by ldh2013 » Wed Jun 29, 2016 9:02 am
TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays signed undrafted Canadian first baseman Luke Willson on Thursday. . The native of Lasalle, Ont., played baseball and football at Rice University in Houston. Willson attended St. Thomas of Villanova High School in La Salle and played for the Canadian junior national baseball team in 2008. The six-foot-five, 240-pound Willson had 33 receptions for 425 yards and three touchdowns for Rice last season. . His name is Tim Duncan. Their numbers over that decade are incredibly similar. Duncan has appeared in 622 regular-season and playoff victories, James has played in 621. . But it isnt. That has been done, many times, including by myself in January. For similar reasons I had a year ago, I believe Ronaldo should win it this year, but a year is a long time in sport and, although my opinion on who should win it hasnt changed, my opinion on the award certainly has. .com) - The Vancouver Canucks hope an upcoming stretch of home games will be enough to get the club into the postseason.Its spring - and with the new season its time to break out the bleu, blanc et rouge and the black and gold. For the 34th time, the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins meet in postseason play as the age-old rivals face off tonight in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference second round series at TD Garden. You can listen to the game live on TSN Radio 690 in Montreal or on TSN.ca/Montreal. While Montreal has won 24 series between both clubs, the Bruins have won seven of the last 11, including the last two. "I knew that part of playing for the Montreal Canadiens is there were rivalries and a lot of history," said Montreal blueliner P.K. Subban this week. "At the end of the day, well probably talk about it for the next three or four days but once the puck drops, it doesnt matter what rivalry or history there is. "Its just a matter of winning. Then, after the game, well talk abut history and whatever." It wont be the first Bruins-Canadiens series for Montreal coach Michel Therrien. During his first stint with the Canadiens, he won a first-round series in six games over Boston in 2002 before losing in the next round to Carolina. "I was a lot younger at the time and had more hair," said Therrien. "But (Bruins coach) Claude (Julien) has a lot of experience too. "Its a challenge for both teams." The Canadiens had nine days off after their 4-0 series sweep of the Tampa Bay Lightning, practice with nearly the same line combinations as they had in Round 1. Theres one change that could be in place for Game 1 with Travis Moen instead of MMichel Bournival on the fourth line with Daniel Briere and Dale Weise. . Bruins winger Brad Marchand was not on the ice for Thursdays morning skate. In his place was Daniel Paille, who missed the first round of the playoffs after suffering a head injury. Bruins coach Claude Julien wouldnt comment on Marchands status other than to say that he "took his option." Thursdays morning skate was optional. Carey Price starts in net for Montreal against Vezina Trophy nominee Tuukka Rask. The regular season wasnt much of a struggle for Rasks Bruins and neither was their first-round matchup against the Detroit Red Wings with a 4-1 series win. And a showdown with the Habs has had special meaning for Boston head coach Claude Julien, who was hired by the Bruins after being let go by the Canadiens (save for a shorter stint with the New Jersey Devils). Tonight will mark the fourth time the two teams have squared off in the playoffs since Julien took over behind the bench. "I hated Boston when I was in Montreal, and now I hate Montreal because Im in Boston," Juilen said after practice on Tuesday. "Its a good rivalry. I think it always has been a good rivalry. Its a lot of fun and I think the players get up for these games. As a coach, you dont have to do much of a pep talk when it comes to playing each other. Its more about controlled emotions. The rivalry is what it is, but that your game still remains a game thats under control. I think thats going to be the big challenge for everyone in this series." ' ' '
