Eric Lucas Retires.

Yesterday at the Pepsi centre in Quebec city, former world champion Eric Lucas was facing a tough opponent in Librado Andrade. Coming back to pro boxing after four years of inactivity, many thought that Andrade was too much for Lucas.

Both fighters gave a good show as they started to mix it up very early in the fight. Eric Lucas seemed to have the early advantage with his efficient counter attacks. Andrade was tested in round 3 as Lucas registered his best shots of the fight during that round.

But a nasty cut to Lucas' left eye slowed him down and Librado Andrade gradually picked up the pace. During round 8, Lucas started to bleed heavily and the fight was stopped by the ring doctor. Eric Lucas did not complain and accepted the verdict.

Both fighters congratulated each other after the bout and Eric Lucas confirmed the fact that he will not fight again during the press conference that followed the event. Eric Lucas fought with courage, at the exact image of the rest of his career.

Lucas' pro record shows 39 wins, 8 losses and 3 draws, a WBC title reign, and numerous exciting fights. This very respectable athlete went way beyond the expectations during his career.

Thank you Eric Lucas for the memories and good luck in your future projects.

(Picture: Canadian Press.)

Win Your Own Dolce Gusto Machine!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Nestle Nescafe Dolce Gusto. All opinions are 100% mine.

Many of you participated earlier this year and hoped to win one of those great machines.

We are all glad that Nescafe repeats with another win a NESCAFE Dolce Gusto machine contest.



Many of you already know about the new and cool coffee machines from Nescafe. They are very easy to handle and their exclusive system reinvents the way you prepare coffee every time.

With this effective coffee machine, you can make a number of different varieties of coffee in no time and without hassle. From cappucinos to expressos, hot chocolate and cafe latte, the Dolce Gusto machine makes a great coffee, every time.

Think about a new way to start your day. Put an end to your the routine and the same old coffee every day. The different conbinations that the Dolce Gusto machine offers, added to the simplicity of the whole system is really an interesting alternative to your old water heater.

Instant coffee is no match for the Dolce Gusto.

So, you can win 1 of 10 NESCAFE Dolce Gusto machines by entering the contest online at Divine.ca. The contest runs from April 26, 2010 to June 20, 2010 and the contest is reserved for Canada residents only. Hurry up as the deadline approaches quickly.

All you have to do is register at Divine.ca for your chance to win 1 of those 10 coffee machines.

Eastern Conference Final: Philadelphia Advances To The Stanley Cup Final.

This Monday, Game Five of the Eastern conference final between the Montreal Canadiens and the Philadelphia Flyers was disputed with a high level of intensity.

This 4-2 victory for the Flyers in this Game Five was without a doubt the most entertaining game of the series.

The Canadiens opened the score quickly and for once, beat Michael Leighton in this series. Brian Gionta scored during the very first minute of the game on a low shot that was misplayed by the goaltender. A ninth goal in those 2010 playoffs for the smallest forward of the league.

Philadelphia replied to this opening goal quickly. Only a couple of minutes later, Mike Richards beat Jaroslav Halak on a race to the puck. After Richards, Halak and defense men Roman Hamrlik collided in an bizarre wreck, the loose puck went on with his funny race towards the goal and Richards dumped the puck in the empty net.

The Flyers clinched their Stanley Cup final berth during the second period when they scored two quick unanswered goals. Aaron Asham from close range gave the Flyers the deifnitive lead. A minute and a half later, Jeff Carter doubled the Flyers lead.

The Canadiens played with desperation in the third period and had glorious chances to turn the game, and the whole series around. The Flyers played on their heels and allowed a photo finish type of ending. Scott Gomez collected a lose puck in front of Leighton and shot it over the goalie's shoulder to reduce Philadelphia's lead to a single goal.

Then a four minute penalty to Chris Pronger for a high stick on defense men P.K. Subban was the perfect opportunity for Montreal. But the Flyers' defense and goaltender hung on.

The Canadiens removed Halak for a sixth attacker in the dying minutes of the game but without any success. Jeff Carter added an empty net goal to seal the deal.

