Clan-Members » hurdles title winner, McGrath opt

BOSTON -- The Bruins played Pittsburgh three times this season and lost all three by one goal. Now they await the top-seeded Penguins in the Eastern Conference finals, and the Bruins are trying to figure out what went wrong in those games. "Well look at our games and things that we did well, things that we need to be better at," Bruins coach Claude Julien said Monday during a news conference at TD Garden. "But we also look at the playoff games. We look at everything. "Theres not much that doesnt get looked at. Thats the way hockey is today. But the regular season is one thing, playoffs is another. So were certainly not hanging our hats on the fact that our record wasnt good against them this year. Theres only three goals difference at the end of the day. So I dont think in three games thats a big thing to worry about." Julien gave his team a second straight day off the ice since the Bruins won their second-round series against the New York Rangers with a 3-1 victory Saturday. The Penguins had an equally easy time of advancing through the second round, taking out the Ottawa Senators in five games. The NHL has not announced the schedule yet for the Bruins-Penguins series. "The rest is obviously important," said Julien, whose team needed seven games to beat Toronto in its first-round series. "We know weve been through a grueling schedule there for quite a while. So to have that opportunity is good. Well still have lots of time to practice. But this time of year, rest is extremely important. Everybody needs a rest, I guess. So its good for the whole team." The time off could prove valuable. Dennis Seidenberg returned to play in the series-clinching win against New York, but defencemen Andrew Ference and Wade Redden were unavailable. Both are making progress, with Ference returning to the ice for the first time since the weekend. With rookies Torey Krug and Matt Bartkowski productively filling in, Julien may face a tough decision or two about his lineup. "A lot goes into it," he said. "At one point you make a decision and it doesnt mean that its an easy one because its not. Well deal with it when the time comes. We did it with Seidenberg. And if Ference becomes available well have to deal with that, too." The uncertainty of the schedule for the next round could affect preparation, but Julien isnt too worried. In any case, he says Monday is his players last day off. "They need to get back on the ice here," he said. "I thought two days was a good thing because well have at least a couple of days -- Tuesday, Wednesday -- to practice. This time of year theres not a ton of things you can do with your team more than get them some rest and still have a couple of days to accomplish a lot. "I keep repeating, with the regular-season schedule that we ended with and a seven-game series and the way the playoffs have gone, I think it was important for our guys to just get two days off and then come back and try to be as fresh as we can for the next series."Adidas Deerupt Runner Rea .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. Adidas NMD R1 Rea . -- Whether Jeremy Hill deserves a prominent role in LSUs offence this early in the season is a matter for debate. http://www.nmdsverige.com/consortium-adidas-skor.html . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. Adidas NMD R2 Dam . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Adidas Deerupt Runner Sverige . The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling "puts an end to my dreams of being a top player," the 27-year-old Troicki said in a statement. "I worked my entire life for it, and it has been taken away from me in one afternoon by a doctor I didnt know," said Troicki, whose ranking peaked at No.He first turned to Australian rules to win friends and now AFL No.1 draft pick Andrew McGrath stands to win plenty more, as he looks forward to being part of an Essendon revival.Defender-midfielder McGrath was one of four Sandringham Dragons players drafted in the top seven on Friday night in Sydney.Forward-midfielder Tim Taranto and midfielder Will Setterfield were taken by GWS with picks two and five respectively and Gold Coast snapped up defender Jack Scrimshaw at No.7.McGrath had no reservations about joining a club buffeted in recent years by the fallout from the supplements scandal.I think its exciting more than anything - all of that stuff is behind them, McGrath said.They are working towards the goal that everyone else is working towards and hopefully playing finals next year and winning a premiership in the near future.I think more than anything its exciting to be part of a comeback, like it is, and be part of a growing team.I went to the club early last week and Id never been out there beforehand. Its just amazing - the facilities, the people.McGGrath said playing in round one was a massive goal.ddddddddddddA national junior 400 metre hurdles title winner, McGrath opted to make Australian rules his sole sporting endeavour when he was in Year 10.Born in Toronto, Canada, McGrath came to Australia when he was five because of his fathers work.I went to primary school - all the kids were playing it. I didnt really know what was going on, McGrath said.Id watch it at home on the TV, but it was sort of a coping mechanism to make friends and be liked as a six, seven year-old, McGrath said.I just loved the game and Ive played it ever since.The exploits of Sydneys Canadian-born premiership-winning ruckman Mike Pyke mean people back in McGraths country of birth already have some idea about the alien football code.All my family back home knew Mike Pyke and followed him pretty intently and, once I started playing a bit more seriously, they started following me as well, McGrath said. ' ' '