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BOSTON - It started with a torrent of hate. But P.K. Subban was feeling the love after the Canadiens disposed of the Boston Bruins. The charismatic Montreal defenceman, the target of racial abuse after his winning goal in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series, planted a kiss on broadcaster Pierre McGuire to wrap up their post-Game 7 interview Wednesday night. "Yeah baby," said a jubilant Subban after McGuire congratulated him for reaching the Eastern Conference final, which starts Saturday in Montreal against the New York Rangers. More than a few hockey fans may have fallen for the underdog Habs after their performance against the big bad Bruins. The Canadiens are hard-working, proud and tenacious. "Its definitely a special team and if we didnt know it before the playoffs, we definitely know it now," said forward Max Pacioretty, who bounced back from a slow start in the series. "I said when I got here, I just feel like this is a special team," echoed forward Dale Weise, acquired from the Canucks on Feb. 3. "I was on Vancouver the year after they went to the Cup final, we won the Presidents Trophy — theres something about this team thats just special. "Were real resilient. When our backs are against the wall (and) we need a big performance, our big players show up. And weve got so much depth. I really like our team." The Canadiens work ethic was eloquently voiced by coach Michel Therrien prior to Game 2, in words most saw as a prod at Thomas Vanek and other underachieving forwards. "One thing thats not negotiable with our team ... work ethic is not negotiable, attitude is not negotiable and competing is not negotiable," he said. "This is something we ask from every player on our hockey team. We have to make sure that everyone brings those elements to every single shift and every single game." Therrien was rightly proud Wednesday. "This is a great accomplishment from that group. We just beat the best team in the league. We were down 3-2 (in the series) and we showed a lot of character, a lot of passion. To be able to win the series here in Boston, its a tough place for teams to come and play here. Im really proud about the performance of our players." Carey Price was majestic in goal, with ice water in his veins. His rebound control was exceptional, he declined to bite on any of the Bruins forwards shake and bake, and he was there to clean up when a mess was left in front of him. He was unflappable. When the zombie apocalypse finally hits, those nearest Price will likely be thanking their lucky stars. The Habs star had plenty of help. Price faced 230 Bruins shots during the series with his team blocking another 146. Mike Weaver, all five foot 10 of him, stopped 20 of those. "A human wall," said Weise. But as Price and Therrien noted, the Boston series win will be yesterdays news come the Eastern final. Montreal faces another Original six rival in the Rangers, who are coming off an emotional win of their own over Pittsburgh. And having survived Vezina Trophy finalist Tuukka Rask with Boston, the Canadiens now face Rangers stopper Henrik Lundqvist who strapped the Rangers on his back in the elimination game against the Penguins. Price and Lundqvist met at the Olympic final in Sochi, where the outclassed and depleted Swedes were beaten 3-0. King Henrik has a 13-11-2 career record against the Canadiens and has struggled in Montreal where he is 4-5-2 with a 3.87 goals-against average and .876 save percentage. That may explain why backup Cam Talbot played the two games at Montreal this season. Lundqvist has not played at the Bell Centre since a 4-3 shootout victory in March 2009. His last regulation victory there was a 5-3 decision in February 2008. His career save percentage against the Habs is .897. Price, meanwhile, is 8-5-1 with five shutouts and a .934 save percentage against the Rangers. Montreal finished four points ahead of New York in the regular season. The Canadiens blanked New York 2-0 in the Rangers home opener on Oct. 28, lost 1-0 at the Bell Centre on Nov. 16 and edged the visiting Rangers 1-0 in overtime on the final weekend of the season. Its the first playoff meeting between the two since 1996 when the Rangers defeated Montreal 4-2 in the Eastern Conference quarter-final. It marks their 15th post-season meeting, with each team having won seven times. And its the third playoff series between the two since the 1979 Stanley Cup final, won four games to one by Montreal. Terry McLaurin Redskins Jersey . Last years runner-up, Sara Errani, also reached the last eight in straight sets. Flipkens converted all four of her break points against Meusburger, and the third-seeded Errani broke Karin Knapps serve five times to win their all-Italian match 6-4, 6-3. Dwayne Haskins Youth Jersey . Louis still looking for a way out of Tampa Bay, the 38-year-old NHL veteran isnt showing his cards. http://www.redskinsfansproshop.com/Redskins+Sam+Huff+Rush+Jersey.html?cat=1311 .C. -- Al Jefferson said he feels like hes playing the best basketball of his 10-year NBA career. Sonny Jurgensen Redskins Jersey . Still, Encarnacion felt a sense of relief. He felt a pop just before crumpling to the ground after running out a groundball in the first inning of Saturdays game. It could have been worse. “Its going to take maybe two weeks,” said Encarnacion. “It depends how Im going to be and how Im going to be day after day, feeling better or not. Russ Grimm Redskins Jersey . LOUIS -- Joe Thornton and the San Jose Sharks won the matchup of