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MONTREAL -- Scoring a goal at the Bell Centre was big for fourth-line checker Michael Blunden. Mike Pouncey White Jersey . Blunden scored his first in 18 games as a Canadien as Montreal downed the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1 on Saturday night. While the 25-year-old was born in Toronto, he said he grew up in the suburb of Montreal West cheering for the Canadiens. "It was huge," Blunden said. "It was fortunate my parents were here in the stands. "My mom and dad are from Montreal and my dad was a huge Habs fan as a kid, so Im sure hes pretty ecstatic right now." Blunden and Max Pacioretty scored 1:33 apart in the second period to lift Montreal over Tampa Bay in a battle of struggling clubs. Eric Cole added a power-play goal in the final minute for the Canadiens (16-18-7), who evened their home record to 7-7-6 and posted a second win in a row for only the fourth time this season. After losses in Toronto and Ottawa, the Lightning (17-20-3) were swept on a three-game road trip and are 6-15-3 away from home for the season. Vincent Lecavalier scored for the Bolts, who are 0-4-1 in their last five on the road. "Its hard for everybody," said goaltender Mathieu Garon. "It seems we do it every game, when we give up a goal we give up a second one. "We wanted points on this trip. We played well the last two and didnt get any. I gave up two quick goals and thats what made the difference. It changed the whole game." The six-foot-three Blunden, who was acquired from Columbus in July for prospect Ryan Russell, is on his second call-up from AHL Hamilton to fill in for some injured forwards and looks to be making the most of it. He got only 4:22 of ice time as the Lightning used their fourth line sparingly, but he played 13:37 in a 7-3 win over Winnipeg on Wednesday night. Mostly, coach Randy Cunneyworth wants him to use his big body to forecheck and play a strong defensive game. Now it remains to be seen if he stays with the team when injured centre Scott Gomez returns, perhaps as soon as next week, or when Ryan White returns some time after that. "I have a lot of confidence under Randy," said Blunden. "Hes given me a lot of ice time and hopefully I can just keep going. "My goal is to play in the NHL. It doesnt matter if I play 30 seconds a night or 13 minutes. Whatever I can do." Blunden was drafted by Chicago in 2005 and was dealt to Columbus in 2009. Most of his career has been spent in the minors. His goal was only his third in the NHL. He was parked at the edge of the crease and took a pass from Hal Gill before slipping a backhander under Garons glove to tie the game 5:44 into the second. Pacioretty was left alone behind the Tampa Bay defence to take a long pass from P.K. Subban and go in alone to score at 7:17, ending a 10-game goal drought. The big winger admitted this week he was playing tentatively after getting suspended three games for an open ice his on Nov. 26 that left Pittsburgh defenceman Kris Letang with a concussion. "I talked to the coaches, and some guys in the room," said Pacioretty. "I knew I had to get back to what made me successful and thats what I did." Montreal outshot the Bolts 29-24. A first period with few creative moments saw Tampa Bay take the lead on a strange goal. Dominic Moore the puck toward the net from the goal-line and Lecavalier tipped in inside the near post 3:24 into the game. Cole tapped in his 17th on a power play in the final minute. Montreal moved two points clear of the Lightning for 12th place in the Eastern Conference. A group of about 200 pro-French protestors staged a peaceful demonstration in front of the Bell Centre before the game. They were upset that Cunneyworth was named as the teams first non-french-speaking head coach in four decades. "Thats their prerogative if thats what they like," Cunneyworth said of the protest. "I didnt give it any more time than that, just to be aware of it. My attention was on getting ready for the game." The Lightning return home to face the Vancouver Canucks, while Montreal stays home to face former teammate Jaroslav Halak and the St. Louis Blues. Both games are on Tuesday. A pre-game ceremonial faceoff was performed by three stars of the 1972 Summit Series: Yvan Cournoyer, Paul Henderson and Vladislav Tretiak. Henderson wore the No. 19 jersey he had on when he scored the series-clinching goal. All three got big ovations. Notes: Petteri Nokolainen was a healthy scratch for the first time since he was acquired by Montreal. Yannick Weber also sat out, but Alexei Emelin, hit in the face by a puck on Friday, played in a face cage. ... Ryan Malone returned from injury for Tampa Bay, Brett Connolly was back from the world junior hockey championship and call-up Pierre-Cedric Labrie made his NHL debut. ... Brendan Mikkelson, acquired Friday from Calgary, was scratched. Mike Pouncey Grey Jersey . -- Another race, another pole for Kurt Busch. Arthur Lynch Dolphins Jersey . Midway through the first round Barao dropped Faber with a hard right hand and pounced on his wounded opponent. As Barao began to unleash a flurry of strikes, Faber turtled on his hands and knees and tucked his arm against the side of his head to protect himself. Dean stopped the fight at 3:42 of the opening