BROSSARD, Que. Isco Shirt . - Everything is magnified when the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins meet in the playoffs, and thats how P.K. Subban likes it. The flashy Canadiens defenceman is sure to be a target for the Bruins and the TD Garden fans when the two Original Six teams meet for the 34th time in the post-season. Boston fans tend to boo Subban the same way Montreal fans give it to Zdeno Chara whenever the towering Bruins defenceman touches the puck at the Bell Centre. "It doesnt matter if I like it or Im ready for it because it doesnt really dictate how I play or how this team plays," Subban said Monday. "Thats the most important thing. "If theyre trying to find ways to get me off my game, that means Im doing something right." Montreal is on a lengthy break after sweeping the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opening round, while the Bruins will also be rested after eliminating the Detroit Red Wings in five. It will be Subbans second career playoff meeting with the Bruins. In 2011, he had two goals and four points as Montreal won the first two games of the first-round series in Boston before going on to lose Game 7 in overtime. The 2013 Norris Trophy winner expects another long series, but hopes for a different result. "Ive always been a guy thats excited to play in the playoffs because its meaningful and because it seems like the bigger the stage, the better I play and the more I play," he said. " And when I play more I always play better. "I think I learned through that series, going up 2-0 in Boston and then losing in seven games. Its not a fun thing to do, but we were that close to beating them and they went on to win the Stanley Cup that year." The Canadiens won three of four meetings with the Bruins this season, including both games in Boston. But they will still be underdogs against a Bruins side that is little changed from the one that reached the Stanley Cup final last season and won the Presidents Trophy for having the most points this past season. "Im sure people are going to enjoy the series," said Subban. "Im predicting its going to be a long and gruelling series. "Theyre better than they were (in 2011) and its going to be an even tougher series. Trust me, were not thinking about coming home up 2-0. We know its going to be a grind." The Canadiens tend to counter the Bruins physical play with a game based on quickness and puck pressure. Bostons big men take runs at Subban, who they see as a diver who talks too much on the ice. Subban, in turn, plays some of his best hockey against Boston. "I dont consider that any part of my game," said Subban. "I consider playing well as the biggest way of agitating other teams players — putting the puck in the net, playing physical, having an impact on the game. "That seems to (make people angry) a lot more than talking or chirping." Games between the teams often get nasty, including one this season when Bostons Milan Lucic speared defenceman Alexei Emelin in the groin area. The bad blood has built up over decades of meetings between the teams. It has mostly gone in favour of Montreal, which has a 24-9 record in playoff series against Boston since their first meeting in 1929. The Bruins have won the last two, however. "I knew that part of playing for the Montreal Canadiens is there were rivalries and a lot of history," said Subban. "At the end of the day, well probably talk about it for the next three or four days but once the puck drops, it doesnt matter what rivalry or history there is. "Its just a matter of winning. Then, after the game, well talk abut history and whatever." It wont be the first Bruins-Canadiens series for Montreal coach Michel Therrien. During his first stint with the Canadiens, he won a first-round series in six games over Boston in 2002 before losing in the next round to Carolina. "I was a lot younger at the time and had more hair," said Therrien. "But (Bruins coach) Claude (Julien) has a lot of experience too. "Its a challenge for both teams." To break up the monotony, the Canadiens had a simulated game day on Monday, including a morning skate and an intrasquad game in the evening against mostly call-ups from the AHLs Hamilton Bulldogs. They will take Tuesday off and get back to regular practices on Wednesday. Sami Khedira Real Madrid Jersey . Commissioner Roger Goodell also appointed Dave Gardi to senior vice-president of football operations. The moves were announced Wednesday. Isco Futbol Shirt . -- Yuniesky Betancourt is back with the Kansas City Royals after agreeing to a one-year contract.The NBA suspended Sacramento Kings centre DeMarcus Cousins for one game and fined him $20,000 on Thursday for punching an opposing player and verbally abusing an official in a game earlier this week. The league suspended Cousins for punching Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley in the stomach with 9:44 remaining in the first quarter of the Kings 129-103 loss on Tuesday night in Sacramento. Cousins was fined for verbally abusing official Courtney Kirkland and failing to leave the court in a timely manner following an ejection with 8:21 remaining in the third quarter. Cousins will serve his suspension when the Kings visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. New Kings owner Vivek Ranadive had hoped Cousins could clean up his act when he signed the centre to a four-year, $62 million contract extension before the season. Instead, Cousins leads the NBA with 15 technical fouls this season and will be suspended one game by the NBA if he gets another one. The last two seasons Cousins has needed to have a technical foul rescinded by the league to avoid the automatic suspension that comes when a player reaches 16 technicals. In the Houston game, Cousins was called for a technical after getting whistled for a foul against Dwight Howard and arguing against it. Cousins picked up his fifth personal foul moments later, then got called for another technical foul -- earning an automatic ejection -- after screaming in the face of Kirkland during a timeout. James Rodriguez Shirt. Cousins had to be held back by coaches and teammates, pointing his finger and screaming at Kirkland. He flicked his headband into the stands on his way to the locker room. Cousins has since apologized for his behaviour, which has become a troubling trend through his career, even going back to high school and his one season at Kentucky. The 23-year-old centre has mixed in dramatic and astonishing plays with outbursts against players, coaches and referees. He has dazzled at times during his first four NBA seasons, and at other times struggled with defence and discipline. Last season alone, Cousins drew multiple reprimands for his behaviour. He was suspended one game without pay by the NBA for striking O.J. Mayo in the groin during a loss at Dallas. Following a defeat at San Antonio, the league suspended Cousins two games without pay for confronting Spurs announcer Sean Elliott in a "hostile manner." Finally, the Kings suspended Cousins for one game for "unprofessional behaviour and conduct detrimental to the team" after he shouted at Kings coach Keith Smart in the locker room during halftime of a loss at the Los Angeles Clippers. His behaviour aside, Cousins is having the best season of his career and is blossoming into one of the NBAs best big men. Hes averaging career highs of 22.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Hes also shooting a career-best 48.3 per cent. ' ' '
