Geburtstage » Therrien. "But I can predict what the answers will be

WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- South Africas Sharks and defending champions the Chiefs remained the only unbeaten teams in Super Rugby after a fifth round which featured a storm of yellow cards and cliff-hanger endings. The Durban-based Sharks withstood a furious second-half fightback to beat the Queensland Reds 35-20 for a fourth straight win which gave them a five-point lead atop the championship table. The Hamilton-based Chiefs scored two late tries to beat the Cape Town-based Stormers 36-20 for their third win, after the Stormers rallied from 24-6 down to 24-20 with six minutes remaining. The ACT Brumbies, reduced to 14 men for almost 20 minutes, held on to beat the New South Wales Waratahs 28-23 in a gripping Australian derby, inflicting the Waratahs first loss in three games. In Dunedin, the Western Force were reduced to 13 men for the last eight minutes but clung on to beat the Highlanders 31-29 for their second straight bonus-point victory. Replacement flyhalf Hayden Parker scored a last-minute try for the Highlanders but missed the conversion, allowing the Force to claim back-to-back wins for the first time since April 2011. The Auckland-based Blues scored 36 second-half points in the most remarkable comeback of the round but still went down 39-36 to the Lions in Johannesburg, to be left with only one win from four matches. The Blues had two players sin-binned during the second half. In Wellington, the Hurricanes overran the Cheetahs 60-27, by nine tries to three, to capture their first win of the season in a match in which defences were either inept or non-existent. The match featured the most bizarre sin-binning of the round -- Cheetahs fullback Willie Le Roux was shown a yellow card in the 43rd minute for a deliberate knock-on, though it seemed perfectly apparent he had attempted an intercept. The flurry of yellow cards and a number of other contentious decisions again focused attention on the poor or inconsistent standard of refereeing, which continues to frustrate coaches and players. Scrums remain a particular area of frustration but there have been wider concerns about the failure of referees to spot glaring infringements -- notably in a critical try for the Lions against the Blues which came from a knock-on. Players and coaches must also answer for a lack of structure and the poor quality of fundamental skills in many matches -- the rates of turnovers and handling errors are higher than even early season glitches can excuse. The match between the Hurricanes and Cheetahs was a free-for-all that lacked any structure and in which tackles were not only regularly missed but often not even attempted. The Brumbies showed the value of a well-organized defence in their win over the Waratahs. Though they conceded 14 late points, they were still able to hold on while a man short to post their third win from four games and to move to the top of the Australian conference. Flanker Scott Fardy and flyhalf Matt Toomua were leaders of an outstanding Brumbies defensive effort. Brumbies captain Ben Mowen said he was disappointed his team lost two players to yellow cards, requiring it to play most of the last 20 minutes with 14. "Discipline goes hand in hand with how we want to play," he said. "Thats not something you can do regularly and expect to get a result." The Sharks benefitted from a yellow card in beating the Reds after leading 25-6 at halftime. Queensland dominated a half during which it remained parked in Sharks territory but the sin-binning of Beau Robinson allowed the Sharks to score a converted try three minutes from fulltime to clinch the match. "We gave the Sharks some ball position and some ill-discipline really cost us - theyve got some great goalkickers and that showed on the scoreboard," Reds captain James Horwill said. The Chiefs again showed they are the best-coached team in New Zealand with their win over the Stormers. They scored five tries, including one to Tanerau Latimer in his 100th match, as coach Dave Rennie and his assistants devised a method to break down the Stormers formidable defence. "Its pretty exciting when you do a lot of analysis during the week and you see certain pictures that the defence gives you and you are able to exploit it right up the field," Chiefs co-captain Aaron Cruden said. "We made most of our best gains deep in our half as opposed to closer to their line. It was nice to step up." Ecco Shoes Sale Online Ireland .The Williams siblings, with 25 Grand Slam titles between them, will have a couple of Madisons joining them, too.Madison Keys had a 6-4, 7-5 upset win over two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova on Saturday night, and Madison Brengle beat Coco Vandeweghe 6-3, 6-2 in an all-U. Wholesale Ecco Shoes . With the union re-formed, negotiations with owners will resume Friday on the remaining issues that would be in the collective bargaining agreement, according to a person familiar with the plans. http://www.wholesaleeccoireland.com/ . Seth Smith hit a towering drive for a tying homer leading off the eighth and Chris Denorfia singled home two runs to give the Padres a 3-1 victory against the rival Dodgers in