MONTREAL -- Coach Michel Therrien calls Francis Bouillon a success story, and he would know. [url=https://www.ncaajerseys2020.com/]Cheap NCAA Jerseys Authentic[/url] . Therrien was Bouillons coach in junior hockey when they won the Memorial Cup with the Granby Predateurs and was coaching him again whe

MONTREAL -- Coach Michel Therrien calls Francis Bouillon a success story, and he would know. Cheap NCAA Jerseys Authentic . Therrien was Bouillons coach in junior hockey when they won the Memorial Cup with the Granby Predateurs and was coaching him again when the stocky Montreal Canadiens defenceman celebrated his 38th birthday on Thursday. "Time goes fast," said Therrien. "But when you look at success stories, heres a guy who was never drafted, he played in the ECHL, he played as a 20-year-old in the Quebec league when we won the Memorial Cup together. "Hes had such a great career." Bouillon, the Canadiens oldest player, beat the odds by making it to the NHL as a five-foot-eight defenceman and beat them again by carving out a long career. His playing days looked to be finished when Montreal cut him (and his $1.8 million salary) loose in 2009, but he went to the Nashville Predators camp on a try-out and made the team. Then he played well enough for the Preds to offer him a two-year extension. He looked to be headed for retirement again in 2012, but then the Canadiens hired Therrien back as head coach and Bouillon got a one-year contract. Now hes on another one-year US$1.5 million deal. "Today, its important to have good contacts," said Bouillon. "When Michel got hired last year and I got the call from him to sign here, I was really happy about that. "Today, you need to have good relationships with people. I had it with Michel in the past, and to have a chance to play for him again is a pleasure." His job this season is partly to play and partly to be the on-ice mentor to gifted rookies Jarred Tinordi and Nathan Beaulieu. The Canadiens have three injured veterans on the back end -- Alexei Emelin, Douglas Murray and Davis Drewiske -- so the youngsters have been taking turns in the lineup, mostly on the third pairing with Bouillon. "As a defenceman, its always nice to have one partner for the whole season, but for me, its been maybe three years, since I was in Nashville, that I played with a few different guys," he said. "Here I play with Tinordi or Beaulieu. Theyre both playing really good. Theyre young but they play with a lot of confidence." The job entails playing on the right side, which has been an adjustment for the left-shooting Bouillon. "The hardest part has got to be your vision when you get a puck," he said. "On the strong side, I know whats coming on the other side. Playing on the right is a bit different, but now Ive played a few games there and its getting better." Bouillon has never been a flashy player. His best season was 2005-06 when he had three goals and 19 assists. But he moves the puck well, plays on the second power play unit and is very strong for his size. He doesnt fight much, but he doesnt shy away from physical play either. Defenceman Josh Gorges said the Canadiens lost a warrior when they let Bouillon get away, and he was glad to see him return. "When I first came here (in 2006), he was one of the guys I really looked up to and who really helped me get settled in," said Gorges. "People counted him out early in his career, in the middle of his career and late in his career, and hes still there playing at a high level. "Thats a testament to his work ethic and his demeanour as a person." After going undrafted, Bouillon played a season for the Wheeling Nailers in the ECHL before moving up to the AHL with the Quebec Citadelles after Montreal signed him as a free agent in 1997. Two seasons later, he was in the NHL. He was born in New York City and moved to Montreal when he was three, but retains his U.S. citizenship. He even played for the Americans at the 2003 IIHF world championship. Whether Bouillon is back next season is to be determined. When Emelin returns, likely in late November or early December, and when Murray is healed in a few weeks, spots in the starting lineup may be scarce. And the rookies he is working with may soon be ready for full-time NHL action. "I take it year by year," he said. "I dont want to think long-term. If Im healthy and Ive still got a passion to play hockey, Ill be there again next year. "For me, being 38 doesnt matter. I feel pretty good." NCAA Jerseys From China .com) - The Carolina Panthers won for the first time in seven games last week, were without Cam Newton due to a car accident this week, but somehow sit atop the much-maligned NFC South. Wholesale NCAA Jerseys .85 million contract with the two-time Gold Glove outfielder. Parra earned his second Gold Glove last season when he set a club record with 17 outfield