Regeln » a long way to go to catch up to their biggest rival, whic

MONTREAL -- The Montreal Canadiens might find themselves among the NHLs top teams but they know theres still plenty of room for improvement when they host the San Jose Sharks on Friday.Chief among them: the power play.After getting off to a hot start, converting at least once in 13 of the teams first 20 games, its cooled off considerably in the past nine games, connecting just four times on 29 opportunities. The loss of center Alex Galchenyuk hasnt helped matters; Montreal (19-6-4) is 1-for-15 with the man advantage in his absence.That prompted some changes to the power play units at practice on Thursday. Defenseman Jeff Petry joined Shea Weber on the blue line on the first wave -- along with Alexander Radulov, Andrew Shaw and Max Pacioretty up front -- while Andrei Markov moved to the second unit alongside Nathan Beaulieu, with forwards Paul Byron, Brendan Gallagher and Artturi Lehkonen.Were trying to find solutions to get into a better rhythm on the power play, coach Michel Therrien said. It doesnt mean well keep it (against the San Jose Sharks), but we wanted to take advantage of practice time to work on certain things.We want to give ourselves options for when teams focus a lot of attention on Weber, he added. We think that Petry can also use his one-timer.Webers famous blast from the point has been tamed of late. While hes taken shots, they havent been getting through at anywhere near the same rate as they had earlier on. On a personal note, hes managed just one assist in his last nine games.But while the puck hasnt been going in for him, its been the opposite for Byron. The 27-year-old scored his 10th goal of the season -- in his 29th game -- on Monday night, one off his career high set last year in 62 games. Hes also four points shy of a career-best 21 points recorded in 2013-14 with the Calgary Flames.Byrons addition to the power-play group will be his first regular appearance of the season with the man advantage, averaging a mere seven seconds before Friday nights tilt.If everything is going well right now, its just because I worked really hard, he said. But, its also because of my teammates. I play with very good players who help me a lot. Good things come with work.Things are going well, for the most part, for the Sharks (18-11-1), who are riding a three-game winning streak into Fridays contest -- including wins on back-to-back nights in which they trailed before emerging victorious in a shootout.But Wednesdays win against the Ottawa Senators wasnt all sunshine and roses. Center Logan Couture, who ranks second on the team with 11 goals and third with 20 points, left the game midway through the third period after taking a cross-check to the back of his helmet from Senators winger Mike Hoffman.The Sharks called up top prospect Timo Meier from the AHLs San Jose Barracuda on Thursday and its possible the ninth overall pick from the 2015 draft makes his NHL debut against Montreal. Meier leads the Barracuda with nine goals in 17 games and is third on the club with 15 points.He approaches everything and does everything hard, Barracuda coach Roy Sommer told the Mercury News. Practices hard, hes hard on himself. He plays the game hard. When you go in the corner with him, you know youve gone in the corner with him.The Sharks offense will welcome whatever jolt the 20-year-old can provide a team that is averaging just 2.43 goals per game this season. Defenseman Brent Burns leads the club with 13 goals and 28 points while captain Joe Pavelski ranks third in goals with 10.Depth scoring has been hard to come by, however. San Jose is missing Tomas Hertl, who is out with an injury. Joel Ward, who scored 64 goals combined over the past three seasons, has just two in 30 games this year. Same goes for free agent acquisition Mikkel Boedker, who has also recorded just three assists on the season.But while its been a struggle for Boedker, coach Pete DeBoer likes what hes seen lately from the 26-year-old.The offense is going to come, said DeBoer, who coached him in junior hockey. But, when he starts stringing together some games like youve seen here lately, thats the player that I know, I think were just scratching the surface of what he can do.Undefeated x Air Max 90 White Solar Red . -- Hunter Smith scored the winner with just 12 seconds remaining in the third period as the Oshawa Generals edged the host Sarnia Sting 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Air Max 90 Clearance . -- Jimmie Johnson held off a teammate, passed a pair of Hall of Famers, and dominated once more at Dover. http://www.outletairmax90cheap.com/outlet-air-max-90-off-white-cheap.html .R. Smith realized