Meister der Farbe » t six games -- following

This story is part of ESPN The Magazines Oct. 31 NBA Preview Issue. Subscribe today!Montreal CanadiensOverall: 98 Title track: 50 Ownership: 83 Coaching: 117 Players: 98 Fan relations: 83 Affordability: 113 Stadium experience: 78 Bang for the buck: 93 Change from last year: -44The 24-time Stanley Cup champs enjoyed the best start in their storied history before they imploded last season -- a campaign that ended without a playoff berth for the first time since 2012. Carey Price, the NHLs top goaltender, has recovered from the knee injury that torpedoed his team in 2015-16. But all isnt well in Montreal, where coach Michel Therrien is in fans crosshairs following a blockbuster trade that sent popular defenseman P.K. Subban to Nashville for fellow blueliner Shea Weber.Whats goodA healthy Price makes the Habs a contender, the only reason a team that finished 22nd in the NHL last season has such a respectable title track. And while most pundits think the Predators won the Subban-Weber deal -- at 27, the slick-skating Subban is four years younger than his former Olympic teammate -- Webers take-no-prisoners approach will toughen a team that was too easy to play against last season. The arrival of agitator Andrew Shaw, a tough-checking center who won a Cup with Chicago in 2013, adds additional grit.Whats badDespite the massive overall drop, one thing remains constant: It still costs a small fortune to attend a game at Centre Bell (113th in affordability). Just six NHL teams have a higher average ticket price than Montreals $73.67. Still, fans might consider it a bargain just to boo Therrien. The fifth-year coachs inscrutable lineup decisions and prickly demeanor made him unpopular in the mostly French-speaking city even before laffair Subban. Now, hes Public Enemy No. 1, with the Canadiens coaching ranked dead last in the NHL. Clearly, most would rather have seen the man behind the bench moved out instead.Whats newOwner Geoff Molson was hailed as a hero two summers ago, when he overruled general manager Marc Bergevin (according to the Montreal Gazette) and inked Subban to a nine-year contract extension worth $72 million. The deal included a no-trade clause, but Molson didnt stop Bergevin from dealing the flashy defenseman days before it kicked in this July. It was an opportunity for Marc to make our team better, and I think hes done that, Molson said afterward. Well see. Meantime, Molsons standing among the faithful took a massive hit. Ownership dropped 63 spots, while Bang for the Buck, after another playoff-less season, also fell 42.Next: Boston Bruins?| Full rankings NMD Outlet .Y. -- Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo had little trouble picking up his first shutout of the season against a Buffalo Sabres team thats having trouble scoring goals. NMD Store . The return match will take place next Wednesday. Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman. https://www.cheapnmdoutlet.com/ . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. NMD On Sale . Clarke was injured while practicing on the Doha Golf Club range after the pro-am on Tuesday. The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play. NMD Clearance . -- Jimmie Johnson held off a teammate, passed a pair of Hall of Famers, and dominated once more at Dover. BOSTON -- Aaron Sanchez said he didnt know -- and didnt care -- that the Blue Jays had already clinched a spot in baseballs postseason.Toronto still had a chance to host the AL wild-card game, and Sanchez wanted the win.I wasnt ready to go home, he said after the Blue Jays beat the Boston Red Sox 2-1 in the regular season finale on Sunday to claim the ALs top wild-card berth. For it to come down to (Game) 162, and me being out there ... there was a lot at stake in that game. And it was in my hands.Sanchez took a no-hitter into the seventh, and Troy Tulowitzki singled to break an eighth-inning tie. Roberto Osuna retired David Ortiz on a weak nubber in front of the plate on the final regular season at-bat of his career, and then got Jackie Bradley Jr. on a groundout with two on to finish the game.The Blue Jays had a muted celebration on the field, then popped champagne in the visitors clubhouse at Fenway Park.Im (usually) straight-faced, Tulowitzki said. But that was fun out there.Toronto clinched a spot in the postseason when Detroit lost to Atlanta 1-0 earlier Sunday evening. With their win in Boston, the Blue Jays earned the right to host the Baltimore Orioles in a one-game playoff on Tuesday.The Red Sox will start their AL Division Series against the Indians on Thursday in Cleveland.Weve been able to win on the road and thats where our playoff journey begins, manager John Farrell said.Pitching with Jose Fernandezs initials on his hat in tribute to the Marlins pitcher who died last week, Sanchez held Boston hitless until Hanley Ramirezs disputed home run with two outs in the seventh. The ball sailed over the foul pole above the Green Monster.Sanchez tried to wave the ball foul and then yelled to the umpire, No way! But the replay upheld the original call.For me, it looked foul, he said, but added that it didnt matter as long as the Blue Jays won.Xander Bogaerts followed with a single -- the only other hit allowed by Sanchez, who lowered his ERA to 3.00 and clinched the AL title. In all, Sanchez (15-2) allowed one runn, walking two, striking out six and hitting a batter.ddddddddddddYou have to give credit to Sanchez. He was (the) one today, Ortiz said. Thats the best Ive ever seen him.The Blue Jays took the lead back in the eighth against Brad Ziegler (2-4) when Tulowitzki singled with runners on first and third. Torontos other run came on Devon Travis solo homer in the fifth.Boston put runners on first and second with two out in the ninth, but Osuna retired Bradley to end the game for his 36th save.PEAKING EARLYThe Red Sox lost five of their last six games -- following an 11-game win streak -- and missed out on home-field advantage by one game.Manager John Farrell said he wasnt concerned that his team lost momentum.We were in all of these games and could have won about three of them, he said. This team is confident.PREPPING FOR PLAYOFFSDavid Price allowed one run and four hits, walking three and striking out four in five innings in his final tuneup before starting Game 2 of the ALDS for Boston. Farrell said 22-game winner Rick Porcello will start Game 1.Clay Buchholz and Eduardo Rodriguez are expected to pitch Games 3 and 4, though Farrell wouldnt say in what order.PAPI FAREWELLThe loss did little to spoil the celebration for Ortiz, who went hitless in four at-bats. Walking off the field after making the second out in the ninth, Ortiz tapped the bill of his cap.The team announced it will retire his No. 34 sometime next year in a pregame ceremony that featured former Red Sox stars like Carl Yastrzemski and teammates from Ortizs three World Series championship clubs.The Red Sox draped a Dominican flag over the Green Monster, played the Dominican national anthem and invited Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina to throw out a ceremonial first pitch.Ortiz dropped to one knee and tipped his cap to the crowd.I almost dropped to both knees, he said after the game, but it was going to be hard getting up. ' ' '