VANCOUVER -- Before the Stanley Cup final began the Boston Bruins said they preferred to play the Vancouver Canucks at even strength as much as possible. They wanted to avoid a Canucks power play clicking at better than 28 per cent, scoring on 17 man-advantage chances in 18 playoff games. Instead, Bostons big forwards would crash and bang on the forecheck when the teams were at even strength and create scoring chances. Be careful what you wish for. Heading into Saturdays Game 2 the Bruins are now looking to adjust to the Canucks speedy 5-on-5 transition game if they want to gain a split in the best-of-seven series. "It was pretty simple," Bruins coach Claude Julien said Thursday of the last-minute 1-0 loss in Wednesdays series opener. "They beat us at the 5-on-5 game (Wednesday night) and I thought our special teams were as good if not better than theirs. Special teams I dont think was an issue but 5-on-5 no doubt they were the better team." The game developed a nasty edge through the first 40 minutes, with the teams combining for more than 16 minutes of power-play time. But the Canucks best chances came when they used their speed in the penalty-free third period. Alex Burrows was on the end of a Henrik Sedin-to-Daniel Sedin relay and tipped a dangerous shot on goalie Tim Thomas. Alex Edler ripped a shot off the post over Thomass shoulder. And before he set up the streaking Raffi Torres for the only goal of the game, Jannik Hansen was sent in on a breakaway. Thomas closed his pads on his shot then reached back to keep the puck from crossing the goal line. Patrice Bergeron said his Bruins teammates must match or neutralize the Canucks speed in Game 2 Saturday night. "The last 10 minutes we had a little letdown there," said Bergeron, whose return from a concussion in Game 3 helped Boston control the Eastern Conference final against Tampa Bay. "Weve got to make sure we play the whole game. Were fine with a fast game. Were fine with a fast pace like that." Veteran Mark Recchi said Boston, which has won five Stanley Cups but has lost five straight finals, has shown an ability to adjust all season. "We handle things well and stay with it as much as possible," said Recchi who has won Cups with Pittsburgh and Carolina. "Weve got to be better 5-on-5 first of all and work on the positives of the power play." Centre Chris Kelly said his club played well at even strength against Vancouver in a game that looked headed to overtime. "Obviously it was who was going to blink first," Kelly said. And that was Boston as Canuck goalie Roberto Luongo blanked the opposition for the third time in four series openers with a 36-save effort. One way to beat him is shooting from better positions, Bergeron said. "We had some good shots but not necessarily from the slot or the danger area," he said. "We can improve that and make sure we fight our way close to the front of the net. Theyre doing a good job of boxing us out but weve got to find a way." The Bruins power play seems like a work in progress this late in the season, converting only five of 67 opportunities or 7.5 per cent. Massive six-foot-nine, 255-pound defenceman Zdeno Chara was parked in front of Luongo to block his vision or tip a puck, a tactic the Bruins employed in Game 6 against Tampa Bay. Against Vancouver, Chara even won an offensive zone faceoff before proceeding to Luongos doorstep. Julien, mindful of Luongos playoff problems with the bulky Dustin Byfuglien when he played for Chicago last season, hinted therell be more of that on Saturday. "Hes given us a different look," Julien said of his towering captain. "Hes moving around at trying to be a screen in front and also trying not to get sucked into penalties. "They were pretty hard on him at times and he just got back up and did his job. I anticipate that hell only get better at that position as we use him there." Defenceman Tomas Kaberle, obtained from Toronto in February for his power-play passing skills, said Boston simply has to stick with its man-advantage tactics. "I thought we had good chances," Kaberle said. "When the pucks not going in you just have to make sure the next ones going in. "Especially with Big Z in front of the net he (Luongo) doesnt see much and we have to put even more shots on the net." Losing the first game of a series is nothing new to the Bruins who started 0-2 at home in the first round against Montreal and lost their opener 5-2 to Tampa Bay. "We came out on the winning side on both series so yes, weve got to stay positive," said Bergeron. Wednesdays dramatic loss wont be on their minds when the puck drops Saturday, said Kelly. "Thats kind of been one of our strengths, being composed, not getting too flustered and too rattled." Defenceman Andrew Ference doubts the Canucks even-strength edge will last. "If you go in expecting to have complete control of a game through a whole series, youre kidding yourself," Ference said. NOTES: Chara had 4:32 of power-play time among his usual 28 minutes per game ... teams winning Game 1 have won the Stanley Cup in 55 of the 71 seasons since the league introduced the best-of-seven format in 1939 ... four players have appeared in at least 200 games for both the Canucks and Bruins -- Bobby Schmautz, Cam Neely, Barry Pederson and Geoff Courtnall. ... Brady Super Bowl Black Jersey . France also turned in a strong performance in the other Group A match, scoring two second-half goals within four minutes to win 3-1 against Ghana. Spain opened the scoring when Deulofeu fires a shot across the goal mouth and Jese volleyed the ball into the net in the fifth minute. . The Red Sox right-hander