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. Wholesale Jerseys . Saltalamacchia drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning, Henderson Alvarez won for the first time in three starts and the Miami Marlins beat the Braves 3-2 on Thursday night. NFL Jerseys China . Both had to wait out a rain interruption lasting nearly five hours before taking comprehensive third-round victories to join Carling Bassett-Seguso (1983, 1986), Patricia Hy-Boulais (1996-97) and Daniel Nestor (1999) as Canadians who made it into the second week of a major. http://www.jerseysnhlfromchina.us/. Trailing by a goal after 20 minutes of play, Joe Pavelski responded with three goals and an assist as the Sharks snapped a two-game losing skid with a 5-2 victory over the struggling Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic . -- Creighton apparently has Villanovas number. Wholesale NHL Jerseys Authentic .S. womens soccer team to a 2-0 win over China in Colorado in the afternoon.HALIFAX -- Canadas next tie in the Davis Cup against Colombia will be held on an indoor hard court in Halifax in September. The tennis matches between the two countries take place at the Halifax Metro Centre from Sept. 12-14. The last time a Davis Cup tie was held in Halifax was in 1998 when Canada defeated Mexico 3-2 in the first round of Americas Zone Group I. The Nova Scotia government and the city have both provided Tennis Canada with $65,000 in grants to bring the event to Halifax. The matches in September mark the first time a professional tennis event will be played at the MMetro Centre, which will have about 4,500 seats plus limited premium box seating available for the tie.dddddddddddd Canada played its first round tie on the road in February against Japan in Tokyo, losing 4-1 as two of its top singles players, Milos Raonic and Vasek Pospisil, were injured. Tennis Canada says the four Davis Cup team members to face Colombia will be selected at a later date. Canada must win in September to remain in the World Group for 2015. A loss would relegate Canada back to Americas Zone Group I for next year where they have not played since 2011. ' ' '