e 3-pointers. The Wolverines led 34-25 at halftime.It was 41-36 whenn

MONTREAL -- Alexander Radulov was beaming on Thursday night.He was showing his 11-month-old son around the Canadiens digs at the Bell Centre. The expression on Radulovs face as he carried his baby son around in his right arm could have lit up the entire arena.These are good times indeed for the once-banished Nashville Predators winger. Ra-du, Ra-du, the crowd had chanted once again during a Habs power play in Montreals 3-1 win over the?Tampa Bay Lightning.Its been good [here] so far for me and my family, Radulov, 30, said on Friday. Its nice to hear that reaction from the fans. Its big for me obviously, but I have to work hard and keep going. Every time I step on the ice, I have to do something to help the team.Just eight games into the NHL season, it appears that Alexei Kovalev, version 2.0, has surfaced here in La Belle Province. The passionate Montreal fans have embraced the latest version of the misunderstood, enigmatic Russian winger with oodles of talent.Kovalev found new life in his NHL career when he came here years ago. The fans absolutely loved him. This might be happening all over again with Radulov, who is winning over the folks in these parts not just with his offensive flair, but just as much for his dogged determination away from the puck.You learn from things you go through, said Radulov. Its not all about just scoring goals or getting assists. Hockey is about playing both ways. To be a good player, defense, neutral zone, you have to block shots, take a check, whatever helps at that time in a game. The goals and assists will be there if you work hard and do the right job.?And the fans have noticed. People here see if youre working hard, they will respect that,?said Radulov.One person who would have easily predicted Radulovs early-season success in his return to the NHL after four years back in Russia is his former junior coach in Quebec City.I love Alexander Radulov as a person, said Hall of Famer Patrick Roy?in French via email Thursday. Hes a dominant player and dedicated and Im not surprised at all to see his success so far this season.The Habs struck out when they took a flyer on a Russian project named Alexander Semin a year ago. Montreal sent Semin packing rather quickly last December.The Canadiens are banking on a different player his time around. Canadiens general manager?Marc Bergevin talked with a lot of people before signing Radulov to a one-year, $5.75-million deal on July 1.Our guys in Europe really liked his compete level. His skating level was high off the charts, Bergevin said before Thursdays win. For me, personally, that part is very important, the compete level. I think skill is important, but if you have skill and you dont compete, those guys come and go. Theres always a risk, especially for a guy whos been gone (from the NHL) for a while, so the term of the contract was very important.On a day in which some teams once again had to overpay for the top free agents -- as veteran players landed five-, six- and seven-year deals all over the place last July 1 -- the Habs got an impact player on a one-year deal. In todays cap world, thats found gold.As long as he delivers, of course.I think the fact he played in Quebec City helped us sell him on the passion of our fans in Montreal. So far its worked out well, said Bergevin.Radulov said his history with the Quebec Remparts was what he pointed to when Bergevin first approached him about playing in Montreal.The first thing in the meeting with Marc, he was asking if I could handle the pressure here in Montreal, said Radulov. I said, Yeah, I played before in Quebec, I know the French-Canadian people, I had success there. I get that feeling that Montreal is a great place to play hockey, great fans, great organization, Original Six team.Its all about winning here, Radulov continued. Thats why I chose Montreal. I hate losing, too. I want to win. We have a good group of guys with a chance to win.Among that group of guys is an old Predators buddy in Shea Weber. And yes, Bergevin made sure to tap into Webers personal knowledge of Radulov before taking the plunge.Oh yeah, I talked to Shea. He said, Berg, I would (sign him) if you can, said the Habs GM. He said, We grew up together. I think it could work with him. Yeah he put his stamp on it, he did.The Predators and the Habs have some interesting connections this season, dont they? There was so much debate about the Weber-for-P.K. Subban blockbuster. And then you have Bergevin scooping up a player whom Nashville GM David Poile drafted, developed and then brought back a second time from Russia for the 2012 playoffs, an experiment that famously ended with Radulov missing curfew and the Predators self-imploding against the Coyotes in part because of that distraction.When we drafted him, we were looking for a high-end, offensive, talented player, Poile said in a phone conversation earlier this week. There are sometimes some risk with every player when they have that type of skill level. We were really excited when we drafted him, really excited when we brought him over here.But where it breaks off for me is that there was a whole series of things that probably fall under