Final score: Philadelphia Flyers 4 - Montreal Canadiens 2 (Philadelphia wins the series by 4-1.)

The wonderful playoff run of the Montreal Canadiens satisfied a number of fans who waited way too long. To eliminate the No1 seeded team and the defending champions back-to-back is a wonderful achievement and will be an excellent building block for next season.

There are many big decisions to be made towards free agency and contract renewal this summer for the Canadiens' General Manager Pierre Gauthier.

To conclude, the Philadelphia Flyers and the Chicago Blackhawks will face-off in this 2010 Stanley Cup final. The best-of-seven series will open Saturday in Chicago.

(Picture: Getty Images.)

It's Barbecue Time!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of henderson bas. All opinions are 100% mine.

Here we are!

Our favorite season is now open. I missed my barbecue this winter and the delightful taste of barbecued meat. I already installed mine in my backyard this spring. I am pretty sure that many of you have done just like me and already used your grill this season. Yep, the unique taste of barbecue cannot be matched.

So, what is the secret of a tender, juicy steak?

Find out on the website with the helpful tips from Chef Michael Cloutier and really start grilling to perfection! You and your family will enjoy the incredible difference. It's easy and best of all, it's all delicious!

Chef Cloutier really brings it to you in a simple way, especially for those of you not familiar with the entire grilling process. Yes, those of you that still makes the same mistakes when comes the time to grill. Everyone knows that grilling is an art and every little detail counts. From the hardware and tools we use, the cooking time and temperature, to the final touch of spice.

Today I invite every Canadian resident to register to La Serious Griller Contest!

A contest for every barbecue maniac with a $300 package from Canadian Tire to be won. Just in time for your own barbecue season.

I wish the best of luck to all of you and a long, wonderful, delicious barbecue season!

Eastern Conference Final: Montreal Halfway Out Of The Self-Dug Hole.

Game 1: Philadelphia Flyers 6 - Montreal Canadiens 0
Game 2: Philadelphia Flyers 3 - Montreal Canadiens 0

(Philadelphia leads the series by 2-0)

There is no team that can dig a hole as deep as the Montreal Canadiens can.

For some reason, the Habs' offense was nowhere around Michael Leighton's net during the first two games of the series and could not score a single time on him.

The series moved to the Bell centre Thursday night and a totally different Montreal team shown up for that game. The forwards were charging the net defended by Leighton and a lot more shots were directed.

Combined with a poor defensive outing by the whole Flyers defensive unit, the Canadiens buzzed around for most of the night. Michael Cammalleri once again opened the score with his league leading 13th goal of the playoffs. Tom Pyatt doubled Montreal's advantage as he charged in a loose puck.

The bleu-blanc-rouge tonado went on during the second period but only produced a single goal. Dominic Moore beat Leighton late in the second frame with a wrist shot that trickled between the goaltender's legs.

In the third frame, Brian Gionta scored a fourth unanswered goal for Montreal before Simon Gagné beat Jaroslav Halak for the only time during the game. The Canadiens lifted the crowd once more when Marc-Andre Bergeron scored with his patented one-timer during a man advantage. Incidently the first power play goal of the series for the Canadiens.

Final score: Montreal Canadiens 5 - Philadelphia Flyers 1 (Philadelphia leads the series by 2-1.)

The Canadiens are halfway out of the hole and really needs to tie this series a two games apiece Saturday. I expect a lot more opposition from the Flyers in Game Four and it should be a great game.

(Picture: Michael Cammalleri, Getty Images.)

Do You Take Vitamins?

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of VitaDigest. All opinions are 100% mine.

Outside the classic ''Flintstones'' vitamins and other brands that my mom used to give me during breakfast when I was a kid, I have not been myself a regular customer in the food supplement aisle. Until today, my health status and general form did not require immediate help from supplement.

But the market doesn't revolve around myself and I know that a large portion of the population uses vitamins and other supplements on a regular basis.

So if you are looking for brand names and a vast choice, there are over 13,000 vitamins, supplements, and other health products available to you over here at VitaDigest.

