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BROSSARD, Que. -- Those impatient for the Stanley Cup to return to Canada will have just one team to root for in the NHL playoffs -- the Montreal Canadiens. For the first time since 1973, only one Canadian team has qualified for the NHL post-season. The Canadiens will face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opening round, with only home ice advantage to be decided in the final regular-season games on the weekend. Defenceman Josh Gorges said Friday he expects a lot of attention, but it will be no more pressure than what the team deals with every day of the season. "There may be more eyes within Canada watching our games," the Kelowna, B.C. native said. "In Canada, they have their loyalties to their local teams, but come playoff time, youve watched when Vancouver was in the Cup (final) a few years ago. "Calgary, Edmonton, the same thing. The whole country rallies around because they want to see a Stanley Cup come back to Canada. But I dont think it adds anything. Theres enough pressure just because of what were trying to accomplish." In 1973, the Canadiens were the lone Canadian playoff team and they won the Cup. They are also the last Canadian team to win a Cup in 1993. They are widely considered to be long shots to go more than a round or two this time, even though theyve had an excellent season, have Canadian Olympic gold medallist Carey Price in goal, and got a major boost at the trade deadline in scoring winger Thomas Vanek. Last season, four Canadian teams made the playoffs. Only two made it in the two seasons before that. It seems odd that clubs with such enthusiastic fans and which sell out every game have so much trouble finishing in the top eight in their conferences. But Gorges said the added attention may be what makes it so difficult. "Its a little bit strange, but at the same time, its not easy playing in Canadian markets," he said. "On a lot of teams in the States, theres nothing more to it than going out and playing the game and getting the two points, whereas a lot of times in Canada, you cant escape hockey. "No matter where you go, theres added, outside things that affect your performance. I think weve done a good job here of trying to find that balance, but that could, maybe, be a reason why some Canadian teams havent been in there." The Canadiens have reached the playoffs in six of the last seven seasons, missing in 2012. Their best season since 1993 was in 2010 when they reached the Eastern Conference final. The Vancouver Canucks saw a run of five straight trips to the post-season end this season. "Going into the season, you look at all the Canadian teams and youd think most of them would be contending," said Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher. "For us, being the only one, well probably have some of Canada on our side. "Some of them will still hate us, but it doesnt change what we do and how we have to prepare." The second-year forwards only playoff experience was in an all-Canadian series last spring, when Montreal was beaten in five games by the Ottawa Senators. "Theres so much expectation for Canadian teams to compete because the fans are so passionate and they care so much," said Gallagher, an Edmonton native. "Every fan base in Canada expects their team to be in the playoffs every year. "Im sure next year it will be different, but for us, it doesnt change anything. Were happy to be where we are and want to take advantage of it." While having only one team is rare, its an improvement on 1970, when no Canadian teams made it. Bobby Orrs Boston Bruins beat St. Louis in the final that year. The Canadiens, who are 0-for-20 on the power play in their last seven games, worked mostly on special teams going into their regular season finale Saturday night at home against the New York Rangers. The Canadiens hope a win coupled with a Tampa Bay loss will let them start the playoffs at home, but they dont seem to be sweating it one way or the other. "If its us or Tampa Bay that has home ice advantage, we dont know," said coach Michel Therrien. "But I can predict what the answers will be when we know on Sunday night: The team that has it will be really happy and the team that doesnt will say it doesnt matter." Forward Lars Eller didnt skate and it likely to miss a third game with a flu. Winger Brandon Prust is also out with an upper body injury. Therrien expects him to be ready for the playoffs but cautioned "were not quite sure yet." Forward Travis Moen, out eight games with a concussion, is also a question mark. Winger Michael Blunden was recalled from AHL Hamilton. The Canadiens announced that captain Brian Gionta edged out Gallagher for the Jacques Beauchamp Trophy as the teams unsung hero in voting by the local media. The two-way right winger has played 80 games this season after missing a large part of the last two campaigns with biceps injuries. "From the outside looking in, fans may not realize how important he is," Gorges said of Gionta. "Its not always about how many points you get, its what you do to help the team win games." 