MONTREAL - Jiri Sekac is making a strong case to stay in the Montreal Canadiens lineup. Casey Cizikas Jersey .After sitting out seven games as a healthy scratch, Sekac was one of the best players on the ice on Saturday, helping Montreal to a 4-1 victory over the visiting Minnesota Wild. The 22-year-old scored a goal and added an assist for his first multi-point game of his young NHL career.I dont think it can get any better right now, said Sekac, whos played in back-to-back games after missing the previous seven. Its just an amazing feeling in front of all these fans. I just cant describe it right now.Sekac, whos battling Rene Bourque, Travis Moen and the currently injured Michael Bournival for playing time, finished Saturdays contest with two points, four shots and a hit in 13:36 of work.With the Canadiens in front 2-1 early in the third period, the Czech Republic native was rewarded for an already solid game when he poked the puck across the goal-line past a helpless Darcy Kuemper for his second goal of the season.Im trying to get used to every game, said Sekac, whos looking for a permanent place on the Canadiens starting roster. Hopefully its just going to go up now, not the other way.Sekac was dangerous on several occasions against the Wild.Midway through the second period, the left-winger came close to padding Montreals 1-0 lead when he swiped at a loose, bouncing puck in the crease, but failed to connect. Later in the period, Kuemper gloved Sekacs powerful wrist shot, and the Wild goalie again frustrated the 22-year-old from the slot in the third.Hes skating well, making the right decisions with the puck, said head coach Michel Therrien of Sekac. Sometimes, taking a step back is not a bad thing. At the start of the season, I saw a player with less energy. Now, hes got his energy back, hes quick, and hes having success right now.Added Lars Eller: Its the same thing I said before the season. Hes going to surprise a lot of people. Hes got skill, and hes a smart player.Sekac got an assist on Ellers game-winner in the final minute of the second period. After good puck circulation between Sekac, Brandon Prust, and Eller, the Dane fired past Kuemper glove side with a screened snap shot from the faceoff circle.The Canadiens are undefeated (7-0-0) when tied or leading going into the third, and the storyline was no different Saturday.Carey Price made 10 of his 30 saves in the third period for his eighth victory in 12 games. With the performance, Prices save percentage jumped from .907 to .912.The Habs (10-4-1) have now beaten Minnesota (7-6-0) in five of the teams last six meetings in Montreal.After a scoreless first period that saw the Wild come close to beating Price on several occasions, the Canadiens got on the board midway through the second.Coming down the wing with speed, Brendan Gallagher ripped a slapshot to the roof of the net at 9:26, beating Kuemper for his first point in his last nine games. The goal came just inches from the spot where Eller would later score the game-winner.The Wilds Jason Pominville equalized at 14:59 of the second, minutes after Sekac came close to doubling Montreals lead.Following a bad giveaway by Andrei Markov at the blue-line, former-Hab Thomas Vanek walked into the offensive zone on an odd-man rush, and found Pominville alone at the side of the net for the easy tap-in.Vanek, in his first return to Montreal since signing a three-year deal with Minnesota in the off-season, finished the game with one point in 17:04. The Austrian played 29 games with the Canadiens last year.After Eller gave Montreal the 2-1 lead, Sekacs goal wasnt without controversy. The poke-in was made easy as Kuemper, who made 27 saves in defeat, was left incapacitated on the ice after Minnesotas Nino Niederreiter pushed Prust onto the Wild goalie.The referees and linesmen conferred, and the goal stood because it was a Wild player who hit Prust first.I knew I was pushed in pretty hard, said Prust. I was pushed right into the crossbar. I was sitting there, listening to the refs conversation, and I heard him say that it was a good goal. I knew before everybody else.Minnesota Wild head coach Mike Yeo was surprised the goal wasnt disallowed.I didnt really get a chance to react to it, he said. They (the referees) didnt really want to come and talk to me, and then the puck was dropped at centre ice. Im obviously not very pleased. I thought we were going on the power play there.Max Pacioretty put the game out of the Wilds reach with his team-leading sixth of the season at 6:04.Montreal is now 4-0 when scoring first.Prior to puck drop, the Canadiens retired defenceman Guy Lapointes No. 5.Lapointe played 14 seasons with Montreal between 1968 and 1982 before brief stints with the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins. He recorded 622 points in 894 career games, and ranks second in goals by a Canadiens defenceman with 166.I am very honoured to be here tonight, 32 years after my last game with the Montreal Canadiens, Lapointe told fans before the ceremonial banner raising. I never thought that one day, my No. 5 would hang up there.Nicknamed Pointu, Lapointe holds the Canadiens record for most goals in a year by a defenceman with 28. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993.Notes: Bourque was a healthy scratch for a second consecutive game. Bournival was out with an injured shoulder. … Minnesotas point leader Zach Parise (upper-body injury) did not travel to Montreal. … Earlier in the day, the Habs recalled winger Drayson Bowman from the Hamilton Bulldogs. Scott Mayfield Islanders Jersey . The Red Sox maintained a share of the AL wild-card lead Tuesday night, using four home runs to beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-7 and set up a dramatic conclusion to the regular season. The skidding Red Sox were 6-19 this month before rebounding to edge the last-place Orioles. Josh Bailey Islanders Jersey . Manager Ryan Nelsen has confirmed Brazilian No. 1 Julio Cesar will be rested for Wednesdays first leg of the semifinal. That opens the door for Bendik, who started 33 games for Toronto last season. http://www.islanderssale.com/authentic-thomas-greiss-islanders-jersey/ .Impact president Joey Saputo confirmed Thursday that he is part of a group of investors whose offer to buy the 105-year-old Italian club was accepted by the teams board of directors.NEW YORK -- The NFL will discuss expanded playoffs at the owners meetings next month in Atlanta. Commissioner Roger Goodell told a gathering of Associated Press Sports Editors on Thursday that a vote is uncertain on the proposal to add two teams to the post-season. Should the owners vote on the increase in May, Goodell said the 14-team playoffs could be implemented for the upcoming season, or for 2015. If no vote is taken, then 2015 would be the target for expanded playoffs, with a vote possible in October or next March. The league also would need to consult with the players union on the matter, but it seems clear more playoff teams are on the way. "Were being very deliberate about it," Goodell said. "We want to make sure we do it in the right way." The NFL also will experiment with snapping the ball from the 15-yard line on extra points in the first two weeks of the preseason to make them more challenging. A kick from that distance would wind up being about 33 yards. Previously, the plan had been to experiment with moving kicks back to the 20. But in conversations with the leagues competition committee and various teams, officiating director Dean Blandino said it became apparent a 33-yard extra point was a wiser choice for the experiment. Blandino added that veteran referees Scott Green and Ron Winter have retired, and will be replaced by Craig Wrolstad and Ronald Torbert. Wrolstad had been a field judge and Torbert was a side judge; both have college refereeing experience. Two female officials will be working minicamps and preseason games: line judge Sarah Thomas and head linesman Maia Chaka. Both work in Conference USA. They are part of the leagues officiating development program. The NFL also hired the sons of two current officials: field judge Brad Freeman, the son of back judge Steve Freeman, a former player with Buffalo; and field judge Shawn Hochuli, son of referee Ed Hochuli. Goodell and various other NFL executives were asked about the repercussions from thee bullying incidents with the Miami Dolphins involving Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito. Anthony Beauvillier Islanders Jersey. "You never want to see any story that reflects on that we dont have the right workplace environment," Goodell said. "Weve redoubled our efforts to make sure we provide the right environment ... for everybody in the NFL." Blandino added that in an effort to have on-field action in which the players are respectful, there will be a heavy emphasis on reducing taunting. From 2012 to 2013, the number of taunting incidents increased from nine to 34. "Its important having the right culture in place," added Robert Gulliver, the NFLs chief diversity officer. "A culture of respect for the game, for each other, for coaches, officials and fans. Well engage in positive training with the 32 clubs." Asked about the first openly gay player, Michael Sam of Missouri, soon entering the league, NFL football operations chief Troy Vincent said the league was looking forward to welcoming Sam into its ranks. Vincent, a star defensive back for 15 seasons and former president of the NFL Players Association, said he played with "six openly gay players inside the locker room" who did not publicly announce their sexual orientation. "It worked, we won many football games," Vincent said. "They were players, and we didnt see them any differently." NFL general counsel Jeff Pash said the league remains optimistic that a U.S. district judge will approve the $765 million concussion settlement with former players. The judge, Anita Brody, has expressed concerns the fund may not be large enough to cover up to 20,000 retired players for 65 years. "Were confident we will get it done," Pash said. "I think were getting close to the point where well have a package thats satisfactory. Our overriding goal is that both sides get this structure in place so we can begin providing compensation to people who need it." ' ' '