Vitadigest.com is growing fast and serves a large number of customers as they were awarded the INC5000 for 2009 as top 5000 Fastest growing company.

And to continue to grow, VitaDigest offers FREE shipping on all orders over $100. That's right, free shipping on popular brand names like Natural Factors only to name this one.

And that's not all, with such a vast number of available products, some interesting sections on the site offers, for example, some personal care products and even some cool intimacy products, gifts and games. You have to check it out for yourself to really have an idea.

I really liked the Wedding cake bride & groom for sale. :)

Thank you to all for your time and have a healthy summer!

Go Habs Go!

Here is a popular rally song from Loco Locass and some neat images of Montreal's Cup fever.

Canadiens-Penguins: Priceless Victory.

As the old saying goes, to become a champion, you have to defeat the champion. The Montreal Canadiens won the seventh and final encounter with the defending champions Pittsburgh Penguins this Wednesday evening at the Mellon arena.

The Cinderella Canadiens struck early in this match when Brian Gionta deflected P.K. Subban's shot in behind Marc-Andre Fleury who had a very difficult outing. Fleury allowed four goals on 14 shots. Dominic Moore doubled the Canadiens' lead before the end of the first frame.

The Canadiens extended their lead to four goals early into the second period. Michael Cammalleri -with his 12th goal of the playoffs- and Travis Moen -shorthanded- chased goaltender Fleury out of the series.

The Penguins did try to creep back into this game but it was too little too short. Jaroslav Halak allowed two goals before the end of the second period but stood tall in the eye of the tornado. Chris Kunitz and Jordan Staal lifted the champions hopes for a moment, bringing the Penguins within 2.

The story of those 2010 Stanley cup playoffs, Jaroslav Halak, pulled some more tricks out of his hat in the third period. The Slovak goaltender was stellar during the successive man advantages awarded to Pittsburgh. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will probably experience nightmares this summer courtesy of Jaroslav Halak.

Brian Gionta with his second goal of the night relieved some pressure on Halak. With that goal, the Canadiens broke the champions' spirits and sailed on to this fantastic victory.

Final score: Montreal Canadiens 5 - Pittsburgh Penguins 2 (Montreal wins the series by 4-3.)

The Canadiens reaches the Eastern conference final for the first time since 1993. They will face the winner of the Boston-Philadelphia series.

The elimination of the Penguins also marks the end of the Mellon arena era. A number of fantastic moments, players and memories took part in that building. The Canadiens' fans can now brag about opening and closing the Mellon arena with a victory.

I cannot wait to follow the continuation of this fantastic journey of my favorite hockey club. The way that the team eliminated both the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins is not going unnoticed and the story is only getting bigger and bigger.

Halfway towards the Grail, the pause will not last long until round No. 3 opens.

(Picture: Michael Cammalleri, Getty Images.)

Canadiens-Penguins: David Brings Goliath To The Limit.

Monday at the Bell centre, one of the most intense and entertaining game of these 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs was disputed between the Montreal Canadiens and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins were looking to finish off the Canadiens in six games but their plans were cut short by a determined team who refused to lose.

Michael Cammalleri opened the score early into the contest with a blistering shot that did not gave a chance to goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. But the defending champions tied the game up at 1 before the end of the first frame when Sidney Crosby batted a rebound behind Jaroslav Halak. It was Crosby's first goal of the series.

The Penguins took the lead during the second period when Halak dropped Kristopher Letang's shot. Already a fifth goal in the series for Letang who always seems to find the right time to score.

But this very exciting second period was far from over. Michael Cammalleri injected some more energy to the crowd with his second goal of the evening, tying the score at 2. Then Jaroslav Spacek gave the lead to Montreal with a shot from the blue line. The defensemen could not find a better time to end his 51-game scoreless streak.

In the third period, Maxim Lapierre gave some breathing room to the home team on a brillant individual effort. Lapierre controlled the puck at will and skated towards the front of the net unchallenged and did not miss such a glorious chance.

Bill Guerin brought Pittsburgh within one goal with less than two minutes to play when he deflected a shot from the blue line. But it was too little, too late for the defending champions who will now have to face this Cinderella team once more Thursday evening.