pitched well enough for Boston to win 9-5 on Wednesday night, improving to 4-0 against the Yankees this season with a 1. [url=http://www.superbowl49patriotsonline.com/jimmy-garoppolo-super-bowl-xlix-je... .R. Smith hasnt had a run like this since high school. [url=http://www.superbowl49patriotsonline.com/tedy-bruschi-super-bowl-xlix-jerse... Bruschi Super Bowl Youth Jersey . Trailing by six points with three minutes to play, a botched punt by Toronto kicker Grant Shaw would give Edmonton great field position and lead to a 21-yard touchdown catch by Fred Stamps as the Eskimos came from behind to continue their torrid start to the season, defeating the visiting Argonauts 26-25 on Friday. ... Brady Super Bowl Camo Jersey . The bogeys on the closing hole at TPC Four Seasons havent cost him the lead yet. Bradley overcame consecutive bogeys early and bogeyed No. 18 for the third round in a row Saturday to finish with a 2-under 68 that kept him in the lead.TORONTO – Its too early to make bold proclamations – Neil Wagner certainly wont – but the Blue Jays like what they see from the 29-year-old, fireballing, heretofore journeyman reliever. “Hes a guy that I can see sticking around here,” said pitching coach Pete Walker. “Theres no doubt about it.” “You dont take anything for granted,” said Wagner. “This is a game where nothings promised to you and you have to earn your keep every time you go out there. I understand that; Im okay with that. Its good to have the confidence of the coaching staff but just keep going out there, doing what I can do and the rest will take care of itself.” Taken in the 21st round of the 2005 draft by Cleveland, Wagner spent four seasons in the Indians system, never ascending beyond Double-A. He had the 98 miles per hour fastball but had difficulty harnessing the pitch. He would get hit one night, walk too many the next outing. Fast forward to now, after a six-appearance cup of coffee with Oakland in 2011 and a rough season split between the Athletics and Padres Triple-A affiliates in 2012, Wagners learned hell be more successful if he puts less velocity on his fastball. “I think part of it is just realizing when I try to hump up and throw, try and add two miles an hour here and blow it by this guy, is that you tend to muscle up and not be as fluid and tend to lose a little velocity in addition to losing location,” said Wagner. “Just focusing on staying within yourself, delivering a good pitch and the reality is that for the most part, when I do that, I get my better velocity anyway.” “You can look at a radar gun all day long,” said bullpen coach and 1996 American League Cy Young award winner Pat Hentgen. “Sometimes two guys will throw 95 and youll think it should be the same, should have the same results but thats not the case. Some guys balls jump in that hitting area. I think Neils in that category. Fastball command is always an issue with all pitchers and the better fastball command you have the more success youll have long term and I think thats starting to happen for Neil.” Wagners first hiccup came on Sunday. Just two days removed from his first major league win, he suffered his first major league loss. Pitching for a third consecutive day, Wagner was brought in with two outss in the seventh inning of a 4-4 game against Texas.dddddddddddd Rangers designated hitter Adrian Beltre hit an opposite field home run, giving Texas a lead it wouldnt relinquish. If there was a time when Wagner would have worried about his fate either during, or in the aftermath, of such an outing, its in the past. “On some level you always, you know, youre not being sent down,” said Wagner. “You have to realize that you have no control over it. A guy hits a home run, theres nothing I can do at that point thats going to keep them from sending me down so all I have to do is refocus and get the next guy.” With just the one earned run allowed – the Beltre home run – in eight innings over seven appearances, Wagner is making his case to hang around. Hes being used in pressure situations, slowly gaining the trust of manager John Gibbons and the coaching staff. “They seem to like how Ive been throwing the ball,” said Wagner. “Im hoping to stay and hopefully they feel the same way. They seem to like what Ive been doing so far and Im going to try to keep doing that.” MORROW FEELING GOOD Brandon Morrow (forearm soreness) will throw a bullpen session in Chicago on Tuesday. From there, hell throw another bullpen upon his arrival at the Blue Jays complex in Dunedin, Florida. Morrow will split from the team when it travels to Arlington after Wednesdays game. WALKER REMEMBERS 18-INNING GAME Prior to Saturdays 4-3 win over Texas, there was only one other 18-inning game in Blue Jays history. Toronto beat the Angels 2-1 when Orlando Hudson singled home Alex Rios. The winning pitcher that day was current pitching coach Pete Walker. “It was one of those games where I dont believe I was supposed to pitch for some particular reason, whether it was short rest or what not,” said Walker. “I had my spikes on and as the game went on, that 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th inning, you saw one reliever after the other leave the bullpen to go into the game you started to sense that maybe this could happen. “You know youve got to suck it up and find a way to get some outs and fortunately I was able to do that for a few innings and we won the game in the 18th inning.” The starter for the Blue Jays that day? Dave Bush, whos back in the organization and pitching at Triple-A Buffalo. cheap nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '