BROSSARD, Que. - The Montreal Canadiens were surprised to learn that their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Boston Bruins will start on Thursday night. They were expecting it to start on Friday, and the earlier date made for a busy day of preparations. The special teams unit was on the ice a half-hour early while the main practice went a full hour on Wednesday. "We werent really planning on playing a game (on Thursday), but it all works out better that way," said forward Max Pacioretty. "We were trying to cram in a bit of system stuff as well, so it was a good practice. "We found out (Tuesday) night. I like it better that way. Theres a little less time to think. Were jumping right back into the action. I think thats when I play my best hockey, when Im not thinking." The Canadiens have been idle since completing a sweep of the Tampa Bay Lightning on April 22. The Bruins finished off the Detroit Red Wings in five games on Saturday. Although the NHL had not released a schedule, Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin mentioned a Friday start in a television interview this week. The opener was moved up reportedly because Northeastern University has graduation ceremonies at the TD Garden on Friday morning. Game 2 is expected to be played Saturday at 12:30 pm ET, although that has not been confirmed. Pacioretty likes that, too. "I like playing afternoon games," he said. "No meetings in the morning. Not thinking too much about the game. Just going out and playing." The Canadiens will have had eight days off between games. To break the monotony, they held a simulated game day on Monday, with a morning skate followed by an intra-squad game at night. Then they took Tuesday off. "Im about ready to stop practising and start playing," said goalie Carey Price. Clearance Kyrie Irving Shoes . 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Kyrie Irving Shoes Deals .com) - Carmelo Anthony scored 31 points with eight rebounds to lead the New York Knicks to a 92-80 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.HOUSTON -- George Springer singled home the winning run in the 11th inning to give the Houston Astros a 5-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Friday night. The touted rookie came through with an infield hit toward third after beginning the night 0 for 5 with four strikeouts in a game started by Seattle ace Felix Hernandez. Jose Altuve singled off Charlie Furbush (0-3) to open the 11th and Dexter Fowler reached on a bunt single. A sacrifice bunt by Carlos Corporan came next, and Altuve beat the throw to third to load bases for Springer. Anthony Bass (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the win. Marc Krauss had two hits and drove in two runs for Houston. Mike Zunino hit a two-run homer and Kyle Seager added a pair of RBIs for Seattle, which had a three-game winning streak snapped. Houston had trouble taking advantage of chances throughout the game and was 3 for 17 with runners in scoring position. Robinson Cano was initially ruled safe on a grounder with two outs in the 10th inning. But the play was challenged and overturned on replay to end the inning. The Astros tied it at 4 in the eighth when Alex Presley scored on a groundout by Jonathan Villar. Hernandez allowed five hits and three runs -- two earned -- with six strikeouts in five innings. Houston starter Brad Peacock gave up six hits and four runs while also striking out six in six innings. Michael Saunders started the sixth with a bunt single and Cano drew a one-out walk before Cory Hart singled to load the bases. Seagers two-run double came next to give Seattle a 4-3 lead.ddddddddddddSpringer had a chance to catch the ball in right field, but it bounced off his glove as he crashed into the fence near the bullpen. Springer was down on the ground as Fowler came over to retrieve the ball. Seager singled with no outs in the fifth before Zunino connected on his homer to the Crawford Boxes in left field to tie it at 2 with two outs. Hernandez plunked Jason Castro in the fifth before Krauss RBI single, on a ball that bounced right in front of the wall in right field, put Houston back on top 3-2. Krauss was out at second trying to stretch the hit into a double. Altuve had a bunt single to start Houstons third before a single by Fowler. The Astros went up 1-0 when Castro reached and Altuve scored on an error by centre fielder Abraham Almonte, who was sprinting toward the wall when the ball just eluded his glove. Krauss RBI single sent Fowler home to push the lead to 2-0. NOTES: Seattle RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (finger) is scheduled to come off the disabled list and make his season debut against left-hander Dallas Keuchel when the series continues Saturday. Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said Iwakuma will likely by limited to about 100 pitches. ... McClendon said he expects RHP Taijuan Walker (shoulder) and LHP James Paxton (back) to start throwing bullpens sometime in the next week. ... Houston signed left-handed reliever Tony Sipp. The Astros also optioned RHP Paul Clemens to Triple-A and transferred RHP Jesse Crain to the 60-day disabled list. ' ' '