how easily basketball can be taken from him, and he wasnt going to take his place in the NBA for granted anymore. Cheap Air Max 90 Essential China . PETERSBURG, Fla. Air Max 90 Outlet . MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez also will attend the session, which was announced Monday. The league has discussed placing its next two expansion teams in Miami and Atlanta.MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Bill Snyder was doused in ice water as the final seconds ticked off the clock on his 200th career win, then carried off the field by his celebrating Kansas State players after their final home game.Then, Snyder promptly brought everyone back to reality.You know, I probably dont sound in a pretty good mood, he said, but Im responsive to how we played and we played rather ugly today. I dont feel good about that, I assure you.Alex Barnes ran for 103 yards and a touchdown, Winston Dimel had two scores on the ground and the Wildcats managed to overcome penalties, turnovers and miscues for a 34-19 victory over Kansas on Saturday that allowed their 77-year-old coach to join some rarified company.Snyder became the 26th coach to achieve 200 wins and the sixth to do so spending his entire career at one school, joining Joe Paterno, LaVelle Edwards, Tom Osborne, Chris Ault and Vince Dooley.Snyder has 161 more wins than the second-winningest coach in Kansas State history.Its something you appreciate being part of, said Kansas State linebacker Elijah Lee, who had eight tackles and an interception, doing something special for Coach Snyder.The Wildcats (7-4, 5-3 Big 12) went through three quarterbacks because of injuries, though Joe Hubener managed to return to the game. Jesse Ertz went down early in the second half, though Snyder said he doesnt believe the undisclosed injury is serious.I havent talked to the trainers and doctors yet, he said, but it was my understand hes fine.Carter Stanley threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns for the Jayhawks (2-10, 1-8), but the freshman quarterback spent the entire game taking wicked blows behind a beat-up offensive line.Stanley also made a crucial mistake when he threw an interception that Donnie Starks returned for a touchdown to set the tone early in the game. The pick-six followed a touchdown run by Barnes early in the second quarter and gave Kansas State a 20-3, and it eventually grew to 27-3 early in the second half.They certainly did a good job today of doing what they needed to do, Kansas coach David Beaty said. There were way too many mistakes for us to overcome.The Jayhawks biggest highlight came when Stanley, who assuumed the starting job a few weeks ago, connected with LaQuvionte Gonzalez for a 95-yard touchdown pass -- the third-longest in school history.dddddddddddd Stanley also found Michael Zunica with a short TD pass early in the fourth quarter.Stanley also fumbled with about 2 minutes left to prevent any sort of comeback.I take my hat off to Carter Stanley. Hes a tough dude, man. He kept getting up off the floor and he got hit in a bunch of different ways today, Beaty said. Hes never rattled and thats something you want in your quarterback.THE TAKEAWAYKansas was coming off an overtime win over Texas, its first Big 12 win in two years, and aiming for back-to-back victories for the first time in five years. But the Jayhawks still have a long way to go to catch up to their biggest rival, which has won 21 of the past 25 meetings.Kansas State was far from perfect. There was a muffed onside kick, an extra point that was blocked, a fumble by Hubener in the closing minutes and five penalties that left Snyder miffed on the sideline.LOOKING FORWARDKansas running back Keaun Kinner thinks the Jayhawks are moving in the right direction, even if the senior wont be around to see it. We came closer. The class of young guys on this team is spectacular. They got a lot of talent, he said, and as long as they keep jelling together and getting better every day ... theyre going to be a force next year.K-STATE GROUNDEDThe Wildcats piled up 342 yards and four TDs rushing, the fifth straight game theyve gone over 200 yards. But their three quarterbacks combined to go 6 of 11 for 99 yards, and Snyder lamented the lack of balance in the offense. Im not overly enthused, he said. We have to get better.UP NEXTKansas begins preparing for next season. The Jayhawks made significant gains after going winless a year ago, and now its up to coach David Beaty to keep building the program.Kansas State visits TCU next week as it tries to improve its bowl fate. The Texas Bowl appears the most likely destination, but other possibilities include the Russell Athletic, Cactus and Alamo bowls. ' ' '