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 Anthony Tolliver Jersey . Top-ranked Rafael Nadal was also taken to three sets but emerged with a 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-3 win over Tobias Kamke of Germany, while second-seeded David Ferrer joined Murray in making an early exit after a 6-4, 7-5 loss to Daniel Brands of Germany. Cheap Minnesota Timberwolves Jerseys . The team said they will announce a corresponding roster move prior to their series opener on Tuesday night in Kansas City. http://www.cheaptimberwolvesjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-tyus-jones-jersey . -- Caris LeVert had 14 points and a career-high 11 rebounds for his first career double-double, and No. Cheap Timberwolves Jerseys Authentic .Brooks, a three-year veteran, was slow to get up after suffering the injury during a 5-yard run by Arian Foster.Brooks limped off the field midway through the quarter and then slowly walked to the locker room a few minutes later. Jeff Teague Jersey .Y. -- It was as if Matt Moulson never left the New York Islanders. RITZING, Austria -- It wasnt the long-awaited win that Canada was hoping for, but it was a credible result against a decent European side and an end to an embarrassing 14-month goalless run for Canadas mens soccer team. The Canadians came from a goal down to draw Bulgaria 1-1 in an international friendly at the Sonnenseestadion in Ritzing, Austria on Friday. Atiba Hutchinson converted a penalty in the 26th minute to tie the game after Bulgaria had opened the scoring with a nicely-worked goal by Andrey Galabinov in the 18th minute. The draw represents arguably the best result of the teams current project under the leadership of Spanish coach Benito Floro. The Canadian side has been mired in a miserable spell on the back of a calamitous exit from World Cup Qualifying in October of 2012, but Floro said that Fridays result in Austria signals the end of the "first stage" of his restructuring of the teams fundamental philosophies. "For us it (was) a very good result. Not only because we scored a goal and tied the game but especially because of the tactical behaviour," said Floro, who still speaks largely through an interpreter due to his limited English. Canada showed some rare attacking verve in the first half with Hutchinsons incisive passing leading to clear-cut chances for Tosaint Ricketts and Randy Edwini-Bonsu. But as the game wore on and the score level at 1-1, it was Bulgaria who lookedd the more likely to score the winning goal -- something that Floro attributed to end-of-season fatigue for his players.dddddddddddd "In the second half our players were very tired because they are at the end of their (club) seasons and we did not have another experienced player to make a change with. "So, at the end, it was a very good result and tactical behaviour," he said. For Hutchinson, who broke Canadas ugly goalless streak that dated back to a March 2013 goal by Marcus Haber, it was simply a feeling of "relief to get that over and done with. "Now the next step is to get a win," he said. A victory would indeed go a long way to adding some sincerity to the notion that Canada is a team on an upward trajectory. The Canadians have not won a match since beating Cuba 3-0 in Toronto in October of 2012 and theyre still winless in six matches under their new Spanish boss. But despite another match without a win, Hutchinson cited the resiliency that Canada showed as something that bodes well for the future. "Its something thats definitely been a problem for Canada. Whenever weve conceded goals weve dropped our heads," he said. "Now were looking forward and building the right attitude, on and off the pitch." Canada will next take on Moldova on Tuesday in Mauer, Austria, before the team disbands again until its next camp in Toronto in September. ' ' '