It was an historic night for the Calgary Stampede.

The Stampede canvas auction raised a record amount for the drivers in this year’s Rangeland Derby.

Sponsors paid a combined total of $6,075,000 to win the opportunity to showcase their brand on a driver’s chuckwagon canvas throughout this year’s Calgary Stampede, smashing the previous record of $4,015.000, which was set in 2012.

Chuckwagon driver Rae Croteau Jr., one of 27 drivers whose canvas was up for auction, also garnered a new record bid for a single canvas at $550,000 from Bar L5 Ranch, in Aldersyde — nearly doubling the previous record high bid of $300,000 for a single canvas.

“It’s a shocker,” said Croteau Jr. “It means it’s time to win. I’m a competitive person. I didn’t think we were gonna go for that much. So I’m still vibrating from it. We love it. That’s why we’re here.”

“This kind of support sets you up for the year. It’s not just the races, it’s the off-season too — buying horses, building depth, sourcing feed — it even helps get the kids to hockey in the winter,” Croteau Jr. added.

“Maybe companies are making choices not to put people on planes and take them to an event in the U.S. to go watch a hockey game, and they’re saying we wanna do it here. We wanna show people what we have and why we’re so proud of it,” said Heidi Lindgren, who, along with her husband Darren, made the winning bid.

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“The energy in that room was palpable,” said Stuart O’Connor, chair of the Calgary Stampede. “Everybody got behind the bidding — and I hope (it) is a precursor for what’s coming down this summer. We are absolutely thrilled.”

“There were eight new bidders and you know that again is a reflection of the support for chuckwagon racing and to be able to bring in those eight new bidders and actually win is phenomenal,” O’Connor added.

7:46
The Calgary Stampede’s cultural significance

For many Calgarians, the canvas auction is also considered a bellwether of the health of the local economy.

“There’s economic uncertainty, but we also know that oil prices have spiked here recently as a result of world events,” said Joel Cowley, CEO of the Calgary Stampede.

“Last year we had $3.8 million total, so yesterday, I would have said if we can just get close to that, that would be fantastic. So to surpass $6 million is just absolutely incredible.”

This year’s Calgary Stampede takes place from July 3 to 12.

1:41
2025 Calgary Stampede narrowly misses attendance record

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Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, who was arrested in October as part of an FBI investigation into illegal sports betting, was reportedly released by the team on Friday.

Rozier, 32, had been away from the team since his arrest and was placed on leave by the NBA for his alleged involvement in illegal sports betting during his time with the Charlotte Hornets. ESPN first reported his release.

Rozier pleaded not guilty to counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering in December.

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Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) looks on during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

During a game in 2023, Rozier played fewer than 10 minutes, citing a foot injury. Multiple people placed high-stakes wagers on Rozier to play poorly before the game, and all of those individuals won their bets.

Rozier, who signed a four-year, $96.3 million contract extension in 2023, will have his contract come off the books after the season. The $26.6 million he was supposed to earn this season was placed in escrow as his case plays out.

WARRIORS’ DRAYMOND GREEN FLOATS NBA TANKING FIX, SAYS PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT ‘AIN’T WORKING’

Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier (3) looks to pass against the Boston Celtics during the second half at Spectrum Center. (Nell Redmond/USA Today Sports)

The Hornets traded Rozier to the Heat in January 2024, a trade that has come under scrutiny in light of the allegations. The Heat were not aware of the federal and NBA investigations into Rozier at the time of the trade.

After the allegations came forth, the Hornets agreed to give the Heat a second-round pick in the upcoming draft.

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Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) handles the ball during the second quarter against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena in Washington, District of Columbia, on March 31, 2025. (Reggie Hildred/Imagn Images)

For the Heat, the reported release of Rozier allows them to free up a roster spot heading into the playoffs.

The Heat, at 41-39, are currently 10th in the Eastern Conference and are set to make the Play-In Tournament, as the 11th place Milwaukee Bucks are 31-49 and nowhere close to competing for the final spot.

Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.

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Welcome to Friday at The Masters. Tune into the Masters app, Masters.com, Prime TV, Paramount+ and ESPN for your wall-to-wall coverage!

Yes, it seems like a heavy lift. In some ways, it has been for golf fans. Gone are the days of CBS firing up the cameras at 3 p.m., and showing us four straight hours of golf. 

But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Predictably, Augusta National has had to evolve, along with its partners, to this new age of streaming. It’s tricky, because Augusta is famous for shaping the coverage of this event. Sometimes, you wonder if they want you to see it at all. I get it. 

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I will say, though, that the introduction of Prime to this year’s tournament has been more of a success than I would’ve thought. 

But first, a quick rundown of how to watch golf today, tomorrow, and, most importantly, Sunday:

How to watch Masters 2026 on TV

So, that’s basically it in a nutshell. Sure, that nutshell may be huge, but it’s still a nutshell. Or something like that. 

To watch The Masters all day – from sun-up to sundown – you need a combination of Paramount+, Amazon Prime, and ESPN. That’s for today. To watch over the weekend, you can go ahead and drop the Amazon subscription if you so choose, but pick up CBS. 

Again, it sounds daunting. “All you need is a laptop, a TV and a few subscriptions.” OK. Sounds great! Thanks, Augusta, for letting us in!

Some folks, understandably so, are annoyed:

I get it. Too many cooks in the kitchen. That certainly applies here. But, that’s the age we live in. The streaming era is ruthless. It all seemed great on paper years ago, but now it’s just become exhausting. 

But, it’s not all bad. For starters, the simplest answer to all of this is “Just use The Masters app.” Yes, it’s a great app. It has everything. You can watch it all, in one spot. Same with Masters.com. 

You can go there right now and watch the featured groups, Amen corner, and holes 4, 5 and 6. 

Obviously, that’s not going to be for everyone, though. It can also be clunky, as most streaming apps are. That’s just the nature of the business. 

JACK NICKLAUS’ CEREMONIAL TEE SHOT AT THE MASTERS COMES DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO PATRONS

A lot of folks also don’t realize you can put the Masters app on your smart TVs, so they end up holding a phone or watching their laptops all day. Not great. And yes, I’m talking about the older folks. I don’t think that’s any big secret. 

I’ll will, however, give Prime credit. Again, usually when a new streaming service gets involved in a sport, it can be dicey. Netflix was crucified for a pretty subpar MLB debut a few weeks ago. 

By all accounts, Prime has been solid so far this week:

Again, not bad. I’ve seen these things spiral pretty quickly. Prime seemed ready to roll, which makes sense given they’ve had the Thursday Night Football package for years now. 

Anyway, like anything in 2026, Masters coverage has been met with mixed reviews all week. Does it feel like we’re getting yanked around? Sure. Has Prime been a nice addition to fill the gap between the morning and the main broadcast? Absolutely. 

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Some folks will tell you to quit complaining, because there was a time, not too long ago, where you didn’t get any Masters TV coverage until 3 p.m. 

Obviously, that’s no longer the case. You can watch golf all day long now. 

You just have to work to find it. 

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The Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel (alleged) SCANDAL is now on Day 3, with no end in sight. 

The two spoke about it after the poolside pictures went viral. They both denied anything nefarious happening. And now, we haven’t really heard a peep from anyone of importance since. 

Until, of course, 97.5 the Fanatic in Philadelphia had Adam Schefter on their show Wednesday, and absolutely GRILLED ESPN’s top insider about the whole thing. 

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Broadcaster Adam Schefter of ESPN’s Monday Night Football Countdown is seen on the sideline prior to the NFL International Series game between the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico, on Nov. 21, 2022. (Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports)

And I mean grilled. Poor Schefty. Or, I guess, not poor Schefty? I don’t know. He chose to go on the show, so I assume he knew what was coming. 

