VANCOUVER -- Playing the first NHL game in your hometown is a special experience. Jared Crick Jersey . Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher gets to do it twice in three nights. The 21-year-old, who was born in Edmonton, had a goal and an assist in Thursdays 4-1 road victory over the Oilers. His second homecoming goes Saturday night in Vancouver when the Canadiens visit the Canucks. Gallaghers family moved from Edmonton to nearby Delta, B.C., when he was 12 after his father got a job as the Vancouver Giants strength and conditioning coach. The younger Gallagher, who later starred with the Western Hockey League club, said after Fridays practice at Rogers Arena that hes looking forward to the second half of this unique experience. "I grew up watching a lot of games at Rexall Place (in Edmonton)," he said. "To walk out of that tunnel last night was pretty cool and its going to be the same thing here. "When the schedule came out I definitely checked for it and now that its here its pretty exciting." Gallagher, who expects 10 to 15 family and friends to be in the stands Saturday and had even more supporters in the crowd in Edmonton, was drafted by Montreal in the fifth round in 2010 after being selected taken in the ninth round of the WHL draft by the Giants. "When I first step on the ice itll to be pretty cool," he said. "Theres going to be a lot of people watching that helped me get to this point and sacrificed a lot so you want to play well and show them how proud you are of what theyve done for you." The five-foot-nine, 180-pound Gallagher, in his second season with Montreal, plays a gritty style that has endeared him to his teammates. "Hes an in-your-face little rat -- one of those guys you want to beat up on the other team, but we love it on our side," joked Canadiens forward Brandon Prust. "He doesnt shy away from anybody. He goes to the net hard. Hes a guy that every team wants." Gallagher scored 136 goals and 280 points, both franchise records, in 244 career games with the Giants between 2008 and 2012, usually getting under the skin of opponents in the process. "From when I was a young boy I played the same way and did the same things. The only way I can be successful is playing that style of hockey," said Gallagher. "I know that if Im not doing that Im not a very good player." He had 10 goals and 10 assists in 36 games during the NHL lockout with the American Hockey Leagues Hamilton Bulldogs before being called up to the Canadiens once the season started. All he did in his first campaign with Montreal was score 15 goals and 13 assists to be named a finalist for the Calder Trophy as the leagues top rookie. "Hes got an unbelievable work ethic. Hes very pesky around the net, very resilient. He gets knocked down (but) hes right back in your face," said Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban. "Its that sort of determination that wed like to see from everybody on every given night, but thats just his makeup as a player. "Its no surprise to me hes had so much success so early in his career." Fans of both the Canucks and Oilers have wondered aloud how their teams missed out on what both see as a "local product," but Gallagher -- who almost always has a smile on his face -- is glad he found his way to Montreal. "When I got drafted it was a tremendous feeling to go to an organization like the Canadiens. I was thrilled," he said. "Since Ive gotten there theyve treated me so well that Im happy (with) the situation that Im in. "I wouldnt change it for anything." The Canadiens will be without captain Brian Gionta on Saturday. He returned to Montreal for family reasons. Kendrick Lewis Elite Womens Jersey .” – Mark Bloom (@markbloom21), on Twitter That one sentence sums it up, while at the same time, leaving so much out. Damaris Johnson Jersey ." Hextall was promoted to general manager by the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday to replace Paul Holmgren, who was elevated to president.KAUPULEHU-KONA, Hawaii -- Bernhard Langer birdied five of the last six holes Sunday to pull away from Fred Couples and Jeff Sluman and win the Mitsubishi Electric Championship by three strokes. The 56-year-old German shot his second straight 64 in the final round of the winners-only event that opened the 35th season of the Champions Tour. He finished with a 54-hole total of 22-under 194 at Hualalai. "Its a new year and my goal was to get over the hurdle and win as soon as possible," said Langer, who won here five years ago. "Im very pleased and extremely blessed to play golf like this. To be 22 under doesnt happen very often." Langer, who is 41 under in his last seven rounds at Hualalai, earned his 19th senior victory, but first since April despite a string of top-10 finishes the last half of 2013. He and Couples shared the lead at 14 under going into the final day under ideal conditions. Sluman was two back, but surged ahead at the turn, his fifth birdie putt taking him to 17 under. All but one came from inside 6 feet. "My iron shots were pretty bueno on those," said Sluman, who was making in his 80th consecutive senior start. He has been among the tours top-20 money winners the last five years. Langer and Couples caught him at 18 under with birdies on No.. Womens Ryan Fitzpatrick Elite Red Jersey. 13. Langer just kept rolling, two-putting for birdie on the next hole to grab the lead alone, then draining three more birdie putts from inside 12 feet. Sluman closed with a 65. Couples, looking for his 10th Champions win and second in a row, had a 67. After playing Hualalais par-5s in 6 under on the opening day, he was just 4 under combined the final two days. Two-time senior Player of the Year Jay Haas made a late charge after parring all but two of the first 12 holes. He birdied the 13th, then chipped in for eagle and birdie to get within two on the 16th hole. He could make up no more ground on the streaking Langer. Haas, one of eight 60-year-olds in the field of 41, birdied the final hole to shot a 65 and finish fourth at 199. First-round leader Rocco Mediate also got within two with his seventh birdie of the day, at the 15th, but parred the final four. He shared fifth with David Frost -- who lost a playoff with John Cook here last year -- at 16 under. Langer, who earned $307,000 for the win, came up a shot short of making playoffs at both Hawaii senior events last year. The seniors play here again Sept. 18-21 in the Pacific Links Hawaii Championship at Kapolei. The next tour event in Hawaii is the LPGA Lotte Championship, April 16-19 at Ko Olina. ' ' '