assists. https://www.ncaajerseys2020.com/ . The injury could land Machado on the 15-day disabled list, but its not as serious as it looked on Monday night, when the third baseman crumpled in a heap at the plate after taking an awkward swing in a game against the New York Yankees.An amazing story out of Detroit, the Sharks break out against Boston and Vancouvers depth pays off in Pittsburgh; lineup news and more in Scott Cullens Statistically Speaking. HEROES Stephen Weiss - In a highly-improbably turn of events, the Red Wings centre is becoming a major contributor. He scored a goal and added two assists in a 5-2 win over Dallas, and it gives Weiss nine points (4 G, 5 A) in seven games. He had eight points (3 G, 5 A) in 43 games over the previous two injury-marred seasons combined. Joe Pavelski - The Sharks winger scored twice and added an assist, with 11 shot attempts (9 SOG), in a 7-4 win over Boston. He also had strong possession numbers (20 shot attempts for, 6 against, 76.9%) along with linemates Joe Thornton (80.8%) and Tomas Hertl (83.3%), the trio dominating in their head-to-head matchup with Bostons Milan Lucic, Carl Soderberg and Loui Eriksson. Brad Richardson, Shawn Matthias - Richardson, the Canucks centre, picked up two goals and an assist in a 3-0 win at Pittsburgh. He has six points (3 G, 3 A) in the past four games. His left winger, Matthias, is also having a good run, and with a goal and an assist against the Penguins, now has six points (4 G, 2 A) in the past five games. Both had at least 80% possession against Pittsburgh, with Richardson leading the way (15 shot attempts for, 3 against, 83.3%), despite starting more shifts in the defensive zone. ZEROES Sidney Crosby - The Penguins superstar failed to register a shot attempt, while playing 20:24, in a 3-0 loss to Vancouver. Hes been held of the scoresheet, with only three shots on goal, in the past three games. Tyson Strachan - The Sabres blueliner was on the ice for four even-strength goals against in a 5-0 loss to Tampa Bay. Goalies Tuukka Rask - Bostons goaltender was under siege at times in San Jose, but the end result wasnt pretty: seven goals on 44 shots. (San Joses Antti Niemi wasnt necessarily better, allowing four goals on 24 shots.) Jonathan Bernier - The Maple Leafs No. 1 goaltender allowed five goals on 26 shots against New Jersey, dropping his save percentageto .912 for the season. LINEUP NEED TO KNOW Patric Hornqvist - Departed early from Pittsburghs 3-0 loss to Vancouver, with an apparent upper-body injury. Injuries are really taking hold in Pittsburgh now. If Hornqvist is going to miss time, the Penguins will have Nick Spaling, Steve Downie, Blake Comeau and Jayson Megna playing wing on their top two lines. Semyon Varlamov - Returned to the Avalanche lineup for the first time in nearly three weeks, and stopped 21 of 25 shots in a 4-3 overtime loss to Calgary. Michael Grabner - The speedy winger made his season debut for the New York Islanders, playing 13:11 at Ottawa. Marc Methot - The veteran defensive defenceman played 17:12 for Ottawa against the Islanders in his first game of the season. Josh Gorges - The Sabres defenceman returned to the lineup for the first time in three weeks, and played 22:42 against Tampa Bay. Griffin Reinhart - With the Islanders missing Lubomir Visnovsky, Travis Hamonic and Johnny Boychuk due to injuries, they recalled their 2012 first-round pick from Bridgeport of the AHL, where he had eight points (2 G, 6 A) and a minus-8 rating in 15 games. Reinhart played 14:09 at Ottawa, while Thomas Hickey led the Isles defence with 24:30 time on ice. Mike Sislo - With the Devils missing RW Jaromir Jagr (illness) and LW Patrik Elias (groin), Sislo was recalled from Albany, where the 26-year-old winger had 10 points (6 G, 4 A) and was plus-3 in 20 games. Brian Dumoulin - With Robert Bortuzzo suspended two games, Dumoulin saw his first action of the season for the Penguins, playing 15:08 against Vancouver. He had 10 points (2 G, 8 A) and was plus-16 in 22 AHL games before getting called up. Jussi Rynnas - Playing in his first NHL game since February of 2013, Rynnas gave up five goals on 29 shots at Detroit. Martin Brodeur - It wasnt all bad, considering it was the 42-year-olds first game of the season, but Brodeur did allow four goals on 24 shots in a 4-3 loss at Nashville. SHORT SHIFTS Flames LW Curtis Glencross picked up a pair of assists in a 4-3 overtime win against Colorado. Glencross has eight points (2 G, 6 A) in the past seven games…Flames D Dennis Wideman scored two goals, giving him eight points (5 G, 3 A) in his past eight games. Wideman, quite amazingly, has 10 goals on 55 shots (18.2%) this season. Here are the best defence shooting percentages for single season (minimum 10 goals): SH% LEADERS - DEFENCE DEFENCEMAN TEAM YEAR G SH% Ron Greschner N.Y. Rangers 1984-85 16 18.2% Sandis Ozolinsh