(Sports Network) - The defending Stanley Cup champions will welcome the most surprising team from the first round of the playoffs tonight, when the Pittsburgh Penguins host the eighth-seeded Montreal Canadiens for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Mellon Arena. Karlos Dansby Youth Jersey . While the Penguins, who have won the last two conference titles, are expected to go deep in the playoffs yet again, the Canadiens needed to pull off a shocking upset over top-seeded Washington to even reach this stage. At the start of this postseason, the Habs werent given much of a chance to knock off the Capitals in the conference quarterfinals. Then, when the Presidents Trophy winners took a three games to one lead over Montreal, it seemed almost certain that the Canadiens were headed to a second straight first-round exit. Thats when Montreal rode goaltender Jaroslav Halak to three straight wins, including road victories in Games 5 and 7, to shock the Capitals. The Habs came back from a 3-1 deficit to win a series for the second time in club history, also pulling off the feat against Boston in the first round of the 2004 playoffs. Im not surprised, Penguins forward Bill Guerin told the Penguins website about Montreal reaching the second round. I think that they played a team game more than Washington. With his clutch puck-stopping down the stretch, Halak was a huge reason the Habs were even able to make the postseason in the first place. He reached new heights in Round 1, making 131 saves on 134 shots over the final three games against Washington. But, Montreals thrilling win over the Caps can be attributed to more than just a hot goaltender. The team also boasts a deep defensive corps that is led by Andrei Markov and also includes former Pittsburgh blueliner Hal Gill, who helped the Pens to the Stanley Cup title before signing as a free agent with Montreal last summer. Forward Michael Cammalleri also had a strong series for Montreal against the Caps, leading the team in both goals (5) and points (10). While Montreal is attempting to reach the conference finals for the first time since 1993, Pittsburgh is trying to become the first team to claim back-to- back Cups since Detroit pulled off the feat in 1997 and 98. The fourth- seeded Penguins were the last franchise to win consecutive titles before the Red Wings, lifting Lord Stanleys Cup in 1991 and 92. The Penguins had a solid start to the 2010 postseason, ousting fifth-seeded Ottawa in six games to earn a berth in Round 2. Pittsburghs biggest asset in the Senators series was Sidney Crosby, as the team captain led all playoff scorers in the opening round with 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists). The 14 points were the second-most scored by a Penguins player in a single playoff series. Only the legendary Mario Lemieux had more when he notched 17 points in seven games against Washington in 92. Pittsburghs second-best offensive weapon should come as no surprise, as last years Conn Smythe Trophy winner Evgeni Malkin recorded four goals and four assists to finish behind Crosbys torrid pace. Last spring, Malkin and Crosby were the NHLs top-two scorers in the playoffs, posting 36 and 31 points, respectively. With two superstar centermen in Crosby and Malkin the Penguins basically have lines 1-A and 1-B, rather than a clear top unit. Outside of Malkin and Crosby, Pittsburghs top scorers in Round 1 were wingers Bill Guerin and Chris Kunitz, who each post six points against the Senators. Kunitz is questionable for Game 1 with an undisclosed injury. In other injury news, forward Tyler Kennedy (leg) and defenseman Jordan Leopold (head) are also questionable tonight for Pittsburgh. Canadiens defenseman Jaroslav Spacek is still questionable with an undisclosed illness that kept him out the final four games of the Washington series. Marc-Andre Fleury did not have a good opening series in net for the Pens, posting a 2.75 goals against average and .890 save percentage in the six-game set. Despite being just 25 years of age, Fleury does have tons of playoff experience, going 35-20 with a 2.49 GAA and .913 save percentage in 55 career postseason contests. The Canadiens and Pens have met just once before in the playoffs and that was back in the opening round of the 1998 postseason when Montreal notched a six- game series victory. The Penguins won three of four against the Habs during the regular-season series. Pittsburgh took the first three encounters by a combined 12-4 margin before Montreal avoided the season sweep with a 5-3 home victory on Feb. 6. Pittsburgh was 25-12-4 at home during the regular season and will also host Game 2 of this best-of-seven set on Sunday. The Pens are the highest remaining seed in the East after the Caps, New Jersey and Buffalo all lost in the opening round. Montreal was 19-17-5 as the guest this year. Vincent Brown Jersey . Marquez captivated the crowd at the Mandalay Bay Events Center with precise punching and slick defence in a rematch that was nearly as entertaining as the fighters thrilling first meeting, which Marquez won on a ninth-round stoppage in February 2009. John Elway Broncos Jersey . Mosley (45-5, 38 KOs) dominated for most of the non-title fight, then knocked Mayorga down with a big combination with about 15 seconds left in the 12th round. After Mayorga took the mandatory eight count, he walked straight into a left hand to the chin and again fell to the canvas. Maurice Jones-Drew Elite Jersey . Ma said at a regular press conference in Beijing that Lavrov will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi during the visit. Chinese leaders will also meet with Lavrov. Andy Levitre Jersey . MacDonald, a native of Kelowna, B.C., who now fights out of Montreal, was slated to fight at UFC 129 on Saturday night but was forced to withdraw due to injury. He announced the Montreal fight during Saturdays telecast. Chaz Schilens Jersey . -- Ryan Newman needed help and was running out of time.Last week, my friend Jacob said I wasnt doing a good enough job of including his beloved Knicks in the column. Careful what you ask for. Things have gotten ugly in Gotham, and fast. On Saturday, the New York Basketball Knicks just dropped their sixth game in row – an overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets. These arent the dreary 2000s, where losing streaks were as common as bizarre