at the All-Star Game in San Diego, where the AL batting title was named in his honor.Carew played from 1967 to 1985 for the Twins and California Angels. He w

MONTREAL -- There was to be no long, giddy playoff ride this season for the Montreal Canadiens. Fake Curry 1 . A surprising regular season that saw them go from last in the NHL Eastern Conference a year ago to second place with a 29-14-5 record in the lockout-shortened 2013 campaign came to a crashing halt in the playoffs. The Canadiens were ousted in only five games by the seventh-seeded Ottawa Senators, losing the final game in a 6-1 blowout on home ice on Thursday night. Players looked to be in shock after the game that it could be over so soon. "Its a heartbreaker," said winger Max Pacioretty. "A couple of bounces the other way and we come into (Game 5) up 3-1." While the Canadiens felt they outplayed Ottawa in all but Game 3 -- a fight-filled 6-1 defeat -- they were outscored 20-9 in the series, including 13-0 in third periods and one overtime period. The NHLs fourth-best attack in the regular season (3.04 goals per game) outshot Ottawa 172-147 in the series, but couldnt solve goaltender Craig Anderson or the big defencemen who cover the front of his net. At the other end, shots that probably shouldnt have gone in squeaked past Carey Price, who suffered a suspected groin injury late in Game 4. Backup Peter Budaj was lit up for six goals on 29 shots in the series finale. The story of the series played out in Game 1, when Montreal fired 50 shots at Anderson but lost the game 4-2. They also lost centre Lars Eller, who left behind a pool of blood as he was stretchered to an ambulance after an open-ice hit from Eric Gryba, who was suspended two games. Forwards Brian Gionta, Brandon Prust and Ryan White also didnt finish the series with injuries, while Pacioretty missed Game 2 but toughed it through the rest despite a separated shoulder. "The last two weeks we had a lot of bad luck," said coach Michel Therrien. "But our approach since Day 1 was that that was not an excuse. "And I dont think the players used that as an excuse because every game, the way they prepared themselves and the way they started the games, I could tell that was not an excuse." Now Canadiens management has to figure out what went wrong and what changes are needed for next season. Montreal made wholesale changes after the 2011-12 debacle, replacing general manager Pierre Gauthier with Marc Bergevin. He brought in a new front office, extra support staff and new coaches, led by Therrien. The team got better for many reasons, starting with remaining relatively healthy through the 48-game regular season. Big strides were made by developing players like Norris trophy candidate P.K. Subban and physical defenceman Alexei Emelin, whose injury late in the season looked to disrupt the entire defence, especially his regular partner Andrei Markov. It would not be a surprise if Bergevin went looking for more size and muscle at the back end this summer. The teams most pleasant surprise was the play of rookie forwards Alex Galchenyuk, the third overall pick in the 2012 draft, and small but gritty Brendan Gallagher, a Calder Trophy nominee after a 15-goal season. "Those two kids progressed all season long," said Therrien. "Even in the last month, they were a big factor to the team. I was really impressed with how they played in the playoffs." Six-foot-six defenceman Jarred Tinordi also emerged late in the season and the playoffs as another promising rookie, while more blue-line talent awaits in the AHL in Nathan Beaulieu and Greg Pateryn. Bergevin may also want more height and weight on his forward lines, where Gionta, Gallagher, Tomas Plekanec and David Desharnais all fall in the smaller-than-average category. His addition of tough free agent Prust last summer was a hit, and the GM is likely to want more like him. The Canadiens have 18 regulars signed for next season and may increase their cap space to the $9 million range if, as expected, they buy out unused rearguard Tomas Kaberles final year at $4.2 million and if unrestricted free agent Michael Ryder, who makes $3.5 million, signs elsewhere. Fourth-liner Colby Armstrong ($1 million), Jeff Halpern ($700,000), Petteri Nokelainen ($575,000) and defenceman Davis Drewiske ($616,000) can also be UFAs. Their restricted free agents include White, who they will likely re-sign, and defenceman Yannick Weber, who they likely wont, as well as prospects Michael Blunden and Gabriel Dumont. Despite the playoff setback, the Canadiens looked to have taken a step forward this season and should take another if, as expected, Galchenyuk emerges as a top points producer at centre and other young players like Gallagher and Eller continue to progress. And with Subbans flash and dash rushing the puck and firing rockets from the point, they should be entertaining as well. Under Armour Shoes Clearance Under Armour Store . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.outletunderarmourstore.com/fa...y-3-online.html . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. LOS ANGELES -- Baseball Hall of Famer Rod Carew is preparing to receive a new heart and undergo a kidney transplant.His wife Rhonda confirmed the procedures on Thursday through the American Heart Association News.The 71-year-old former hitting star has struggled with heart issues since September 2015 when he had a heart attack and went into cardiac arrest while undergoing a procedure to open clogged arteries.A machine has kept Carew alive since he nearly died 15 months ago. Doctors say the kidney transplant will improve his chances for a strong recovery.After his heart attack, Carew was diagnosed with extreme heart failure with his heart too weak to pump blood to the rest of his body. Doctors implanted into his chest a left ventricular assist device that took over the hearts pumping duties.The procedure allowed Carew to resume his life and he toured the country last summer to boost awareness annd prevention of heart disease. Fake Curry 4. He attended spring training with the Minnesota Twins and appeared at the All-Star Game in San Diego, where the AL batting title was named in his honor.Carew played from 1967 to 1985 for the Twins and California Angels. He was a seven-time American League batting champion and first-ballot selection to the Hall of Fame.After returning home from the Hall of Fame ceremony in July, Carew was hospitalized and doctors recommended a new heart.Rhonda Carew says the family appreciates the publics thoughts and prayers for her husband and his medical team. She expressed sympathy and appreciation to the donors family.Twins President Dave St. Peter says the team shares its thoughts and prayers with the Carews and the family of the donor. ' ' '