ight (strained right hamstring) will rejoin the team next week in Ne

MONTREAL -- Its Brad Richards turn to be the old hand, tutoring his young New York Rangers teammates on what its like to win a Stanley Cup. It wasnt like that in 2004, when Richards and teammate Martin St. Louis won the Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning. "This whole playoffs its been fun to do that," the 34-year-old Richards said Tuesday. "When I was in Tampa, Marty also, we didnt really have a clue what we were doing. "We were first time through it, leaning on other people, older people, asking them all the questions. Its fun to try to gather the group and talk about things. This group has come together so much and they ask a lot of questions. They make fun of us a lot for doing that, too, but its fun to try to help out that way." The Rangers are two wins away from a trip to the Stanley Cup final after taking the opening two games of the NHL Eastern Conference final from the Canadiens in Montreal. They swamped the flat-footed Canadiens 7-2 in the series opener on Monday afternoon, but then needed a 40-save effort from goalie Henrik Lundqvist to pull out a 3-1 win in a major Montreal push-back on Monday night. Game 3 is set for Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. In 2004, the Canadiens came back to beat Boston in the opening round but then were swept by the Lightning. This year, Montreal is again coming off a Game 7 win over the Bruins and is in danger of losing in four straight to the Rangers. That has Richards, a P.E.I. native who played junior hockey in Quebec with the 2000 Memorial Cup champion Rimouski Oceanic, and Montreal native St. Louis at 6-0 in career playoff games against the Canadiens. Their message to teammates who havent won a Cup is to not let the opportunity slip away. "Weve been to the conference final twice in three years, thats very rare," said Richards. "Look at teams around the league that you think are going to have chances to win Cups every year and it just doesnt happen. "Its very tough. I havent been back to a final since 04. I just try to hammer that stuff home." And despite taking the first two games on enemy ice, the conference final is far from over even if Montreals star goalie Carey Price is out with a suspected right knee injury for the rest of the series. The Canadiens had the puck most of the first period on Monday but came out of it down 2-1 due to an unlucky bounce on a shot from the red-hot Ryan McDonagh and blast on the rush from Rick Nash that was perhaps third-string goalie Dustin Tokarskis only big mistake. Montreal will no doubt come out hard again in Game 3. "Im sure they have more," said Richards. "And you dont always roll the dice that your goalies going to stop all those shots. "They could come with less and score two goals. You just never know. But youve got to give yourself an opportunity and thats by holding onto pucks and getting it down the other end. We did that in Game 1, but in Game 2... youre playing with fire is what Im trying to say." Montreal coach Michel Therrien said his team is confident it can still win the series if it gives up fewer odd-man rushes and keeps up the fast-paced game it brought on Monday night. "I believe that we will turn it around," said Therrien. "Yes, the first game was tough for us emotionally and physically. "We didnt get much time between Game 7 (against Boston) and Game 1 (against the Rangers), and it was an afternoon game. It shows in the result. But I thought we regrouped really well. We were a team that played with a lot of energy, that was pushing the pace, and we played a solid game." Therrien spoke to the media on a conference call while his players took what he said was a much-needed day off. They will practice on Tuesday before flying to New York. "The only thing that were going to focus on is to make sure weve got another solid game in New York," he said. "You get one win and after that, the momentum can change really quickly in the playoffs." There is also the chance of fatigue setting in on the Rangers, whose first two rounds went seven games each. Therrien touched off a debate by giving Tokarski his first NHL playoff start over regular backup Peter Budaj, who let in three goals on eight shots after subbing for Price in the third period of the series opener. It seemed like a hunch. The 24-year-old Tokarski, who has played only 10 NHL regular season games over five years with Tampa Bay and Montreal, has a history of winning championships at the junior and AHL levels, while Budaj has a career 0-2-0 NHL playoff record. It appeared Therrien will stick with Tokarski, at least for Game 3. He said Tokarski played well and wasnt the reason they lost. He also liked what he saw of Alex Galchenyuk, who missed the final two games of the regular season and the first 12 playoff games with a knee problem. The gifted forward taken third overall in the 2012 draft skated on left wing on the second line with Tomas Plekanec and Thomas Vanek. "For a guy that hadnt played for six weeks, I thought he did well," said Therrien. "Especially because this is not regular season pace, this is a playoff pace. "I thought Alex was capable, made some plays. The more the series goes on, the more were going to see Alex get better and better." It should be a happy homecoming for Rangers sniper Nash, who was without a goal in the playoffs and endured some booing in New York before the team got to Montreal. Then he scored in each of the first two games. "Ive tried to stay positive through this whole thing," said Nash. "The teams winning, and thats all I care about. "But I want to do what I can to help the team win, and its frustrating when you cant help offensively and youre supposed to." After Game 2, coach Alain Vigneault said he had an inkling that Montreal would start Tokarski, who he referred to as "that gentleman." Asked if he had another inkling for Game 3, Vigneault said: "I do, but Im not willing to share it with you." Fake College Jerseys From China .Y. - OK, it is done. Custom College Jerseys . CBS Sports Jon Heyman is reporting that Santana will sign a one-year deal, likely in the next two days with one of a trio of suitors, with the Toronto Blue Jays believed to be heavily involved. https://www.fakecollegejerseys.com/ . Canada Day is here and with it comes Free Agent Frenzy as the NHLs 30 teams storm out of the gate for signing season. College Jerseys China . - A lot of scenarios ran through Terrell Suggs head when the Baltimore linebacker prepared to face the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cheap College Jerseys .com) - Guard Greivis Vasquez and forward Patrick Patterson, two key pieces to the Toronto Raptors run to an Atlantic Division title in 2013-14, were both given qualifying offers by the team on Saturday.CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians have found their stride again. Perfect timing, too. Asdrubal Cabrera hit a three-run homer, Nick Swisher had a solo shot and the surging Indians beat the New York Mets 9-4 on Saturday night. Cleveland has won four in a row for the first time since it captured eight straight from July 24-Aug. 1. Swisher finished with two hits and two RBIs as the Indians stayed in the hunt for the ALs second wild-card slot. "This is such a great opportunity for us and were starting to get to the middle of September," Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. "Every time we win, were getting closer to where we want to be. Its a great chance for this team to shine and I think theyre enjoying that." Corey Kluber (8-5), the first of seven Cleveland pitchers, allowed two runs in five-plus innings. Kluber, pitching for the first time since Aug. 5 after being sidelined by a sprained right middle finger, was pulled after walking the leadoff hitter in the sixth. Jonathon Niese (6-7) lost for the first time in six starts since coming off the disabled list on Aug. 11. The left-hander allowed six runs over six innings in New Yorks fifth loss in the last six games. Cleveland began the day just two games back of Tampa Bay for the second AL wild card. The Indians and Orioles are tied with 76-65 records. The Indians went 1-5 on a road trip to Atlanta and Detroit, but they have won four of five on their current homestand. "Theres something to be said for just playing through ups and downs," Francona said. "Thats really what the season is. And now you get toward the last month, because weve endured a lot, every game, every inning is so meaningful." Swisher, who hit a grand slam Friday, belted a one-out homer in the second that travelled 402 feet. He also had an RBI double in Clevelands five-run first. "This is the push," Swisher said. "Its been a while since this teams been in this opportunity. This is where it really counts." The Indians jumped all over Niese. Ryan Raburns three-run double was the big hit in the productive first. Following Swishers double, Carlos Santana added a run-scoring single. New York responded with Matt den Dekkers two-out RBI single in the second, and then added three more runs in the sixth. Justin Turner had a two-run double and Juan Lagares singled in a run against Vinnie Pestano. Cleveland used four pitchers in the inning, which finally ended when Nick Hagadone struck out den Dekker. Thanks to the expanded September rosters, Francona has 15 relievers at his disposal, and he used six against tthe Mets.dddddddddddd. With Clevelands lead cut to 6-4, Cabrera put the game away with his home run off Scott Atchison in the seventh. The drive, which curled around the foul pole in right field, snapped an 0-for-19 slump. "Swish looks like hes starting to swing it and Cabby had a big, big hit," Francona said. "That would be so good to get both those guys hot right about the right time." Michael Bourn started Clevelands big first inning with a leadoff single. He stole second and scored on Swishers double into the left-field corner. Jason Kipnis then put down a sacrifice and Nieses throw to first appeared to be in time for the out. Umpire Paul Emmel ruled the throw pulled Lucas Duda off the bag and Kipnis was safe. Mets manager Terry Collins argued the call and Niese was charged with an error. "Thats why I went out there, because I thought he was out," Collins said. "Paul said (Duda) never touched the bag. If you dont touch the bag.... I havent looked at the replay so I dont know what happened." Santana singled for a 2-0 lead and Yan Gomes single loaded the bases. After Cabrera flied out, Raburn sent a liner into the gap in right-centre. Niese settled down after the shaky start, allowing two hits over the final 4 2-3 innings. He had pitched well since coming off the DL, where he spent nearly two months with a partially torn rotator cuff. Niese was 3-0 with a 2.14 ERA in his first five starts after being sidelined. Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy was hitless in four at-bats, ending his 10-game hitting streak. Lagares extended his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games. NOTES: Mets 3B David Wright (strained right hamstring) will rejoin the team next week in New York to continue his rehab. Wright, who has been working out in Florida, hopes to play again this season. The seven-time All-Star hasnt played since Aug. 2. ... The Indians have no timetable for when OF Michael Brantley will rejoin the team. He returned to his home in Florida to be with his wife, who is expecting their first child. ... Francona said RHP Justin Masterson (strained left oblique) will get treatment for the next several days before the next course of action is decided. ... RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-3, 10.95 ERA) will start for the Mets in Sundays series finale. He pitched most of the season at the Indians Triple-A team in Columbus, but was released at his request last month. RHP Danny Salazar (1-2, 3.00 ERA) starts for the Indians. ... New York has called up RHP Frank Francisco from Triple-A Las Vegas. The veteran hasnt pitched for the Mets this season. ' ' '