round after Barao landed more than a dozen blows to the shoulder, forearm and neck area of the huddled Faber.SAN ANTONIO -- The San Antonio Spurs opened a new season by using the same formula that has produced the highest winning percentage for a 16-year span in NBA history. Aggressive defence, Patty Mills draining 3s, selfless ball movement, Boris Diaw shooting without hesitation and coach Gregg Popovich being jovial with reporters. OK, maybe it wasnt quite the same old Spurs. Five months after last seasons disappointing loss in the NBA Finals, a mix of "corporate knowledge" and new infusion of talent propelled San Antonio to a strong start in a 101-94 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night. "We won," said Popovich, who later complimented a reporter for a good question. "We have 81 more games." Kawhi Leonard had 14 points and Tony Parker added 13 points and nine assists for the Spurs, who improved to 16-1 in season openers under Popovich. Tim Duncan left the game with a chest contusion after taking an inadvertent elbow with 10:50 left in the third quarter. Duncan did not return after retreating to the locker room. He had three points and six rebounds in 17 minutes. His status for Fridays game at the Los Angeles Lakers was unknown. "Hell get checked out tomorrow," Popovich said. "He had spasms in his shoulder and his neck. It looks like his chest is bruised. He caught an elbow, so it kind of affected (him) from his chest up through his neck at some time or another." With Duncan missing much of the second half, San Antonios revamped second unit dominated, outscoring Memphis reserves 53-38. Diaw had 14 points and Mills and Manu Ginobili had 12 points apiece. After frustrating Popovich by being a pass-first player last season, Diaw was aggressively seeking his shot while going 6 for 9 against the Grizzlies. "He went and talked to a guru in India or something," Popovich said. "I dont know what he did, but he catches and shoots now. I got nothing to do with it. Ive been begging him since he got here. His previous coaches have begged him. All of a sudden hes a catch-and-shoot guy. Its continued and were happy about it." Newly named as the Spurs backup point guard, Mills gave the team an immediate boost. He had a reverse layup and three straight 3-pointers upon entering the game. He was fouled on his third 3-pointer, draining the free throw to give San Antonio a 37-22 lead with 6:48 left in the first half. "He was a great boost," Parker said. "He has been playing well the whole preseason. He knocked down 3s all preseason and that is what he did tonight." Tony Allen had 15 points and Marc Gasol and Mike Conley had 14 each ffor Memphis. Dan Marino Premier Jersey. Quincy Pondexter had 13 points and Mike Miller 11 in his return to the Grizzlies after playing last season for the Heat. The Spurs set a franchise record while outscoring the Grizzlies 30-7 in the second quarter. "We let so many points come behind our back," Allen said. "Whether its made baskets or missed baskets. Off the rebound they just kept pushing, they had the momentum and they did a good job of executing as a team." San Antonio held Memphis to seven points in the second quarter, a franchise low by an opponent for the period and the third lowest for a quarter in team history. The Spurs continually ran a second defender at the Grizzlies, forcing them to pass or take a contested shot. Memphis failed to score in the opening 8 minutes of the second quarter, missing their first 10 field goal attempts. Before Allens 3-pointer with 3:45 remaining in the first half, the Grizzlies only points came on a pair of free throws by Pondexter in the opening minute of the second. Memphis finished the second quarter shooting 11.1 per cent from the field: 2 for 18. "We stopped moving the basketball and we tried to create our own shots," first-year Memphis coach David Joerger said. "When the ball moves, the energy on our team goes up. We move, we cut hard, we screen harder, we rim run harder, but our defence wasnt great. Give them credit. They ended up shooting a lot of layups." Continuing his struggles from last seasons playoff sweep to the Spurs, Zach Randolph was held two 2 points on 1-for-6 shooting. "They had a good playoff series against us last season, they swept us and did a good job," Randolph said. "But tonight was one of those nights; just one of those nights." Memphis started the game shooting 29 per cent from the field, going 4 for 14. NOTES: Memphis has lost all 13 of its season openers since moving from Vancouver and is 2-17 in openers overall in franchise history. ... The lowest point total for a quarter by a San Antonio opponent is 3 by Denver in the first quarter on Nov. 27, 2002. The second lowest is six by Toronto in the fourth quarter on Nov. 1, 2002. ... Tiago Splitter, one of the least talkative Spurs, gave the welcoming address to the fans before the game. The centre from Brazil promised the team would work hard on the court and in the community and punctuated it with "muchos gracias." ... Memphis had to call a timeout 47 seconds into the game when no one remained in the backcourt to receive Conleys inbound pass. ... Memphis has lost 15 of 16 regular-season games in San Antonio, with its last victory coming April 9, 2010. ' ' ' |