baseballs North American opener Sunday night. Ecco Shoes Clearance Sale . PETERSBURG, Fla. Wholesale Ecco Ireland . - This win was more the New Jersey Devils style.BROSSARD, Que. -- Those impatient for the Stanley Cup to return to Canada will have just one team to root for in the NHL playoffs -- the Montreal Canadiens. For the first time since 1973, only one Canadian team has qualified for the NHL post-season. The Canadiens will face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opening round, with only home ice advantage to be decided in the final regular-season games on the weekend. Defenceman Josh Gorges said Friday he expects a lot of attention, but it will be no more pressure than what the team deals with every day of the season. "There may be more eyes within Canada watching our games," the Kelowna, B.C. native said. "In Canada, they have their loyalties to their local teams, but come playoff time, youve watched when Vancouver was in the Cup (final) a few years ago. "Calgary, Edmonton, the same thing. The whole country rallies around because they want to see a Stanley Cup come back to Canada. But I dont think it adds anything. Theres enough pressure just because of what were trying to accomplish." In 1973, the Canadiens were the lone Canadian playoff team and they won the Cup. They are also the last Canadian team to win a Cup in 1993. They are widely considered to be long shots to go more than a round or two this time, even though theyve had an excellent season, have Canadian Olympic gold medallist Carey Price in goal, and got a major boost at the trade deadline in scoring winger Thomas Vanek. Last season, four Canadian teams made the playoffs. Only two made it in the two seasons before that. It seems odd that clubs with such enthusiastic fans and which sell out every game have so much trouble finishing in the top eight in their conferences. But Gorges said the added attention may be what makes it so difficult. "Its a little bit strange, but at the same time, its not easy playing in Canadian markets," he said. "On a lot of teams in the States, theres nothing more to it than going out and playing the game and getting the two points, whereas a lot of times in Canada, you cant escape hockey. "No matter where you go, theres added, outside things that affect your performance. I think weve done a good job here of trying to find that balance, but that could, maybe, be a reason why some Canadian teams havent been in there." The Canadiens have reached the playoffs in six of the last seven seasons, missing in 2012. Their best season since 1993 was in 2010 when they reached the Eastern Conference final. The Vancouver Canucks saw a run of five straight trips to the post-season end this season. "Going into the season, you look at all the Canadian teams and youd think most of them would be contending," said Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher.dddddddddddd"For us, being the only one, well probably have some of Canada on our side. "Some of them will still hate us, but it doesnt change what we do and how we have to prepare." The second-year forwards only playoff experience was in an all-Canadian series last spring, when Montreal was beaten in five games by the Ottawa Senators. "Theres so much expectation for Canadian teams to compete because the fans are so passionate and they care so much," said Gallagher, an Edmonton native. "Every fan base in Canada expects their team to be in the playoffs every year. "Im sure next year it will be different, but for us, it doesnt change anything. Were happy to be where we are and want to take advantage of it." While having only one team is rare, its an improvement on 1970, when no Canadian teams made it. Bobby Orrs Boston Bruins beat St. Louis in the final that year. The Canadiens, who are 0-for-20 on the power play in their last seven games, worked mostly on special teams going into their regular season finale Saturday night at home against the New York Rangers. The Canadiens hope a win coupled with a Tampa Bay loss will let them start the playoffs at home, but they dont seem to be sweating it one way or the other. "If its us or Tampa Bay that has home ice advantage, we dont know," said coach Michel Therrien. "But I can predict what the answers will be when we know on Sunday night: The team that has it will be really happy and the team that doesnt will say it doesnt matter." Forward Lars Eller didnt skate and it likely to miss a third game with a flu. Winger Brandon Prust is also out with an upper body injury. Therrien expects him to be ready for the playoffs but cautioned "were not quite sure yet." Forward Travis Moen, out eight games with a concussion, is also a question mark. Winger Michael Blunden was recalled from AHL Hamilton. The Canadiens announced that captain Brian Gionta edged out Gallagher for the Jacques Beauchamp Trophy as the teams unsung hero in voting by the local media. The two-way right winger has played 80 games this season after missing a large part of the last two campaigns with biceps injuries. "From the outside looking in, fans may not realize how important he is," Gorges said of Gionta. "Its not always about how many points you get, its what you do to help the team win games." 17:39ET 11-04-14 ' ' '