BOSTON - It started with a torrent of hate. But P.K. Subban was feeling the love after the Canadiens disposed of the Boston Bruins. The charismatic Montreal defenceman, the target of racial abuse after his winning goal in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series, planted a kiss on broadcaster Pierre McGuire to wrap up their post-Game 7 interview Wednesday night. "Yeah baby," said a jubilant Subban after McGuire congratulated him for reaching the Eastern Conference final, which starts Saturday in Montreal against the New York Rangers. More than a few hockey fans may have fallen for the underdog Habs after their performance against the big bad Bruins. The Canadiens are hard-working, proud and tenacious. "Its definitely a special team and if we didnt know it before the playoffs, we definitely know it now," said forward Max Pacioretty, who bounced back from a slow start in the series. "I said when I got here, I just feel like this is a special team," echoed forward Dale Weise, acquired from the Canucks on Feb. 3. "I was on Vancouver the year after they went to the Cup final, we won the Presidents Trophy — theres something about this team thats just special. "Were real resilient. When our backs are against the wall (and) we need a big performance, our big players show up. And weve got so much depth. I really like our team." The Canadiens work ethic was eloquently voiced by coach Michel Therrien prior to Game 2, in words most saw as a prod at Thomas Vanek and other underachieving forwards. "One thing thats not negotiable with our team ... work ethic is not negotiable, attitude is not negotiable and competing is not negotiable," he said. "This is something we ask from every player on our hockey team. We have to make sure that everyone brings those elements to every single shift and every single game." Therrien was rightly proud Wednesday. "This is a great accomplishment from that group. We just beat the best team in the league. We were down 3-2 (in the series) and we showed a lot of character, a lot of passion. To be able to win the series here in Boston, its a tough place for teams to come and play here. Im really proud about the performance of our players." Carey Price was majestic in goal, with ice water in his veins. His rebound control was exceptional, he declined to bite on any of the Bruins forwards shake and bake, and he was there to clean up when a mess was left in front of him. He was unflappable. When the zombie apocalypse finally hits, those nearest Price will likely be thanking their lucky stars. The Habs star had plenty of help. Price faced 230 Bruins shots during the series with his team blocking another 146. Mike Weaver, all five foot 10 of him, stopped 20 of those. "A human wall," said Weise. But as Price and Therrien noted, the Boston series win will be yesterdays news come the Eastern final. Montreal faces another Original six rival in the Rangers, who are coming off an emotional win of their own over Pittsburgh. And having survived Vezina Trophy finalist Tuukka Rask with Boston, the Canadiens now face Rangers stopper Henrik Lundqvist who strapped the Rangers on his back in the elimination game against the Penguins. Price and Lundqvist met at the Olympic final in Sochi, where the outclassed and depleted Swedes were beaten 3-0. King Henrik has a 13-11-2 career record against the Canadiens and has struggled in Montreal where he is 4-5-2 with a 3.87 goals-against average and .876 save percentage. That may explain why backup Cam Talbot played the two games at Montreal this season. Lundqvist has not played at the Bell Centre since a 4-3 shootout victory in March 2009. His last regulation victory there was a 5-3 decision in February 2008. His career save percentage against the Habs is .897. Price, meanwhile, is 8-5-1 with five shutouts and a .934 save percentage against the Rangers. Montreal finished four points ahead of New York in the regular season. The Canadiens blanked New York 2-0 in the Rangers home opener on Oct. 28, lost 1-0 at the Bell Centre on Nov. 16 and edged the visiting Rangers 1-0 in overtime on the final weekend of the season. Its the first playoff meeting between the two since 1996 when the Rangers defeated Montreal 4-2 in the Eastern Conference quarter-final. It marks their 15th post-season meeting, with each team having won seven times. And its the third playoff series between the two since the 1979 Stanley Cup final, won four games to one by Montreal. Dwight Gooden Jersey ... maybe even more than that. Maybe all season I have to take a few blows. 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But Josh Bailey scored the shootout winner to lead the Islanders to a 3-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens in a battle of the Eastern Conferences two worst teams.CALGARY -- Basketball players swept the Canadian university sport awards in keeping with the buzz the sport is creating in Canada. Justine Colley of Saint Marys University and Carletons Philip Scrubb were named the BLG Award winners Monday as the top female and male athletes respectively in Canadian Interuniversity Sport. With the Toronto Raptors in the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2008 and Torontos Andrew Wiggins touted as a possible first overall pick in the NBA draft, Colley and Scrubb hope the momentum continues for hoops in Canada. "Theres a lot of excitement over basketball, which is pretty exciting since were a pretty hockey dominant country," Colley said. "I hope more people get out to games, support all the different teams across Canada, obviously support the Raptors and hopefully they make it all the way to the final. "Its amazing to see basketball starting to flourish in Canada." Colley and Scrubb were just the second basketball players to sweep the BLG Awards in its 22-year history. Windsors Jessica Clemencon and Carletons Tyson Hinz -- a Ravens teammate of Scrubbs for the past four seasons -- were the 2011 winners. "You see all the athletes down in the States playing in the NCAA tournament and the Raptors have finally made the playoffs and the CIS is really improving in terms of basketball as well, so I think people are starting to care a little bit more about basketball and theyre recognizing our talent up here," said Scrubb. Colley and Scrubb each received a $10,000 post-graduate scholarship. They were chosen by the Canadian Athletic Foundation, which administers the awards, from a group of eight finalists. Each nominee received a gold ring and a watch. Colley from East Preston, N.S., took home the Jim Thompson Trophy that goes to the top female athlete and became the first athlete from Saint Marys to win a BLG award. "Huge honour for not only myself, but also my university," the 22-year-old guard said. "Tons of support goes into Saint Marys athletics and not just Saint Marys, but throughout the whole Atlantic area." Other finalists for the Jim Thompson trophy were McGill hockey player Katia Clement-Heydra, York sprinter Khamica Bingham and University of British Columbia volleyball player Lisa Barclay. Scrubb, from Richmond, B.C., claimed the male athletes Doug Mitchell Trophy ahead of nominees Liam Heelis, a hockey player from Acadia, Bishops football player Jordan Heather and University of Saskatchewan hockey player Derek Hulak. Scrubb follows Hinz and Osvaldo Jeanty (2006) as BLG Award winners from Carleton. The Ravens captured their fourth straight CIS mens basketball title this year. "Coming in, I was young and didnt really know what was going on, but Ive learned from passt teammates to be more unselfish and try and give back because theyve all done so much for me at Carleton," Scrubb said.dddddddddddd "Overall, I think Ive improved as a person and obviously basketball has helped has well." Colley capped her fifth and final season as the all-time leading scorer in CIS womens basketball with 2,376 points. She scored 38 points in a semifinal win over Saskatchewan in the CIS championship en route to a silver medal for the Huskies. Colley also earned her second straight CIS female player-of-the-year award averaging 20.8 points per game. She was a finalist for the Jim Thompson trophy last year. "Her impact on our team and a basketball game go far beyond stats," Huskies coach Scott Munro said in a statement. "She is simply one of the best leaders I have ever been around. Her desire to compete and win separates her from any other student-athlete I have coached." Colley played last summer for the national womens team that qualified for the world championship Sept 27 to October 5 in Turkey. She wants to wear the Maple Leaf again at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil. "Olympics are on every athletes radar," she said. "Next year, we would have to qualify for the Olympics on the national team and from there go on and play in Rio. Obviously I would love to be a part of that group." Scrubb, a fourth-year commerce student, led the Ravens in points with (18.6) and assists (4.9) per game as the Carleton went 33-1 versus CIS opponents. The six-foot-three guard was named the most valuable player in CIS mens basketball for the third time. When Carleton downed archrival Ottawa in the CIS final, the Ravens avenged their only loss of the season, which was to Ottawa in the OUA final. Scrubb, 21, intends to return to Carleton and win another national title with the Ravens. He was the only university player invited to the national mens team camp last summer. "His ability speaks for itself in his success," Carleton head coach Dave Smart said. "He is a humble and selfless individual regarding the team. He is an extremely good student, balancing his dedication to the team and sport with his academics." CFL football player and Olympic bobsledder Jesse Lumsden, Olympic womens hockey team goaltender Kim St. Pierre, Olympic heptathlete Jessica Zelinka and Olympic swimmer Curtis Myden are among previous recipients of the awards, which are sponsored by the law firm Borden Ladner Gervais. The Canadian Athletic Foundation that chooses the winners is a board of 21 business people from five Canadian cities. Doug Mitchell is chairman of that board. Student-athletes must compete in CIS sport a minimum of two years to be eligible and cant be a previous recipient of a BLG Award. 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