Still, this is 10 straight minutes of absolute peppering, and 10 minutes of hemming and hawing from Schefter. 

Take a look! 

Adam Schefter did his best, but the Big Js are taking on water 

Thoughts? First impressions? 

I don’t know. I think it’s fine, if we’re being honest. Again, what do we expect Adam Schefter to say here? At least he said … something? The Big Js are being real quiet on this one. Too quiet. They never shut up, and now all of a sudden nobody is really talking about it in the media? Seems fishy to me. 

Now, Schefter didn’t really give us anything of substance. Like, at all.  

“I didn’t report it. I saw it like everybody else did. And uh, I guess my thought would be, I don’t know what’s right. I don’t know what’s wrong. Uh, I feel bad for the families involved. It’s unfortunate, you know? Um, I know both individuals. 

“Um, and yeah, I guess my first thought would be they went to the families of the people involved and, you know, I just wish everybody the best and hope everything works out with everybody.”

SUPER BOWL CHAMPION DEFENDS MIKE VRABEL, NEW YORK TIMES REPORTER OVER LEAKED PHOTOS

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel walks on the field before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Moving stuff, Adam. Poetic. Quite the wordsmith! 

Again, I’m not sure what I’d say here, either. Russini isn’t an ESPN employee, so Adam certainly had runway to talk about this, and he sort of clammed up and kicked the can down the road every time these guys asked him about it. 

Obviously, Russini used to work at ESPN, so she and Schefter go way back. He probably doesn’t want to break some sort of Big J code by dragging her, which I understand. 

But, let me just remind everyone here, that the Big Js LOVE to act holier-than-thou … when it’s convenient for them. They have no problem speaking up when they have the chance to virtue-signal about something, as long as it fits their narrative. 

Remember the Liam Coen press conference incident back in January after the Jags got bounced from the playoffs? The sweet old lady reporter from some small Duval newspaper with a circulation of 10 told Liam Cohen how great he was after the season, and all the Big Js FREAKED out. 

They acted like she had just committed murder. They wanted her banished from the beat FOREVER. 

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Dianna Russini attends the 2026 Fanatics Super Bowl Party at Pier 48 in San Francisco, California, on Feb. 7, 2026. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

And now, three months later, when a fellow Big J is caught taking a swim with an NFL head coach at a romantic resort, they’re all quiet? 

OK. Sure thing!

PS: the tampering question in this interview was among the dumber questions in the history of time. I’m with Schefter on that one. Unfathomably stupid question. 

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Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows spent the night in a hospital following a frightening collision with teammate Riley Greene on Thursday.

Meadows was left bloodied in the outfield and had to be helped off the field in the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins after appearing to hit his head during the collision with Greene.

Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows collided with left fielder Riley Greene on a fly ball hit by Minnesota Twins designated hitter Josh Bell in the eighth inning at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minn., on April 9, 2026. Meadows left the game after the collision. (Bruce Kluckhohn/Imagn Images)

“It’s a terrible feeling. I still feel terrible,” Greene said after the game.  “He hit my head. I don’t know where I hit him, to be honest, but I just really hope he’s OK.”

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The two collided when Twins first baseman Josh Bell, who already had one home run and two singles, hit a shallow fly to left-center field. Greene and Meadows collided hard enough that their caps flew off. 

Greene made the catch as Meadows lay on the ground. The broadcast caught blood coming from Meadows’ mouth.

Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows is helped off the field after colliding with left fielder Riley Greene during the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins in Minneapolis on April 9, 2026. (Matt Krohn/AP)

CARDINALS PITCHER ATTEMPTING MLB COMEBACK SUSTAINS CRUSHING ARM INJURY JUST 3 PITCHES INTO HIS OUTING 

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch joined medical personnel on the field as Meadows eventually got up and was taken off the field on a cart. MLB.com reported that he would be held for observation overnight. 

“We’re going to get him checked out for everything, but this one worries me,” Hinch said, confirming that Meadows did suffer a concussion.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Parker Meadows bats against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 1, 2026. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)

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Meadows has started 11 of 13 games in center field for the Tigers this season. He went 0 for 3 in the 3-1 loss on Thursday and is batting .250 with two extra-base hits.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Jack Nicklaus gave Masters patrons a brief scare Thursday when his ceremonial tee shot veered a little too close for comfort.

The legendary golfer and 18-time major winner had a warning for patrons at Augusta National as he lined up his shot, and it proved to be warranted.

Jack Nicklaus hits the ceremonial tee shot on the first hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., on April 9, 2026. (David J. Phillip/AP)

“Oh boy, watch out,” Nicklaus, 86, said as he approached the tee. “And I don’t ​mean that facetiously.”

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Unlike 90-year-old Gary Player’s shot, which went right down the middle of the first fairway, Nicklaus’ shot went left of the tee box and low, just barely clearing the heads of the patrons looking on.

 “I said, ‘Spread out on both sides because I don’t want to kill anybody,'” Nicklaus said afterward. “If it’d been a little closer I might have.”

Tom Watson, 76, rounded out the ceremonial tee shot with another drive right down the middle. 

Jack Nicklaus hits the ceremonial tee shot on the first hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., on April 9, 2026. (Gerald Herbert/AP)

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER’S FAMILY, INCLUDING 12-DAY-OLD SON, ENJOY MASTERS PAR 3 CONTEST AT AUGUSTA

Nicklaus hopes to be included in the tradition for as long as he’s able to. After undergoing carpal tunnel surgery around six weeks ago, the six-time Masters champ said he was unsure if he’d make it to the tee box. 

“I was worried about being able to hold onto the golf club and hurt somebody,” he said. “I’m fortunate that I got it over somebody’s head. I didn’t hit it very well, but I got it over their heads and didn’t hurt anybody. As long as I can still hit the golf ball.”

He admitted to playing golf just once last year and again in February.

Jack Nicklaus hits the ceremonial tee shot on the first hole during the first round of the Masters on April 9, 2026. (Eric Gay/AP)

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“It’s such a nice ceremony, and it’s a real honor to be invited,” Nicklaus added. “I hope to be able to do it as long as I can not kill anybody.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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After going unsigned as a CFL free agent in 2023, quarterback Michael O’Connor figured he was done with football.

Three years later, the 30-year-old Ottawa native is chasing the Olympic dream.

O’Connor has helped Canada’s men’s flag football team reach the cusp of qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Canada can punch its ticket for California this summer and be part of the sport’s Olympic debut.

“We’re just focused on what’s next and what we can do to get better,” O’Connor said recently. “But I’d be lying if I said I don’t think about it and just how cool it would be to play and possibly medal in the Olympics.

“It’s something I never thought would be possible.”

A top-two finish at the world championships in Germany would qualify Canada for Los Angeles. If the United States reach the final, the second- and third-place finishers will earn Olympic berths as the Americans are already in as the host country.

Canada qualified for the world event by securing the bronze medal last summer IFAF Americas Flag Football Continental Championship in Panama. The U.S. and Mexico were declared joint champions as severe weather forced the cancellation of the gold-medal game.

Canada finished the round robin with a 3-1 record before losing a 35-25 semifinal decision to Mexico. The Canadians beat Panama 32-22 in the bronze medal game as O’Connor threw five touchdown passes, and he believes preparation will be key in Germany.

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“We were third last year in Panama but I think we’ve made big strides since then,” O’Connor said. “Just in terms of cleaning up what plays we like to run and what field position do we like to run them in.

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“We’re looking forward to getting back on the world stage and showing everybody that, yeah, we had a good 2025 but we’re a better team now.”

The six-foot-four, 230-pound O’Connor began his college career at Penn State in 2014 before transferring to the University of British Columbia. He guided the Thunderbirds to a Vanier Cup title in 2015 and in 2019 was taken in the third round, No. 20 overall, in the CFL draft by the Toronto Argonauts.

He joined the Calgary Stampeders in 2020 but the CFL didn’t play that year due to the global pandemic. After spending the 2021 campaign in Alberta, O’Connor joined the B.C. Lions in 2022.

O’Connor dressed for 40 CFL regular-season games but only attempted 52 passes, completing 30 for 330 yards with a touchdown and interception while running for a TD.

Flag football differs greatly from the tackle version, with five players per side on a 70-yard by 25-yard field. There’s no blocking or contact allowed and each play begins with the ball being snapped to the quarterback and a defensive player lined up seven yards off the scrimmage rushing the passer.

“The field is only 25 yards wide so everything happens much quicker,” O’Connor said. “Everything is more condensed and the rusher comes at you very quickly.

“And with the deep ball, because the field is so narrow you can’t really put too much air on it because the backside coverage can easily make a play. It’s a very different game but at the end of the day it’s still catching and throwing.”

But even if O’Connor leads Canada to Olympic qualification, he’ll have to compete for a spot in Los Angeles. The CFL and NFL are allowing their players to participate in the ’28 Games, which will certainly amp up the competition for roster positions.

In fact, B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke, the CFL’s top Canadian and outstanding player last season, has started playing in a recreational flag football league to get better acclimated to the game. If Canada reaches the ’28 Games, the expectation is Rourke will try out for the squad.

And with other top Canadian quarterbacks like Tre Ford (Hamilton Tiger-Cats), Kurtis Rourke (NFL’s San Francisco 49ers) and Taylor Elgersma (UFL, Birmingham Stallions), Canada would have a solid talent pool to choose from.

“I can’t lie, I know I’d be disappointed to get to the Olympics and ultimately not be on that roster,” he said. “But at the end of the day it’s not about me and my feelings, it’s about what’s best for the country so I do understand that also.

“After I was done playing in the CFL, I kind of made peace with the game and was ready to move on. Then this opportunity came up and I’m really enjoying every moment of it.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 10, 2026.

&copy 2026 The Canadian Press

TORONTO – All season the Toronto Raptors have insisted that they don’t check the standings, the schedule, or the out-of-town scoreboard.

As the regular season started to wind down, however, a handful of Raptors admitted to peeking at the Eastern Conference standings to see how close they are to clinching a playoff spot.

Except Brandon Ingram, who claims he’s shutting out the world now more than ever.

“We’re getting closer and closer to what we want at the end of the season. We just take it game by game,” he said after Toronto beat the Miami Heat 128-114 on Thursday night. “I stopped looking at the standings and I just focus on how I can be my best self on any given night and just continue to be aggressive, find my teammates when they’re open and get some defensive stops.”

Ingram had a season-high 38 points and added seven rebounds and seven assists as the Raptors won both games of the back-to-back against the Heat. Toronto (45-35) moved into fifth in the standings ahead of the idle Atlanta Hawks.

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Although the two teams have identical records, the Raptors are ahead of Atlanta based off of tiebreakers.

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Toronto visits the New York Knicks on Friday and will host the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday in both teams’ regular-season finale. Winning either game will clinch the Raptors’ first playoff berth in four years.

“It’s a good time to be in a rhythm going into these playoffs,” said Ingram of his standout performance. “We take it game by game, try to get better, try to figure out what schemes we want to do for the playoffs, and how do we attack each and every game and have a sense of urgency on both sides of the basketball.

“I think these last two games, it’s a chance for us to have a focus and take things serious, leading them up to and into the playoffs.”

All-star Scottie Barnes got into early foul trouble against the Heat but Ingram stepped up.

He played aggressively in the first half, forcing the Heat to double- or triple-team him on defence, opening up scoring opportunities for his Toronto teammates. Ingram had 10 points in the first quarter and 13 in the second.

Ingram said he knew he had to play with force.

“We’ve beat them three times this year, so coming out early in that game, we knew they were going to give us their best hit, and we had to respond defensively and offensively,” said Ingram. “Tyler Herro came out gunning and made a few shots, and everybody was in attack mode so we had to be able to withstand the first run and just fight back.”

Head coach Darko Rajakovic said that Ingram might actually regret such a strong showing.

“Now he’s in trouble,” said Rajakovic with a smile. “Now we know what he can do, so we’re going to expect it.”

Ignoring the standings and focusing on playing one game at a time was Rajakovic’s edict, one that he’s still sticking with. Asked what his expectations were heading into the decisive weekend, he wouldn’t even look beyond the next 24 hours.

“We’re going to try to beat Miami to the airport because our flights are at the same time,” said Rajakovic to laughter. “Then we go to New York and compete the best we can against New York.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 10, 2026.

&copy 2026 The Canadian Press

MONTREAL – Prime Minister Mark Carney visited the Montreal Canadiens dressing room after the team’s 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in a thrilling game Thursday night.

Carney was in Montreal for a Liberal party convention running through Saturday, attending the game following a day of media appearances and speeches across the city.

He met with Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, forwards Alex Newhook and Jake Evans, and defenceman Mike Matheson after an eventful game that featured fights, a dramatic finish and Cole Caufield scoring his 50th goal of the season.

“I’m going to be honest, I haven’t had that much fun in over a year,” Carney said, drawing laughs from the players. “Fantastic game.”

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Carney arrived at the start of the second period with the score 0-0 and sat three rows behind the Canadiens’ bench, shaking hands and chatting with nearby fans.

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When Caufield scored his milestone goal six minutes into the period, Carney jumped up and hugged those same spectators.

He joined the energetic crowd in doing the wave, took photos on his phone and high-fived fans once Juraj Slafkovsky’s late goal sealed the win for Montreal, the only Canadian team to clinch a Stanley Cup playoff spot so far.

Carney placed a hand on his chest and applauded as he entered the locker room, telling players they needed no introduction.

“It’s a real, real honour,” he said while shaking Suzuki’s hand. “It was a key moment in the game, the way you stood up, it was unbelievable.”

Suzuki answered that it was a real pleasure to meet him.

“Is that all you got?” Carney joked.

Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis, meanwhile, said he discussed “leadership” with Carney when they briefly met after the game.

Carney wore two different Canadiens hats despite being a lifelong Edmonton Oilers fan. He grew up in Edmonton during the Wayne Gretzky era and was a third-string goaltender at Harvard University.

Last March, he joined Connor McDavid and the Oilers at practice and previously posted a photo of himself wearing a “McJesus” T-shirt.

The Liberal convention in Montreal — and Carney’s visit to the game — comes ahead of three byelections on Monday, and a day after a fifth opposition MP crossed the floor to join the Liberal caucus.

— With files from Erika Morris and Daniel Rainbird.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 9, 2026.

&copy 2026 The Canadian Press

With only four games left in the season, the Montreal Canadiens knew it was a battle for home-ice advantage in the playoffs, if they could defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning for the second time in a week.

Second place in the Atlantic Division wasn’t on the line as a guarantee, but a win would go a long way.

The Canadiens played the game of the year winning 2-1.

Wilde Horses 

It was clean. It was pure. It was the first 50th goal for a Canadiens player in 36 years. It was vintage Cole Caufield.

It was, most appropriately, scored on a pass from Nick Suzuki who was fed by Juraj Slafkovsky. It’s a moment in Canadiens history. It could not have been sweeter.

Though it is added pressure to try to get your 50th at home, it was perfect that it was, because Caufield got to enjoy the biggest roar at the Bell Centre in five years. The ovation crescendoed when Michel Lacroix announced the tally some five minutes later, and the ovation still didn’t stop.

But there was also a rest of the game to be played, and was it full of delicious storylines.

The game winner was scored with minute and four seconds remaining. Suzuki stole the puck, then fed Slafkovsky in front of the net. He redirected it home. It was a milestone goal for him as well.

Slafkovsky is having his first 30-goal campaign. For Suzuki, it’s his 98th point of the season as he also hunts down a milestone.

The Canadiens made the decision to not take anything from the Lightning. After every whistle, when the Lightning got anywhere close to Jakub Dobes, the Canadiens punished the attacker who tried to impact Dobes. Physically, they refused to back down.

As the game wore on, an important lesson was learned: When you don’t back down from Tampa, it becomes apparent that you have been backing down from them before. This didn’t become a game filled with hate and anger, because Tampa became this. They were always this. This game showed elements of a donnybrook brewing because the Canadiens joined them in the war.

The value of a player who can compete and intimidate rose exponentially. Josh Anderson was hitting everything that moved and got under the skin of Nikita Kucherov. One of his teammates tried to protect Kucherov, and Anderson pounded him to the ice with his fists.

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Declan Carlile was badly overmatched. Anderson landed blow after blow, and when Carlile went to the ice, Anderson just kept on punching.

The value of Jayden Struble went up. He was high-sticked in the first period and went for treatment, but he kept opening the cut through out the game, because he kept getting in altercations. Emil Lilleberg had to leave the game because Struble beat him up so badly, and he was wearing a full wired cage. It didn’t matter. Lilleberg was cooked.

Even Lane Hutson and Corey Perry had an altercation that didn’t amount to a fight, but it was close. The top line was in a skirmish, the second line was in a skirmish, the third line too, and the fourth line. If a Canadiens player was in the lineup, they were protecting their teammates — and their reputations.

Head Coach Martin St. Louis made them know that this was like a playoff game, and the script of the Washington Capitals playoff series wasn’t going to happen again.

Establishing your desire to leave it all out there, your willingness to fight for every inch, and stand up for your teammate is a uniquely hockey moment. In no other sport must you combine skill with intimidation, the way hockey demands it of you.

In hockey, it’s not enough to possess the skills that help to score a goal or stop one. A player’s value increases with a certain intangible that is difficult to define, but who has it and who does not is always clear and obvious.

The Canadiens, in this one, took the road to having it. It was beautiful to watch.

Wilde Goats

Head Coach Martin St. Louis said that the Canadiens were flat in their last two games. It happens over a long season where the mind or the body doesn’t cooperate. However, against the Lightning, they needed to be all-in, both mentally and physically.

And they were. That doesn’t mean it will all work out, though. The power play was zero for seven, and they will have to find solutions for what is ailing it. This power play has been struggling lately in a mighty way. It’s too static. They also are not engaging nearly enough for possession.

Wilde Cards

With the Saskatoon Blades’ seventh game overtime upset over the Edmonton Oil Kings, the Medicine Hat Tigers have a surprise opponent in their second round series.

The defending champions will face the Calgary Hitmen starting at Co-Op Place in Medicine Hat, Alta., on Friday night. Bryce Pickford should be able to have an excellent series, considering their head-to-head record.

The Tigers beat the Hitmen seven of eight games this season. They have only two losses in the last 16 games over Calgary. They routinely put five on the board when they play Calgary.

With the Tigers heavily favoured to win their next round, the wait is likely to be longer for the arrival of Pickford to the Laval Rocket. He’s already signed a contract. He will come as soon as the Tigers are finished with their playoffs.

The issue is that the Tigers are the fifth-ranked team in the nation, and it is conceivable that Pickford could be playing junior hockey until mid-June.

The biggest chance for Pickford and the Tigers to lose would be in the East Conference final, where powerhouse Prince Albert is expected to advance. The Raiders have drawn Saskatoon in the second round. It should be easy.

However, they play the games for a reason, and anything can happen in the playoffs in hockey.

Brian Wilde, a Montreal-based sports writer, brings you Call of the Wilde on globalnews.ca after each Canadiens game.

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Call of the Wilde: Habs win three in a row

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