17:39ET 11-04-14 Nike Shoes Wholesale China .9 million deal Thursday. The 25-year McGinn had 19 goals and 19 assists in 79 games last season in helping the Avalanche tie a franchise record with 52 wins. Cheap Authentic Nike Shoes Wholesale . Austin Watson, Scott Ford, Filip Forsberg and Mark Van Guilder had the other goals for the Admirals (30-21-12). Scott Darling made 30 saves for his 10th win of the season. http://www.cheapshoesnike.com/ . Heck, we might just miss the BCS. Maybe? It sort of worked out this season. Top-ranked Florida State (13-0) was the only team to get through the regular season unbeaten, and the Seminoles did it in dominating fashion. Cheap Nike Shoes Free Shipping Wholesale . JOHNS, N. Cheap Nike Shoes From China . Lynn was tied for 16th entering the fourth round, six shots behind leader Paul Waring. He started with two birdies and added three more on his last five holes at the Oceanico Victoria course for an 18-under total of 266.Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn.ca! The mail bag is loaded with questions as to how the Los Angeles Kings third goal in their 6-0 win over Montreal on Tuesday could possibly have been allow to stand after Kyle Clifford backed into Habs goalie Carey Price deep in his goal crease (video link here). As my colleague Ray Ferraro said on the TSN broadcast, "Oh, I cant believe there are going to allow this goal...In my opinion, this is as goaltender interference penalty as youll find!" I couldnt agree more with Rays accurate assessment of this play. What troubles me most, beyond the tremendous inconsistency we see in calling goalkeeper interference, is that Referee Kevin Pollock had an unobstructed view from a stationery position in the corner closest to Kyle Clifford and Carey Price. The clear sightline gained in advance by the referee, as the Kings attacked the Montreal goal, should have made it easy to wave off Alec Martinezs first goal of the season and assess a penalty to Clifford for goalkeeper interference! The rebound off the initial save that Price made went to the opposite side of the net from where the referee was standing - as Clifford was backing deep into the goal crease and initiated contact with Price. From his position, the referee couldnt help but look through the blue paint to locate the puck and therefore should have reacted to the obvious goalkeeper interference that knocked Price off his set and thereby prevented him from defending his goal. It matters little to me that this goal didnt impact the final outcome of the game. What this play highlights for us is that the current system of detecting and enforcing goalkeeper interference is not working. When the referee on the goal line, and directly responsible for this call, doesnt catch the interference a subsequent conference held between the four officials is intended to act as a safety check to make the correct determination. That oobviously isnt happening on a regular basis.dddddddddddd Recent decisions in the past couple of weeks have impacted games and will continue to do so until a video review process is implemented to allow the refs to get this important call right! On Nov. 27, Evgeni Malkin pushed Toronto goalie Jonathan Bernier off a frozen puck and completely across the goal line with his stick before scoring the tying goal that forced overtime. While goalie interference was most obvious on this play, no call was made and the goal was allowed to stand. Pittsburgh picked up two points in the eventual shootout win. Two nights later, a Leaf goal was immediately disallowed by referee Justin St. Pierre when Habs goalie Carey Price moved forward to establish position in his crease and initiated contact with James van Riemsdyk. JVR had set up just inside the top of the crease with his skates visible in the blue paint. On that play rule 69.3 was enforced by the letter of the law which states, "If a goalkeeper, in the act of establishing his position within his goal crease, initiates contact with an attacking player who is in the goal crease, and this results in an impairment of the goalkeepers ability to defend his goal, and a goal is scored, the goal will be disallowed." The goalie interference rule doesnt get any clearer than that and demonstrates in both philosophy and spirit that a goalkeeper should be allowed to position himself within his blue paint to stop the puck without any physical obstruction unless initiated by a defending player. Im good with that philosophy and the call that referee Justin St. Pierre made in the enforcement of this rule. The problem we see far too often is that protection of the goalkeeper is not enforced consistently. I hope the leagues executives have addressed this pressing issue, among other problems that need their attention, during recent meetings. The implementation of referee video review and/or a coachs challenge seems to be the most logical solutions to get this crucial call right. 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