unbeaten teams.MONTREAL - The Montreal Impact didnt even need to step on the field to clinch a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League quarter-finals.The idle Impact advanced to the Champions League knockout stage late Wednesday night after the New York Red Bulls failed to earn a victory in El Salvador in Group-3 action. The 0-0 draw between the Red Bulls and C.D. FAS in Central America means New York cannot catch Montreal in the standings, thus guaranteeing the Impact top spot in the three-team group.As a result, Montreals Olympic Stadium will be awash with blue and white when the Impact play a quarter-final match at home next February, the teams first in six years.To qualify without having to play the last group game shows how much effort we put into it, and the types of performances we put in, said Jack McInerney on Thursday. Its great exposure for the club. Goals were reached last night.Montreal opened its 2014-15 CCL campaign with back-to-back one-goal victories against FAS a€” 1-0 at Saputo Stadium and 3-2 in San Salvadors Estadio Cuscatlan in August. Last week, the Impact defeated a largely inexperienced Red Bulls side 1-0 at home to take a six-point lead atop the group.New Yorks failure to win on Wednesday helped Montreal partly redeem an embarrassing Major League Soccer season. With the Impact (6-17-6) in last place in the Eastern Conference and eliminated from the MLS playoffs, the teams fans have had little to celebrate this season.The promise of February soccer in the city is the years silver lining.Were in the best eight teams in North America, said Marco Di Vaio, who scored four goals in three matches so far in the CCL group stage. Its a big day for the club. In February, theres a big game in the teams history. Its a historic moment for the city and the fans.Although he was instrumental in getting the club to the quarter-finals, Di Vaio will likely play his final game with the Impact next month, and thus miss Februarys CCL showdown.Last week, the 38-year-old strongly suggested he would return to Italy after his contract with the Impact expires in October regardless of Montreals Champions League aspirations. The teams guaranteed spot in the quarter-final has done little to sway the Italian striker.I cant come back just for two games, said Montreals fourth all-time leading goal scorer. This doesnt change anything. If I come back, it will be for the full year, not just two months.The Impact are returning to the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2009, when the team was eliminated by Mexicos Santos Laguna 5-4 on aggregate. Montreal was still competing in the lower-tier North American Soccer League at time.After beating teams from Honduras and Trinidad and Tobago in the group stage that year, the Impact were sitting prettyy after their first quarter-final leg, a 2-0 victory played in front of more than 55,000 fans at the Olympic Stadium.ddddddddddddmpact Academy product Maxim Tissot, who was 17 at the time, remembers the game like it was yesterday. He watched from the Big O grandstands as Impact great Eduardo Sebrango scored twice to give Montreal the victory.The atmosphere was something else, said Tissot, who was playing for Montreals farm team, the Trois-Rivieres Attak, at the time. I remember it well. What a game!Two weeks later, Montreal took a one-goal lead into halftime in Torreon, Mexico, before a stunning second-half meltdown sent the Impact tumbling out of the competition.I thought for sure we would win, said Tissot, now 22 years old. For the guys who watched that game, we dont want a repeat of that. We have to move past the quarter-finals this time with that game in mind.Despite already qualifying for the knockout stage, Montreal still has a lot to play for in its last CCL group stage match against New York at Red Bull Arena on Oct. 22.The eight teams that qualify for the quarter-finals will be seeded according to the number of points accumulated in the group stage. The top-four seeded teams will have the benefit of playing their return leg at home, a luxury not afforded to the Impact squad that conceded five goals in Mexico in 2009.The last game still means a lot, said McInerney, who will likely see his playing time on the rise between now and the end of the season. You can miss some big teams in the next round if we go to New York and get a result. Its definitely on our mind right now.With more group-stage matches still to be played, only three other clubs have secured their place in the quarter-finals. D.C. United, Mexicos Pachuca, and Costa Ricas Herediano could face Montreal in late February and early March. And barring final-game collapses, fellow MLS teams Sporting Kansas City and Portland will also clinch a spot in the quarter-final.With travel time in mind, Impact players are already indicating their preference to face a team in the United States.If you have to travel down south, its going to be tough, said McInerney. An MLS team would be ideal for us. But whether we go to Mexico or D.C., its a big opportunity.Added Tissot: Wed be more comfortable with what we know. We may not want to face Mexican teams because theyre so good. But well be ready in any case.Notes: Montreal will play the first leg of its quarter-final either Feb. 24 or Feb. 25. The return leg will be played either March 3 or March 4. a€| Montreal is representing Canada in this edition of the Champions League after winning the Canadian Championship in June. The Impact hoisted the Voyageurs Cup after beating rivals Toronto FC 2-1 on aggregate in the final. ' ' '