49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman is expected to jo

The Montreal Canadiens hope to turn last years playoff disaster into this years success. The Canadiens finished second in the Eastern Conference in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign only to see their attack fizzle and their players take a pounding in a five-game setback to the Ottawa Senators. Their offence, if not so much their mettle, will be tested again when they face the tight-checking Lightning in a best-of-seven conference quarter-final starting tonight in Tampa. You can listen to the game live on TSN Radio or on TSN.ca/Montreal. Captain Brian Gionta feels the experience gained a year ago, along with a strong finish to the regular season, has the Canadiens in better shape going into the post-season. "Weve had a good last run coming in," said Gionta, whose club went 11-3-1 down the stretch. "And we have more guys with playoff experience now. "Last year we had a lot of guys who hadnt played in the playoffs. Hopefully with that experience theyll understand more what its about." What this series looks to be about is goaltending and patience. The Bolts won the season series between the teams 3-1, but three of the games ended 1-1 in regulation time and were decided either in overtime or a shootout. In the last meeting April 1 in Tampa, the Lightning won 3-1 with an empty-net goal by Alex Killorn. Special teams was the difference, with Tampa Bay going 2-for-9 with the man advantage while Montreal was 0-for-4. "I dont expect it to be much different," added Gionta. "Theyve got a great team that plays in-your-face and doesnt give you much time and space. Itll be a good series, for sure." A key will be goaltending, and whether Carey Price can carry the experience of leading Canada to gold at the Winter Olympics in February into the similarly pressure-packed NHL playoffs. The 26-year-old has a 9-17 career post-season record with a 2.90 goals-against average, but his game took a big step forward this season. "Its all about preparing for the (next) game, regardless of whats happened before, or whether youre playing good or bad," said Price. In Tampa, there were fears the season was ruined when six-foot-seven Ben Bishop went down with an arm injury on April 8, but six-foot-six Anders Lindback — who had struggled — went 3-0-0 with two shutouts in the final week of the regular season. Bishop has no NHL playoff experience and Lindback played only 13 minutes of one game for Nashville in 2011, so how either will react to the spotlight is a question mark. Tampa Bay also has Latvian Kristers Gudlevskis, who gave Price and Canada a scare in Sochi with 55 saves in a 2-1 defeat. Coach Jon Coopers Lightning managed a 101-point season despite massive setbacks, including the loss of superstar Steven Stamkos for 45 games with a broken leg and captain Martin St. Louis successful demand for a trade. The Bolts got the gritty Ryan Callahan from the Rangers in return for the last player left from Tampa Bays 2004 Stanley Cup team. That year marked the only previous playoff meeting between the teams, and Tampa Bay swept it 4-0. Last week, Ryan Malone was arrested for impaired driving and cocaine possession, although the veteran forward is no longer a key player. The Canadiens were boosted by some sharp deadline dealing by general manager Marc Bergevin, who picked up veteran defence help in Mike Weaver, a useful checker in Dale Weise and a first-line scorer in Thomas Vanek. Vanek had six goals and nine assists in 17 games after the trade and his play with David Desharais and Max Pacioretty gave Montreal one of its most dangerous first-line units in years. Now the Austrian right-winger will be looked upon to be an offensive leader in the playoffs. "They got me here for the stretch run to help them out and hopefully to help evolve their game, which is a good challenge for myself," said Vanek. "Its a new season now. "One guy isnt going to make the difference, but whats good is I found chemistry on a good line. The three of us need to be good, but its depth that wins in the playoffs. A line can win a game or two, but not a Cup." The Canadiens hope Vaneks unit can help a power play that went 0-for-23 in the last eight games but taking some of the attention away from point men P.K. Subban and Andrei Markov. Tampa Bay had the 13th best power play at 18.5 per cent this season, but has been deadlier since Stamkos return. The Canadiens counter with the NHLs fourth-best penalty killing unit, led by heady two-way centre Tomas Plekanec. A wild card for Montreal is winger Daniel Briere, who was signed last summer mostly for his history of playoff magic. He has 109 points in 108 career post-season games. But mostly, it will be about discipline - both teams sticking to their system and minimizing mistakes because goals will likely be hard to get. "Were very comfortable playing in those types of situations," said Price. "Weve done well in those types of games all season. "Thats playoff hockey to a T. Every team plays solid defensively and that one goal can make a difference. Limiting scoring chances and scoring on your own chances is a key." The Canadiens will have Brandon Prust back for Game 1 after the rugged winger missed the end of the season with a suspected rib injury, but they will be missing young playmaker Alex Galchenyuk for the series with a knee injury. Canadiens projected lines for Game 1 Pacioretty - Desharnais - VanekBourque - Eller - GiontaPrust - Plekanec - GallagherBournival - Brière - Weise Markov - EmelinGorges - SubbanBouillon - Weaver Price - Budaj Cheap College Jerseys From China . -- James Harden scored 31 points, including 25 in the second half, and the Houston Rockets dug out of a double-digit, first-half hole to beat the Orlando Magic 101-89 on Wednesday night. Cheap NCAA Basketball Jerseys . Rosbergs time of 1 minute, 33.185 seconds at the Bahrain International Circuit was a quarter of a second faster than Hamilton, who had to abandon his final flying lap after running wide at the first corner. http://www.cheapcollegejerseysauthentic.com/ . Although Olivetti, a qualifier, had 13 aces, he failed to force a single break-point chance on Gasquets serve and lost his own three times. Gasquet next plays third-seeded Jerzy Janowicz of Poland, who won had 18 aces in a 6-2, 6-4 win against seventh-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France. Wholesale College Jerseys . The shortstop still grieves, but it will be nights like the one Segura had in a 5-2 victory Monday over the Cincinnati Reds that will provide some distraction. Cheap College Football Jerseys . The teams were scoreless for most of the first two periods before Canada scored three times in a span of less than four minutes. Sarah Potomak opened the scoring on the power play.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Buffalo Bills are reportedly set to name Rex Ryan their new head coach. According to several reports on Sunday, the Bills will soon name Ryan their new head coach. He will remain in the state of New York after being let go by the New York Jets in late December. The two sides are said to be finalizing a five-year deal that will give Ryan $5.5 million per season. Its also being reported that 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman is expected to join Ryan in Buffalo, replacing current offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. Buffalo had interviewed 12 candidates for the position that was made vacant after Doug Marrone opted out of his contract on Dec. 31, and decided to go with Ryan, who was fired after guiding the Jets for six seasons. Ryan parted ways with Neew York after the team posted a 4-12 mark, which included an eight-game losing streak, to finish last in the AFC East.dddddddddddd It was the worst record the Jets posted during Ryans tenure with the club, which missed the playoffs for a fourth straight year. He finished his term with a 46-50 mark. Led by a strong defense, the Bills notched a 9-7 record in 2014, their first winning season since 2004. However, they finished third in the AFC East and missed the playoffs for a 15th straight year. The 50-year-old Marrone reportedly asked for a contract extension from the new ownership and when they declined, he chose to leave thanks to a three-day opt- out clause. He will still get paid the $4 million he was due from the Bills in 2015. Marrone went 15-17 in his two seasons with Buffalo. ' ' '