d through that series, going up 2-0 in Bo

BROSSARD, Que. - Everything is magnified when the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins meet in the playoffs, and thats how P.K. Subban likes it. The flashy Canadiens defenceman is sure to be a target for the Bruins and the TD Garden fans when the two Original Six teams meet for the 34th time in the post-season. Boston fans tend to boo Subban the same way Montreal fans give it to Zdeno Chara whenever the towering Bruins defenceman touches the puck at the Bell Centre. "It doesnt matter if I like it or Im ready for it because it doesnt really dictate how I play or how this team plays," Subban said Monday. "Thats the most important thing. "If theyre trying to find ways to get me off my game, that means Im doing something right." Montreal is on a lengthy break after sweeping the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opening round, while the Bruins will also be rested after eliminating the Detroit Red Wings in five. It will be Subbans second career playoff meeting with the Bruins. In 2011, he had two goals and four points as Montreal won the first two games of the first-round series in Boston before going on to lose Game 7 in overtime. The 2013 Norris Trophy winner expects another long series, but hopes for a different result. "Ive always been a guy thats excited to play in the playoffs because its meaningful and because it seems like the bigger the stage, the better I play and the more I play," he said. " And when I play more I always play better. "I think I learned through that series, going up 2-0 in Boston and then losing in seven games. Its not a fun thing to do, but we were that close to beating them and they went on to win the Stanley Cup that year." The Canadiens won three of four meetings with the Bruins this season, including both games in Boston. But they will still be underdogs against a Bruins side that is little changed from the one that reached the Stanley Cup final last season and won the Presidents Trophy for having the most points this past season. "Im sure people are going to enjoy the series," said Subban. "Im predicting its going to be a long and gruelling series. "Theyre better than they were (in 2011) and its going to be an even tougher series. Trust me, were not thinking about coming home up 2-0. We know its going to be a grind." The Canadiens tend to counter the Bruins physical play with a game based on quickness and puck pressure. Bostons big men take runs at Subban, who they see as a diver who talks too much on the ice. Subban, in turn, plays some of his best hockey against Boston. "I dont consider that any part of my game," said Subban. "I consider playing well as the biggest way of agitating other teams players — putting the puck in the net, playing physical, having an impact on the game. "That seems to (make people angry) a lot more than talking or chirping." Games between the teams often get nasty, including one this season when Bostons Milan Lucic speared defenceman Alexei Emelin in the groin area. The bad blood has built up over decades of meetings between the teams. It has mostly gone in favour of Montreal, which has a 24-9 record in playoff series against Boston since their first meeting in 1929. The Bruins have won the last two, however. "I knew that part of playing for the Montreal Canadiens is there were rivalries and a lot of history," said Subban. "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." To break up the monotony, the Canadiens had a simulated game day on Monday, including a morning skate and an intrasquad game in the evening against mostly call-ups from the AHLs Hamilton Bulldogs. They will take Tuesday off and get back to regular practices on Wednesday. Stitched NHL Jerseys . Vargas (8-3) allowed four singles and two walks while striking out five, allowing only two runners from a diluted Twins lineup to reach second base. Mike Moustakas and Jarrod Dyson hit RBI singles in the second inning against Kevin Correia (4-10), and that was all Vargas needed. Authentic NHL Jerseys Cheap .ca NBA Power Rankings. Winners of 15 straight, with a healthy roster, the Spurs have overtaken the Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder for the number one ranking. http://www.cheapnhlcustomjerseys.com/ . - The Baltimore Ravens and tight end Dennis Pitta reached agreement on a five-year contract Friday. NHL Jerseys From China . "We cannot stay the same way the whole season long," said Reyes. "This is not acceptable. Something needs to change because were a better team than what were showing right now. Its a long season and we just need to continue to push." Its been a frustrating week for the ballclub. Fake NHL Jerseys . Dancevic won his singles match on Friday, defeating Go Soeda 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-1, to even the best-of-five series at a game apiece. World No. 18 Kei Nishikori defeated Peter Polansky in the opening match, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.As 2014 winds to a close, TSN.ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. TSN.cas writing staff reflects on the best hockey moments from the past 12 months including a true Winter Classic, a playoff series for the ages, a touching tribute and more! Putting the Classic Back in Winter By Jed Bick In a season where little went right for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who would collapse in unbelievable fashion for the third-straight year, there is one positive moment which proudly stands out. The Leafs faced the Detroit Red Wings on New Year’s Day in the annual NHL Winter Classic at “The Big House” in Ann Arbor, Michigan and came away with a 3-2 shootout victory. The Leafs overcame an inevitable shootout goal by Detroit’s magic man, Pavel Datsyuk, as their own shootout wizard Tyler Bozak would seal the deal for the Buds. It was special for the Leafs to win that game, as it is an event where some teams may never get the chance to play, so the team and its fans can always look back at the memory with pride. But the best part was the atmosphere. The place was packed with an NHL record-setting attendance of 105,491 boisterous fans that seemed to be an equal split between Leafs and Wings fans. Both teams also wore coloured jerseys, a rarity in North American professional sports. The red and blue contrasted perfectly and the gently falling snow was the flawless addition to an overall unforgettable display of how hockey should be played and enjoyed, outdoors in the cold. -- The True Stanley Cup Final By Shane McNeil With all due respect to the New York Rangers, there was no way the 2014 Stanley Cup Final could live up to the finale of a series that saw two teams that had won three of the previous four Cups duke it out in a seven-game thriller. The Kings almost looked to have blown the series, letting the Hawks claw back from a 3-1 deficit to force Game 7 and Chicago made the most of it, taking an early 2-0 lead in the decider. Three goals in just over a minute near the end of the first made a game of it and the teams traded goals in the second and third. Andrew Shaw almost ended it on the doorstep in the final 10 seconds, but Jonathan Quick’s pad made overtime a reality. And, naturally, in a series that features the likes of Patrick Kane, Anze Kopitar, Jeff Carter and Jonathan Toews; it’s an Alec Martinez knuckler that bounces in for the winner. It may not have been a beauty of a goal, but the game was timeless.dddddddddddd This was the second straight Western Conference Final between the two teams: I think we could all get used to this being a recurring match-up. -- Senators, Maple Leafs, Canadiens Come Together after Terrorist Attack By Ryan Horne On Oct. 22, Canada experienced something that most in this country thought they never would: A terrorist attack. A lone gunman shot and killed 24-year-old Cpl. Nathan Cirillo at the National War Memorial in Ottawa before storming Parliament with gun in hand. The game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators scheduled that night in the nation’s capital was cancelled due to the tragic events. What followed was a heartwarming display of solidarity, both from Canadians and Americans alike. First, on the night of the attack, the Pittsburgh Penguins decided to sing “O Canada” before their home game with the Philadelphia Flyers. Two American teams, playing on American soil belting out the Canadian national anthem to show their support. Then on the first Saturday after the attack, the Senators, Maple Leafs and Canadiens put their rivalries aside for a few minutes as the three cities sung the anthem as one in a resounding, goosebump-rendering display of national pride. It was one of those rare moments when sports can bring people together to heal after a tragedy and one that soon won’t be forgotten. -- What if Everyones Gone in a Shootout? By Shane McNeil Don’t ask me why I found myself watching a Washington Capitals-Florida Panthers game in the first place, because it’s a long story, but last week’s tilt between the two finally answered a question I’d been wondering about for quite some time. What happens once everyone on the roster takes a shootout attempt? The two sides went at it in a 20-round shooutout that eventually handed the Panthers a 2-1 victory. It was surprisingly fun to watch, oscillating from “This is why Player X has never taken a shootout attempt” to “Who knew Brooks Orpik had those hands?” While I must express some disappointment that Al Montoya and Justin Peters never got their chance to grab a stick, it at least provided concrete proof that the order just re-sets and everyone gets another crack. Kudos to Nick Bjugstad, then, for ending the epic drama. I guess Roberto Luongo and Braden Holtby also deserve credit for stopping a combined 29 breakaways, too. ' ' '