immaturity that didnt allow him to be successful on a consistent basis on our team, added Poile. Youd have to ask him why he went back to Russia in the first place, because I think that hurt him more than anything. I think if he would have stuck it out, my guess is that it would have worked out for us. And him.The second time was real unfortunate, at the most important time of year. We made a decision, and it was the end of our relationship.Seeing a more mature Radulov having this kind of early season success with the Habs? Poile always knew that player was in there. Its why he brought him back a second time.?It turns out that the third time was the charm.Do I wish he would have found the maturity and consistency level with us a few years ago? Absolutely, but it didnt happen, said Poile.When he left Nashville in 2012, Radulov wondered if that was the end of the line for him in the NHL. But he kept the hope -- and the drive --alive.?I wont lie to you, I had a lot of things in my mind, said Radulov. I still believed if I kept working hard back home in Russia and play as good and hard as I can over there, make sure people here see me in case I could come back when I had a chance. Its worked out. Im hoping to play over here for a number of years.Custom Nike Washington Nationals Jerseys .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys Outlet . But when it comes to determining if Raymond will find a place on the Leafs roster when training camp concludes in a week, well, that decision will ultimately fall to the head coach. https://www.customnikebaseballjerseys.com/ . It was the kind of score that might make everyone else wonder which course he was playing. Except that Graeme McDowell saw the whole thing. Crouched behind the 10th green at Sheshan International, McDowell looked over at the powerful American and said, "Ive probably seen 18 of the best drives Ive seen all year in the last two days. Wholesale Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. Custom Nike New York Yankees Jerseys . LOUIS -- Theres no telling how these wacky World Series games will end.ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- There would be no easing into the season opener for Michigan. The Wolverines were held scoreless for over five minutes at the beginning of their game against Howard.Ive been coaching a long time, and what Howard did defensively, was something, I dont recall seeing it, actually, Michigan coach John Beilein said. Its an aggressive matchup zone, and theyre taking things away, and theyre really flying around with great quickness.The Wolverines eventually overcame that tough defense. Derrick Walton scored 14 of his 20 points in the first half, and Michigan fought through a poor shooting night to beat Howard 76-58 on Friday.The Wolverines ended up shooting just 42 percent from the field. The Bison trailed 41-36 with under 12 minutes remaining in the game before Michigan asserted itself.Mark Donnal scored 12 points for Michigan, and Zak Irvin added 11.Damon Collins scored 12 points for Howard, which was without guard James Daniel, the nations leading scorer last season. He is expected to miss about another month with a high ankle sprain.Free throws helped boost Michigans margin in a foul-filled game. The Wolverines went 23 of 26 from the line, while Howard was just 14 of 29.Were so used to Daniel making that play for us, Howard coach Kevin Nickelberry said. Hes an 80 percent free-throw shooter. He makes big 3s. ... Weve got to get used to, those moments are not just his moments anymore. For six or seven games, its their moments.Michigans scoreless stretch to open the game was finally broken when Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman made a couple 3-pointers. The Wolverines led 34-25 at halftime.It was 41-36 whenn Howards Solomon Mangham missed two free throws.ddddddddddddIrvin made a jumper at the other end, and Michigan slowly began extending the lead. It was 49-38 after a 3-pointer by Irvin.BIG PICTUREHoward: The Bison were picked to win the MEAC in a preseason poll of coaches and sports information directors, and they did a good job staying in the game against Michigan despite Daniels absence.Michigan: It wasnt the prettiest game, but perhaps thats not the worst thing for the Wolverines, who are trying to improve their defense this season and show they can grind out wins even when their offense isnt clicking.ENERGYDonnal had six rebounds to go along with his dozen points, and fellow backup D.J. Wilson had nine points and eight rebounds.Thats our job, is be energy guys off the bench, Donnal said. D.J. did a good job of getting a few offensive rebounds and keeping a lot of plays alive.NEW ADDITIONSMichigan announced the signing of guard Eli Brooks (Spring Grove, Pennsylvania), forward Isaiah Livers (Kalamazoo, Michigan) and guard Jordan Poole (Milwaukee) to letters of intent for 2017-18.UP NEXTHoward: The Bison take on Marquette on Monday night in Milwaukee. That game -- along with the Howard-Michigan game -- is part of the 2K Classic, which benefits Wounded Warrior Project.Michigan: The Wolverines host IUPUI on Sunday in another 2K Classic game.---For more college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister ' ' '