Isaiah Thomas signings. There are all-star pieces in uniform, coupled with a slick signing of the best defensive centre in basketball. So whats gone wrong? Start with Mike DAntoni. DAntoni gets ripped because he doesnt preach defence. But what he should be taken to task for is how his offence – which, not too long ago, was the best and brightest in basketball – looks like a one-on-one set at a pickup game at your local Y. He has one of the top-two pure scorers in basketball in Carmelo Anthony, and arguably the best pick and roll finisher in the NBA with Amare Stoudemire. That should be enough to pile up the points. But they sit just 17th in scoring. Its no secret that Steve Nash was the main ingredient to his success in Phoenix, and his style is based on a precision point guard that can control flow, but guess what? There are only so many Chris Paul, Nash, Deron Williams, Rajon Rondo and Derrick Roses to go around. Sorry. His lack of creativity or ability to maximize his current teams talent into any kind of an offence that incorporates flow and easy baskets is disappointing. When you run a set that involves a Melo and Tyson Chandler pick and roll at the top of the key, leaving Stoudemire flanked to the wing shooting threes, something is wrong. But Melo and Amare dont get off the hook that easy. Start with Anthony, who sees himself as the first, second and third option any time down the court, ball movement and moving without the basketball be dammed. Once its in his mitts, hes the true definition of a ball stopper. When hes grooving, watching him go one-on-one is nice. When hes missing? There are four guys standing around wondering how his shot didnt go in. As devastating a scorer as he is, Anthony is either average or below average when it comes to anything else that has to do with winning. Think defence, rebounding and passing. So if Stoudemire has a hot hand and is scoring the ball at will, Anthony cant contribute in other categories to make a defining impact on a game to compliment someone elses success. Its just about the same for Stats. When hes going to the hoop and getting the ball in his sweet spots, he is virtually impossible to stop. When hes not, hes an expensive big man that isnt driven to defend, and, with a limited low post repertoire, hes left to roam aimlessly around the key. Couple that with the fact that Chandler also roams the paint, and Anthony also spends significant time in the post, and this Knicks unit sort of resembles the failed frontcourt experiment in Houston with Pippen, Barkley and Olajuwon all trying to play nice. But its Knicks management that put this all together. There was something special and significant about the moves president of basketball operations Donnie Walsh made in the years leading up to the summer of 2010, pulling off the amazing to free up the cap space to sign Amare. The team was built with young guys centred around one star. Roles were realized, and they were, if nothing else, a gritty teaam that still needed time to develop. Sebastian Janikowski Jersey. Then the Knicks blew up the entire program to bring in Anthony. Of course, when you have the chance to bring in a mega-star, you do it. But it came at a steep price, sacrificing good, young players that added chemistry and adequate skill. Guys like Wilson Chandler, who defended and was good for 12-15 points; MSG favourite Danilo Gallinari, a rich mans Mike Dunleavy Jr. (who can actually make shots); and Raymond Felton, whos now the point man for something thrilling in Portland. The biggest loss may have come with Walsh stepping down, amidst rumours that he was being undermined during negotiations with Denver in Anthony trade talks by James Dolan and (you have to be kidding, right?) Isaiah Thomas. Apparently, he believed the Knicks were giving up too much, and wanted to bring the price down, with the leverage that Anthony only wanted to play in New York. Now look at the roster. Minus Tyson Chandler, the team is built of players that can only be effective by having the ball. There are no creators, no guys that make it easier for other guys to do their jobs. No one that makes an impact on the game other than scoring. Their hope is that oft-injured Baron Davis (whos injured right now) can come in at point and restore some sort of order on this team. But counting on Davis to be healthy, in game shape and motivated is not something you want to pin your hopes on. Its not 2006. There are also rumours now surfacing that the Knicks would sacrifice one of their two stars in a trade (likely Stoudemire) to bring in another player that might make the chemistry better. A mess indeed. Sorry, Jake. On to the matchups: Orlando at Boston (Monday at 7:30pm et)Boston at Orlando (Thursday at 8pm et, TSN2)Who would have thought that the Celtics would be in more trade rumours than Dwight Howard would be at this point in the season? Already without Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen hurt his ankle Sunday night against the Wizards. Could be a rough week for the greenies. Utah at Dallas (Friday at 8:30pm et)San Antonio at Dallas (Sunday at 6:30pm et)Things dont get easier for the champs, who recently gave Dirk Nowitzki an eight-day break to rest and rehab. Thankfully, the Mavs do have one of the deepest teams in the league, and while you cant replace Dirk, they can at least be competitive and maybe even steal one of these toughies. LA Clippers at LA Lakers (Thursday at 10:30pm et): The first game was so fun and had so much hype, lets do it again. Chris Paul should be back after missing games with a wonky hamstring - perhaps no game better illustrated just how badly he wills his team to wins than their first meeting. In the meantime, the rest of the Clipper point guard monster helped fill the void nicely in his absence. The Lakers are keeping their heads above water, but they still cant seem to get to 100 points. New York at Miami (Friday at 8pm et)Chicago at Miami (Sunday at 3:30pm et)After a nice meet and greet with the four cornerstones of the 2003 draft Friday, its on to one of the premier showdowns of the season, as the Bulls – who come in with the best record in basketball – tangle with the team that dispatched them in last years conference final. Hopefully Rose and Wade are good to go. Lets see how Rip Hamilton looks in this matchup, and if an improved Boozer can dominate Chris Bosh. ' ' '
