BROSSARD, Que. - The Montreal Canadiens were surprised to learn that their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Boston Bruins will start on Thursday night. They were expecting it to start on Friday, and the earlier date made for a busy day of preparations. The special teams unit was on the ice a half-hour early while the main practice went a full hour on Wednesday. "We werent really planning on playing a game (on Thursday), but it all works out better that way," said forward Max Pacioretty. "We were trying to cram in a bit of system stuff as well, so it was a good practice. "We found out (Tuesday) night. I like it better that way. Theres a little less time to think. Were jumping right back into the action. I think thats when I play my best hockey, when Im not thinking." The Canadiens have been idle since completing a sweep of the Tampa Bay Lightning on April 22. The Bruins finished off the Detroit Red Wings in five games on Saturday. Although the NHL had not released a schedule, Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin mentioned a Friday start in a television interview this week. The opener was moved up reportedly because Northeastern University has graduation ceremonies at the TD Garden on Friday morning. Game 2 is expected to be played Saturday at 12:30 pm ET, although that has not been confirmed. Pacioretty likes that, too. "I like playing afternoon games," he said. "No meetings in the morning. Not thinking too much about the game. Just going out and playing." The Canadiens will have had eight days off between games. To break the monotony, they held a simulated game day on Monday, with a morning skate followed by an intra-squad game at night. Then they took Tuesday off. "Im about ready to stop practising and start playing," said goalie Carey Price. Sam Darnold Jersey . He managed to save par, and went on to put together his best opening round of the year. Calcavecchia and Wes Short Jr. Chris Herndon Jets Jersey . Griffin scored 13 of his 31 points in the final 7:05 and Dudley got 11 of his 20 points in the third quarter, leading the defending Pacific Division champions to a 112-85 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night. "Dud is a shooter. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Isaiah-Crowell-Jersey/ . This week they discuss the Philadelphia 76ers, Gregg Popovich, Royal and Ancient Golf Club and Bill Belichick. Trumaine Johnson Jersey .Y. -- First, Patrick Kane gave his family and friends something to cheer about by scoring a highlight-reel goal in a rare trip home to Buffalo on Sunday night. Terrelle Pryor Sr. Jets Jersey . The Canadiens captain, who underwent surgery on his injured biceps in the off-season, had been skating with the team in a non-contact capacity since last week.TORONTO - With a protective splint wrapped all the way around his injured left ring finger, Kyle Lowry practiced Sunday for the first time since sustaining the injury last week. "Its very sore, its very tender," Lowry said of the torn tendon in his finger, which will require him to wear the splint on his non-shooting hand for six weeks, still participating in practices and playing in games. "It is what it is. Ive got to just adjust to it." The Raptors guard left Wednesdays preseason game late in the fourth quarter after he felt his finger pop out while reaching for the ball. "Just not being able to completely use my finger," he said of the adjustment hell need to make as he prepares to open the regular season with the team on Oct. 30. "Its pretty much taped all the way to the top so Im limited to probably four fingers on that hand but I should be okay. Ill figure out how to shoot, score, pass and play defence with it." "Itll be a difficult adjustment but Im not going to complain about it, Im just going to fight through it and help the team as best as I can." Lowry, who is entering his second season in Toronto and the final year of his contract, acknowledged hell have to be more cautious reaching in with the injury but insists his style of play will remain the same. "I doubt its going to change my game because I dont know how to play any different," the starting point guard maintained. "So Im not really going to be concerned about it, Im just going to try to not worry about it and play through it." His coach echoed that sentiment. "I dont think hell be limited at all," Dwane Casey said. "Today he had no problems. He had the special [splint] on there and he was handling the ball, shooting the ball, playing with no problems whatsoever, so I dont think itll affect him." Chip on their Shoulders With the season approaching, Casey referenced an NBA preview article from The New York Times, one he and the team has taken issue with. "When the teams mascot tore an ACL in training camp, it was seen as a bad omen, which says a lot", the author wrote in the piece published on Saturday. "Thats total disrespect and hopefully our guys will use that as motivation," Casey protested. "Masai [Ujiri] saw that this morning and brought it in. It should give us motivation from that standpoint, but weve got to play the game." Although Casey wrestled with the exact wording of the slight at his team, its not the first time hes heard the American media underestimate or crack a joke at the expense of the Raptors franchise. A year ago, the Raptors coach and a number of his players took issue with the 33-win prediction made by former ESPN analyst John Hollinger. They went on to win 34 games. "I like that people are not respecting us," Casey said. "Weve got to have a chip on our shoulders, I have a chip on my shoulder, and if you dont you shouldnt be in uniform." Stone Makes Team, Still Not Satisfied Over the past couple weeks it became clear that guard Julyan Stone was the standoout in a three-player battle for the 15th and final spot on the teams regular season roster.dddddddddddd On Saturday it was made official. "My family told me, I didnt know," Stone said Sunday after finding out the news the day prior. "I was just going on day-by-day." "My mom hit me with the smiley face," he continued, "but for her when she texts smile, she like writes the whole word smile out instead of [using a] smiley face, so I kind of got it from [that]." Stone has endeared himself to Raptors fans and the local media with his personality and quirky stories but his versatility and commitment to defence have kept him around. "He does a good of job of running the show, good things happen when hes out on the floor," Casey said of the versatile 6-foot-6 guard. "Hes a tough kid and he gives us a different defender at that point guard position that can guard the quick guys and guard the big guards so he gives you another tool in your tool box to work with. Hes a hungry kid." The Raptors waived forward Chris Wright and guard Carlos Morais, allowing Stone to stay on. With Lowry playing through injury and back-up point guards D.J. Augustin and Dwight Buycks failing to stand out in camp, Stone has an opportunity to play his way into a the rotation, something hes strived for from the minute he arrived in Toronto. "Everybodys happy with just being in the league [but] my journeys been different," Stone said. "If youre a competitive person youre not just fighting for the 15th spot. I didnt come in here just to fight for the 15th spot. That was never really on my mind." "It was a fight for a position to play," he continued. "So making the cut for me was just something I had to do but I didnt think about it that way. I came in here to play, I came in here to make a name [for myself], I came in here to be in the rotation, thats always been my mindset and that will continue to be my mindset." Believed to be something of a long shot upon receiving a non-guaranteed contract and invite to training camp, Stone has impressed the coaching staff and continues to overcome a variety of injuries that have plagued him over the past couple years. Stone averaged 1.7 points and 1.5 rebounds in 26 games regular season games with the Denver Nuggets over the last two years, also appearing in four playoff contests. The 24-year-old guard was expected to sign a guaranteed deal with the Raptors earlier in the summer before lingering knee and hip injuries put the agreement on ice. Ujiri, who previously acquired Stone in Denver, had maintained that the guard would be given another opportunity to earn a spot on the roster if and when he proved to be healthy. "Masai did a good job of just telling me, I know what youre capable of now go show me, if you dont show me what I saw before you will be out of here. Ive got to respect [him] for that." Stone took a knee to his surgically repaired right hip on Wednesday but returned to practice on Sunday and should be ready to go when the season kicks off next week. 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