league-best Anaheim Ducks held on for a 2-1 victory

MONTREAL - The Canadiens bench was instantly deflated when Max Pacioretty went down injured.Montreal lost both the game and its top scorer when the league-best Anaheim Ducks held on for a 2-1 victory after an animated third period at Bell Centre on Thursday.With the Canadiens down 1-0, Pacioretty left the game four minutes into the final frame after taking a late hit into the boards by Anaheims Clayton Stoner. Pacioretty, who never saw Stoner coming, spent several seconds on his knees on the ice before being helped to the dressing room by the Canadiens training staff. There was no penalty called on the play.You know hes a leader because it felt like we had just lost the game when we lost him. That was a weird feeling, said David Desharnais, who added he thought Stoner deserved a five-minute boarding penalty.I saw the replay. I didnt see it live. For sure its a penalty. Maybe more. Well let the league decide.Pacioretty had just made a pass out of the defensive zone when Stoner knocked him head first into the corner boards. He did not have his back to Stoner, but his body turned awkwardly as he fell into the glass.Pacioretty sustained an upper-body injury on the play and was taken straight to the hospital for what coach Michel Therrien called precautionary reasons. There is no indication how many games, if any, the left-winger will miss.Stoner thought the check was clean and undeserving of a penalty.Their team wasnt happy about it, he said. I didnt mean to hurt him, but the game is fast, and sometimes guys go into the boards wrong. I hope hes all right. I didnt have any intentions to hurt him.Brandon Prust and Stoner dropped the gloves a few minutes after the hit, with the Habs winger sending the Anaheim defenceman to the ice.Despite losing the fulcrum of their offense — Pacioretty leads the team with 13 goals and 25 points — Montreal responded with a goal less than two minutes later.With Patrick Maroon in the penalty box for interference, Desharnais fired a one-timer past goaltender Frederik Andersen at 5:27 of the third after a clever cross-ice pass from Andrei Markov.Montreals celebrations, however, were short lived. At 8:33 of the third, with P.K. Subban just stepping out of the penalty box, Beleskey scored the winner by beating Carey Price top corner for his team-leading 15th goal of the year.The Ducks have now won eight of their last nine games. The Habs, meanwhile, had their three-game winning streak snapped.We didnt generate much offence, but we were in the game, said Desharnais. It wasnt the most exciting game, but we have to get at least one point from a game like that. Its not like it was 4-0. We were still in the game.Prior to puck drop, the Canadiens honoured former captain Saku Koivu, who retired from professional hockey in September after 13 seasons with the Habs and another five with the Ducks. After a video montage of tributes from fans, former teammates and trainers, an emotional Koivu thanked the city he called home for most of his career.I feel honoured and privileged to have served nine years as captain of the Montreal Canadiens, Koivu told the Bell Centre crowd. Montreal truly is the most exciting place to play hockey. Im truly humbled, and this night means so much to me and to my family. I will always be a Hab at heart.Markov, Price, Pacioretty and Tomas Plekanec presented Koivu with a commemorative painting as part of the pre-game ceremony.When the puck finally dropped, Anaheim quickly showed the Habs faithful why the team from Southern California is at the top of the NHL standings.The Ducks (22-7-5) ran rings around the Canadiens from the get-go, at a time hemming Montreals fourth line in its own zone for nearly three minutes. Montreal countered with desperation icings, and Therrien was even forced to take a timeout very early in the game. Shots were 7-1 in favour of Anaheim at that point.Price could do little to stop the Ducks eighth shot, as Lindholm rifled a puck through two bodies and into the back of the net at 8:16 of the first. Recently-traded Hab Rene Bourque screened Price on the shot.The Canadiens (20-11-2), the leagues worst first-period team, failed to score in the opening 20 minutes for the 23rd time this season.Montreals most threatening line was its first, with Alex Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher giving Andersen the most trouble. Glachenyuk, coming off his first career hat trick on Tuesday, missed a wide open net to Andersens left in the first period, while Gallagher forced Anaheims goaltender to make back-to-back sprawling saves late in the second.We played a pretty good game, except for the start, said Markov. We started playing better and better. We always knew it was going to be a tough game, a big challenge for us. It