San Jose 1993-94 26 16.6% Paul Coffey Edmonton 1985-86 48 15.6% Paul Coffey Edmonton 1983-84 40 15.5% Marty MMcSorley Edmonton 1985-86 11 15. Cheap College Jerseys 2020. .3% Red Wings C Pavel Datsyuk had a goal and an assist in Detroits 5-2 win over Dallas, and now has eight points (6 G, 2 A) in five games since returning from his latest injury…Red Wings LW Darren Helm scored a pair of goals against Dallas, giving him six points (2 G, 4 A) in the past six games…Red Wings C Riley Sheahan chipped in a couple assists and had dominant possession (13 shot attempts for, 2 against, 86.7%), giving him nine points (4 G, 5 A) in the past 10 games…Red Wings LW Tomas Tatar added a pair of assists, giving him 12 points (6 G, 6 A) in the past 11 games… Lightning C Steven Stamkos picked up three points (1 G, 2 A) in a 5-0 win at Buffalo, giving him 24 points (10 G, 14 A) in the past 18 games…Avalanche LW Ryan OReilly had a couple assists in a 4-3 overtime loss at Calgary, and now has five points (2 G, 3 A) in the past five games… Kings LW Dustin Brown scored twice and added an assist in a 4-0 win over Arizona. Brown has eight points (4 G, 4 A) in the past eight games…Kings D Alec Martinez contributed a goal and an assist and has seven points (1 G, 6 A) in his last five games…Kings C Jarret Stoll also had a goal and an assist and has eight points (3 G, 5 A) in his past nine games, after starting the season with one point in his first 17 games. Devils D Marek Zidlicky registered a pair of assists and team-best possession (19 shot attempts for, 7 against, 73.1%) in a 5-3 win at Toronto, giving him five assists in the past six games…Maple Leafs RW Mike Santorelli, one of the great bargain signings of the offseason, had a goal and an assist in Torontos 5-3 loss to New Jersey. During a five-game point streak, Santorelli has nine points (1 G, 8 A)…Sharks RW Tommy Wingels scored a pair of goals in a 7-4 win against Boston, giving him eight points (4 G, 4 A) in the past five games…Predators C Mike Ribeiro had a goal and two assists in Nashvilles 4-3 win over St. Louis. Ribeiro now has 22 points in 25 games, his 0.88 points per game rates as his second-best in the past six seasons, surpassed only by 1.02 points per game in lockout-shortened 2012-13…Bruins RW Reilly Smith scored a pair of goals in a 7-4 loss at San Jose, ending a 10-game point drought. Sharks LW Patrick Marleau picked up a pair of assists in a 7-4 win over Boston, giving him seven points (1 G, 6 A) in the past six games…Hurricanes LW Nathan Gerbe delivered a strong possession game (27 shot attempts for, 8 against, 77.1%) in a 2-1 loss to Washington…Maple Leafs D Stephane Robidas had a solid possession night (15 shot attempts for, 3 against, 83.3%), while starting one-third of his shifts in the offensive zone, in a 5-3 loss to New Jersey…Stars RW Ales Hemsky was pinned in the defensive zone (4 shot attempts for, 14 against, 18.2%) against Detroit…Panthers D Aaron Ekblad had an assist and 13 shot attempts (6 SOG) while playing a career-high 25:49 in the 4-3 shootout loss to Columbus…14 of 18 Panthers had better than two-thirds of even-strength shot attempts against Columbus, led by C Vincent Trocheck (25 shot attempts for, 6 against, 80.7%)…The Blue Jackets defence pairing of David Savard and Jordan Leopold were buried. Savard was on for seven shot attempts for and 35 against (16.7%); Leopold was slightly better (7 for, 30 against, 18.9%)…The Kings line of Dwight King, Mike Richards and Tyler Toffoli carried better than 79% of the play against Arizona, led by Toffoli (17 shot attempts for, 4 against, 81.0%), making the most of a head-to-head matchup with Lauri Korpikoski, Sam Gagner and Shane Doan. Hurricanes RW Alexander Semin scored his first goal of the season, against Washington. Now that Semin has scored (and New Jerseys Stephen Gionta and Dallas Colton Sceviour too) here are the forwards with the most shots on goal that are still looking for their first goal of the season: STILL LOOKING FOR A GOAL FORWARD TEAM SHOTS ON GOAL Tomas Kopecky Florida 39 Rene Bourque Anaheim 29 Curtis Lazar Ottawa 28 Jeremy Morin Chicago 28 Joakim Andersson Detroit 27 Blue Jackets G Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 52 of 55 shots in a 4-3 shootout win over Florida…Kings G Martin Jones stopped all 26 shots he faced in a 4-0 win at Arizona…Lightning G Ben Bishop had a grand total of 13 saves in a shutout win over Buffalo…Canucks G Eddie Lack recorded a 21-save shutout in Vancouvers 3-0 win at Pittsburgh…Capitals G Braden Holtby stopped 29 of 30 shots to earn a 2-1 win over Carolina…Islanders G Jaroslav Halak turned aside 20 of 21 shots for a 2-1 win at Ottawa. Much of the data included comes from www.war-on-ice.com, www.puckalytics.com, www.hockeystats.ca and www.naturalstattrick.com Scott Cullen can be reached at scott.cullen@bellmedia.ca ' ' '