Final score: Montreal Canadiens 4 - Pittsburgh Penguins 3 (The series is tied at 3-3.)

With a victory in this ultimate face-off on Thursday, the Canadiens would not only eliminate the champions, they would also write the last page of the Mellon arena's history book. After winning the very first game disputed at the Mellon, the Canadiens can now win the very last game played in the old Igloo.

Can David defeat Goliath Thursday?

(Picture: Maxim Lapierre, Canadian Press.)

Canadiens-Penguins: Knocking At The Champions' Door.

Thrusday at the Bell centre, Chapter Four of the series opposing the Montreal Canadiens to the Pittsburgh Penguins was presented. Down 1-2 in the series, the Canadiens fought for their playoff life with desperation, knowing that a loss would virtually mean the end.

The Canadiens opened the score early into the first period when goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury misplayed a routine sharp angle shot. An unexpected gift for Tom Pyatt who registered his first career playoff goal.

But the celebrations were short. Maxime Talbot tied the score only 53 seconds later. Talbot skated alone towards goaltender Jaroslav Halak and scored with a nifty backhand between Halak's pads after P.K. Subban missed the puck at the offensive blue line and was blatently tripped when he attepted to skate back towards his territory.

Only moments later, Chris Kunitz gave a one goal lead to the Penguins during a man advantage with a pinball style goal. The puck was deflected twice before finding it's way in the net behind Halak.

After two periods, the Canadiens was dominated in the shots department and had to rely on Halak's brillant play during the second period.

In a brillant third period effort, the Canadiens came back from that one goal deficit to finally edge the defending champions. Maxim Lapierre tied the score at 2 when he scored on a wrap around then only a minute and a half later, Brian Gionta's pass attempt deflected on a defender and slid in Fleury's net.

Final score: Montreal Canadiens 3 - Pittsburgh Penguins 2 (The series is tied 2-2.)

My final word on this memorable game goes to the referees and their one sided work. Dave Jackson and Eric Furlatt really worked in favor of the champions in this one. The Canadiens received their share of ''BS'' especially when came the time to deliver penalties to the Penguins.

More particulary on P.K. Subban on the play that led to Pittsburgh's first goal in the first period and on Brian Gionta during the third period who was wrapped in the defender's arms and pinned into the boards while pursuing the puck deep into the Penguins territory. Both referees were heavily booed by the crowd during a major part of the game.

I will not miss my chance to talk to referee Eric Furlatt about this game next Monday as I have the opportunity to talk to him every Monday morning. Furlatt happens to live in Trois-Rivieres, just like yours truly.

(Picture: Canadian Press.)

Penguins-Canadiens: Montreal Misses An Opportunity.

After splitting the first two games in Pittsburgh, the Montreal Canadiens had the Pittsburgh Penguins where they wanted before Game Three of this exciting series.

A glorious chance to take the lead in the series was wasted Tuesday evening at the Bell centre by the Canadiens.

Backed by an electrifying crowd, the Canadiens stormed out of the gates but were unable to solve goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury who was spectacular on a couple of occasions. Fleury stopped everything, kept his best save of the game for Scott Gomez halfway into the third period, and even received a little help from his best friends, the goal posts. Pittsburgh's goaltender was awarded the first star of the game.

The Penguins registered only three shots on Jaroslav Halak's goal during the entire first period but adjusted their game plan before the start of the second frame. Their collective play worked a lot better from that point on as they held Montreal to a handful of shots during the last two periods.

Evgeni Malkin broke the scoreless tie early into the third period during a man advantage. His powerful and precise shot from the top of the circles squeezed it's way in the net an inch under Halak's glove hand.

Pascal Dupuis sealed the deal for the Penguins with an empty net goal.

Final score: Pittsburgh Penguins 2 - Montreal Canadiens 0 (Pittsburgh leads the series by 2-1.)

The Canadiens will desperatly try to even up the series Thursday evening at the Bell centre. The team will have to find a way to beat Fleury and register more shots as Pittsburgh elevated their play in the shots blocked department during Game Three.

(Picture: Canadian Press.)