiens. "I knew I had to step up," Pacioretty said. "Ive been frustrated lately and the only thing that kept me sane was the team winning and other people scoring. "When you realize you can end the series with one shot, that frustration goes away for a brief moment and thats what happened." Notes: The Lightning pulled Radko Gudas, who has a suspected lower body injury, and Tom Pyatt from the lineup and put in Mike Kostka and Keith Aulie. . . Montreal made no changes. Avery Williamson Jets Jersey . -- Manager Bob Melvin shuffled the Athletics batting order and got the type of production he was looking for from the top of the lineup. Trenton Cannon Jersey . Every once in awhile, it seems like life lets dreams become real - and that is a gift. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Chris-Herndon-Jersey/. He could have transferred when academic sanctions barred the Huskies from the NCAA tournament his junior season. Trenton Cannon Jets Jersey . Jeff Green and Jordan Crawford each scored 19 points, Bass added 15 points and had a game-saving block in the closing seconds Saturday, and the Celtics held on for a 103-100 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Nathan Shepherd Jets Jersey . -- Adrian Peterson remained in a walking boot to treat a high ankle sprain on his left leg on Wednesday, and coach Leslie Frazier said he will not play on Sunday against Atlanta if he cant hit the practice field in the next two days.CHICAGO -- This one looked like it was slipping away from the Washington Wizards. Then, in a flash everything changed. Bradley Beal came on strong late in regulation to finish with 26 points, Nene scored six of his 17 points in overtime and the Wizards beat the Chicago Bulls 101-99 Tuesday to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round series. Game 3 is Friday at Washington. "Weve got to come out like were down 0-1 or 0-2," said Beal, who scored 11 in the fourth quarter. "Weve got to have that sense of urgency and just that drive and that motivation like we did early. Weve got to be able to maintain that lead. Weve got to continue to stay poised." The Wizards couldnt maintain a 17-point first-quarter lead and had to rally from 10 down in the fourth. Nene scored the first six points in overtime after being held in check by Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah in regulation, and the Wizards hung on after Kirk Hinrich failed to convert at the foul line in the closing seconds of overtime. Noah had just hit two free throws when Beal missed a jumper with 18 seconds left. Jimmy Butler got the rebound and Chicago called time. Hinrich, a 76 per cent free throw shooter this season, had a chance to tie it after getting fouled by Nene on a drive with 2.4 seconds left. But his first attempt hit the rim. He deliberately missed the second, and Trevor Ariza grabbed the rebound to seal the win for Washington. "I went up there thinking I was going to knock them down," Hinrich said. "Tonight, I just couldnt do it. However, I really felt that I shouldve made the layup." D.J. Augustin led Chicago with 25 points but cooled off late in the game with Ariza guarding him. Taj Gibson had 22 points and 10 rebounds. Noah added 20 points and 12 boards, but the Bulls find themselves in a huge hole after dropping two at home. They blew a 13-point lead in Game 1 and couldnt hang on after rallying in this one. Both times, they struggled in the fourth quarter, and coach Tom Thibodeau bristled when asked if he might switch up hhis late-game rotation.dddddddddddd "We look at everything," he said. "Unreal." John Wall had 16 points and seven assists for Washington. The Bulls appeared to be in good shape when they were leading 87-77 five minutes into the fourth. They were still leading, 91-85, when Beal shot the Wizards back into the game. He nailed a 3-pointer that made it 91-88 and added a floater to make it a one-point game. Then, with a chance to put Washington ahead, he hit 1 of 2 free throws with 52.9 seconds left to tie it at 91. Both teams had opportunities to win it in the closing seconds but couldnt convert. "I think we did a great job staying calm and composed," Wall said. "Early in the season, we would get rattled and guys would try to make plays one on one on their own. Tonight, we trusted in our offence like weve been doing." The Bulls were leading 87-77 after a driving layup by Noah and two free throws by Butler with 6:59 left regulation. But with Beal going off, the Wizards made a run. "I cant take a lot of credit for the fourth quarter," said Beal, who scored 11 in the fourth after quiet second and third quarters. "I think we got a lot of offensive rebounds and kickouts, and John hit me on a couple. I was fortunate to be able to knock down some, and I just stayed with it. NOTES: Only three teams have dropped Games 1 and 2 at home and won a series: the 1968-69 Lakers, 1993-94 Rockets and the 2004-05 Dallas Mavericks. ... Dikembe Mutombo presented the Defensive Player of the Year award to Noah, who hoisted the trophy above his head to loud cheers before the game. ... Thibodeau praises San Antonios Gregg Popovich and Phoenixs Jeff Hornacek after they took the top two spots in the Coach of the Year vote. As for the guy who finished third? "Hes terrible," he joked. Thibodeau, of course, took the third spot after guiding the Bulls to 48 wins. It might have been his best coaching job yet, with another knee injury curtailing Derrick Roses comeback and Luol Deng getting traded away. China Jerseys Wholesale Stitched Jerseys Jerseys NFL Cheap Wholesale Stitched Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Stitched NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys China ' ' '
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