was a tight game.Added Therrien: We worked hard tonight. I liked our work ethic, and I liked our passion. We were on the puck, and we had good scoring chances.Sergei Gonchar came close to again tying the score in the games final minute with Montreals net empty, but the veteran blue-liner instead found the outside of the post.Notes: Forward Sven Andrighetto was sent down to the American Hockey Leagues Hamilton Bulldogs on Wednesday. The 21-year-old amassed three points in four games with Montreal this season. … Corey Perry missed the game with a knee injury sustained on Dec. 5. … Lars Eller was not in the lineup (upper-body injury) despite taking part in the pre-game skate. Bryant Reeves Jersey . - This win was more the New Jersey Devils style. Jaren Jackson Jr. Jersey . The Redblacks host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (7-9) Friday night in their last home game of the year and as of Thursday afternoon, the team was anticipating a ninth consecutive sellout. You can watch all the action on TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, and TSN5 beginning at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. http://www.grizzliesbasketballpro.info/Mike-Conley-Grizzlies-Jersey/ .ca. Kerry, In the closing minutes of the second period of Game 4 between Pittsburgh and Columbus there were the remnants of two broken sticks behind the Pittsburgh net. Marc Gasol Jersey .com) - Jahlil Okafor had 21 points, Tyus Jones scored 16 with 10 assists and No. Jarell Martin Jersey . Darren Collison and Blake Griffin scored 23 points apiece and the Clippers beat the Suns 112-108 Wednesday night, their fourth win in a row and 17th in the last 19 games.Rory McIlroy has targeted a summer of success after producing a stunning finish to win the Irish Open for the first time at The K Club. McIlroy was in danger of blowing a three-shot lead after 54 holes for the second time this season after Scotlands Russell Knox carded four birdies and an eagle in the first 15 holes of a dramatic final round. Wentworth ways to watch Dont miss a moment of this weeks BMW PGA Championship, with extended coverage from Wentworth live However, the world No 3 then birdied the par-five 16th as Knox three-putted and, after lipping out for a birdie on the 17th, fired a stunning approach from 252 yards to within three feet of the hole on the 18th for a closing eagle. The resulting 69 on a day interrupted twice by hailstorms and torrential rain meant McIlroy finished three shots clear of Knox and Wales Bradley Dredge.He will donate his first prize of £515,000 to his own foundation which hosted the tournament for the second year. It means a lot for my summer, said McIlroy, who failed to convert a similar position in the WGC-Cadillac Championship in March.Its nice to get that first win of the year.I kept telling myself, kept telling anyone that would listen, my game was close. It was just a matter of everything clicking. Maybe those last three holes is the catalyst for another big summer. Rory McIlroy reveals he was holding back the tears on the 18th after winning the Irish Open The 27-year-old, who won four times in 2014 including two majors and a maiden WGC title, added: I really feel like my game is in good enough shape to kick on from here and to challenge in the three final majors, and obviously everything else we have to play for this year, Olympics, Ryder Cup, Race to Dubai, FedEx Cup.ddddddddddddThe 13th European Tour title of McIlroys career was not enough to improve his position in the world rankings, but it did lift him to second in the Race to Dubai behind Masters champion Danny Willett, who shared the lead at halfway but slumped to a closing 77. McIlroy puts himself in prime position to win the Irish Open after firing this five wood to within two feet of the pin on the 18th That left Knox as McIlroys biggest challenger and the US-based Scot took the lead with birdies on the 14th and 15th, only for McIlroy to produce a stunning approach from 273 yards to set up a two-putt birdie on the 16th, while Knox found sand off the tee and three-putted for a costly bogey.I played brilliant to be honest, Knox said. Obviously 16 is a huge turning point, but the shots that Rory hit in the end, he deserves to win. I shot 75 the first day and finished tied second. Thats pretty good.Englands Matthew Southgate, who regained his European Tour card via the qualifying school after undergoing treatment for testicular cancer last year, carded a closing 68 to finish fourth, the best result of his career.Watch the BMW PGA Championship throughout the week live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf Also See: McIlroy claims K Club thriller WATCH: Rorys winning shot Tearful Rory savours home win Free HD Golf Game Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '