BOSTON -- Asked if the Canadiens dodged a bullet in Game 1 against the Bruins, Montreal coach Michel Therrien opted for a different view of his teams 4-3 double-overtime win.
[b]Rick Redman Jersey Online[/b] . "The good news is we found a way to win. Thats the most important thing," he told reporters Friday. "And we all know were capable of being better. And we will (be). "But (goaltender) Carey Price was outstanding. He was tough to beat (Thursday night)." Despite the win, Therriens message was that his team has to be better in Game 2 of the second-round playoff series Saturday. Boston outshot Montreal 51-33 Thursday, climbing back from a 2-0 hole to force overtime. Price turned the surging Bruins back again and again, giving his team a chance to win. P.K. Subban obliged with the double-overtime winner. "We played against the best team in the league and you need goaltending," Therrien said. "Certainly Carey Price gave us that type of performance. He was phenomenal. Its good for the confidence of the team. "Like I said, we know as a team we could be better. We liked the way we finished the year. We liked the way we played the first round." Boston coach Claude Julien dismissed the idea that Price might get into his players heads. "Theres a lot of good goaltenders in this league," he said. "Weve got one (in Tuukka Rask). "And we basically still got three goals on him last night ... Weve just got to play our game and the chances are there. Im going to go back to what I said earlier -- bury those great opportunities. We played well, but there were a lot of open nets that we missed, there was a lot of chances that if we would have shot them properly, instead of panicking maybe, we get ourselves a goal." Therrien thought his team showed the rust of not having played since the April 22 completion of the Tampa Bay Lightning sweep. But there were positives. The Montreal power play finally clicked, going 2-for-3 on the night with both goals coming from Subban. And the Canadiens, who managed 43 hits combined in the two games in Tampa, dished out 45 Thursday night in Boston. Still the Bruins outhit them 56-45 on the night. Asked about having to play a 12:30 p.m. ET start Saturday, Therrien laughed and said, "We had no choice." The Canadiens had a team meeting Friday and most of the players hit the gym. Therrien mixed up his lines during Game 1, with perhaps only the trio of Lars Eller, Brian Gionta and Rene Bourque standing out. "We tried to use them as much as we can in good situations, to help the team win." said Therrien. "But thats part of coaching," he added. "Sometimes you can not be afraid to make some changes." Thomas Vanek, who plays on the top line with David Desharnais and Max Pacioretty, has somehow become the poster boy for the need for improvement. "Theres a few players on our team who I believe need to step up our game regarding (Thursday night) and hes one of them," Therrien said of Vanek. "Im not here to mention any names but as a group weve got to be better and we will. "Im not worried and were glad that weve got Thomas Vanek in our lineup because he can be a dangerous guy to the other teams." Vanek, who was minus-one and did not have a shot in Game 1, did not shy away from the issue. "Last night as a line, even as a team, I dont think we played well. I think Carey carried us the whole game and then stole us the game. Subbie (Subban) stepped up and had a big goal. I think were not ignorant (of the need) for us being better as a line and myself as an individual."
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[b]Norm Bass Jersey Online[/b] .com) - Devon Johnson ran for a school record 272 yards with four touchdowns and No.ATLANTA -- Jeff Teague was in no mood to talk after the Atlanta Hawks missed a chance to win their third straight game. "There was a letdown," he said. "We lost. We shouldve taken care of business." Rodney Stuckey scored 29 points, Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond each had a double-double and the Detroit Pistons snapped a 10-game skid in Atlanta with a 102-95 victory over the Hawks on Tuesday night. Atlanta has five games left in the regular season and a 1 1/2-game advantage over New York for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot. Paul Millsap had 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Hawks. Monroe finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds and Drummond had 19 points and 17 rebounds for the Pistons, who were eliminated from playoff contention when the Hawks won Sunday at Indiana. Detroit has won two straight after dropping five of six. Drummond has 53 double-doubles, most in the Eastern Conference this season. Monroe has 34. Atlanta trailed by three when Drummond blocked Millsaps jumper in the lane and tipped in Kyle Singlers missed fast-break layup to put the Pistons up 96-91 with 1:36 remaining. "Theyre just big on the inside," said Teague, who finished with 15 points and nine assists. "Theyre athletes, and its going to be tough to get layups. Weve just got to make our shots. We had some open looks." The Pistons were up by 13 twice in the second quarter, the latter coming on Peyton Sivas 3-pointer at the 8:47 mark, but Atlanta cut the lead to four on Kyle Korvers 3 in the final minute of the period. Detroit played without leading scorer Josh Smith, who was sidelined by patella tendinitis in his left knee. Stuckey replaced the former Atlanta star in the starting lineup and had 15 points in the first half. Korver overcame a turnover midway through the third bby hitting a 3 on Atlantas ensuing possession to force a 67-all tie.
[b]Garrett Wolfe Jersey Online[/b]. The Hawks took their first lead of the game on their next possession as DeMarre Carroll took on outlet pass from Teague and hit a fast-break layup at the 6:24 mark. But after three more lead changes, Detroit began the fourth ahead 81-78 and never trailed again as the Hawks failed to keep Monroe and Drummond from dominating in the paint. The Pistons outscored Atlanta 26-9 in second-chance points. "We just kept playing," Monroe said. "I just think we did what we needed to come back and take control of the game. Teams are always going make runs in this league. We took our hit and we came back." Atlanta gets another chance to pad its lead over New York on Wednesday when Boston visits Philips Arena. The Knicks next game is Friday at Toronto. "We were hoping to build off the (Indiana) game when we came out very focused and on fire with attention to detail," Korver said. "Tonight, especially on the defensive end, we werent very sharp. They had 35 in the first quarter." NOTES: The game was originally scheduled for Jan. 29, but was postponed because of a snowstorm. ... Smith missed his first game since signing a four-year, $54 million contract as a free agent. He has started 76 of 77 games. ... Detroit won in Atlanta for the first time since Feb. 12, 2008. ... The Hawks missed 26 of 35 attempts beyond the arc. ... Stuckey, who made his second start in 70 games, gave the Pistons their first double-digit lead by hitting a 3 to make it 40-29 with 10:20 left in the second. ... Hawks reserve G Lou Williams was in uniform, but he sat out for a second straight with a sore left hamstring. ... The Hawks dropped to 22-16 at home. ... Detroit improved to 13-27 on the road. ... John Loyer improved to 8-20 as Detroits interim coach. ' ' '
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