BROSSARD, Que. - The Montreal Canadiens were surprised to learn that their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Boston Bruins will start on Thursday night. They were expecting it to start on Friday, and the earlier date made for a busy day of preparations. The special teams unit was on the ice a half-hour early while the main practice went a full hour on Wednesday. "We werent really planning on playing a game (on Thursday), but it all works out better that way," said forward Max Pacioretty. "We were trying to cram in a bit of system stuff as well, so it was a good practice. "We found out (Tuesday) night. I like it better that way. Theres a little less time to think. Were jumping right back into the action. I think thats when I play my best hockey, when Im not thinking." The Canadiens have been idle since completing a sweep of the Tampa Bay Lightning on April 22. The Bruins finished off the Detroit Red Wings in five games on Saturday. Although the NHL had not released a schedule, Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin mentioned a Friday start in a television interview this week. The opener was moved up reportedly because Northeastern University has graduation ceremonies at the TD Garden on Friday morning. Game 2 is expected to be played Saturday at 12:30 pm ET, although that has not been confirmed. Pacioretty likes that, too. "I like playing afternoon games," he said. "No meetings in the morning. Not thinking too much about the game. Just going out and playing." The Canadiens will have had eight days off between games. To break the monotony, they held a simulated game day on Monday, with a morning skate followed by an intra-squad game at night. Then they took Tuesday off. "Im about ready to stop practising and start playing," said goalie Carey Price. Trysten Hill Gear . 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Womens Cowboys Jerseys . "Uuufff," was all shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria could come up with after Stantons latest mammoth shot.WINNIPEG - It appears the honeymoon is over between the Winnipeg Jets and their fans. Once rare game tickets at the MTS Centre are available, and those who attend have booed their 16-18-5 team for inconsistent play that has the club sitting at or near the bottom of their new, tough Central Division. Armchair general managers have also called for roster changes to the transplanted ex-Atlanta Thrashers team, while likeable head coach Claude Noel has had his job security questioned. And the fans arent the only ones voicing their frustration. Players are fed up with looking for the positives in each loss. "Its what you do out on the ice. You can blow smoke as much as you want in the media," right-winger Blake Wheeler told reporters after the Jets lost a sixth straight game at home on Dec. 14. "Weve been blowing smoke for three years – everyone, myself. Everyone thats stood in front of a microphone for the last three years, weve said the same (expletive)." The airing out of frustrations in Winnipeg is something new. When the Jets were resurrected in 2011, fans enthusiastically embraced the return of the NHL after a 15-year absence. Thirteen thousand season tickets with a minimum three-year commitment were snapped up, and unlucky fans paid $50 to join a wait list. The team was loudly cheered by 15,000 grateful admirers at home games, and were even given a standing ovation when the inaugural season ended with an overtime loss and no playoff berth. After last seasons NHL lockout ended, fans were just happy to head back to the rink and their adoration continued despite another campaign without post-season action. But in this third season, cracks are starting to show. When the home winless streak finally ended with a 5-2 victory over Florida on Dec. 20, there was relief, but no fist pumping as the team headed out on the road for what ended up being losses to Vancouver and Edmonton before its three-day Christmas holiday. Before boarding the plane for the road trip, Wheeler was asked if he senses the marriage with fans is hitting rocky times. "I think the expectations have risen every year," he said. "We took a step last year and we just missed the playoffs. I think a lot of us felt we were a playoff team. "And now, I think this is the best group weve had since weve been here so I think the expectations have risen pretty linearly since weve been here. "(The scrutiny) comes with the territory. Its a market that cares about the product on the ice and thheyre very passionate.dddddddddddd Theyre very enthusiastic when youre winning and very enthusiastic when youre losing, its just a different kind." Jets defenceman Zach Bogosian got a different view of fans when he recently missed 15 games with a groin injury. Did he feel the winds of change while sitting in the press box? "Its a touchy subject," Bogosian said. "Theyre usually pretty loud, but sometimes if the team is not playing as well as we should, some people get unhappy." Behind his mask, goalie Ondrej Pavelec hasnt noticed more unforgiving fans this season. "They cheer for us every time," he said. "Sometimes we play bad, we dont deserve it and theyre still there. I dont see any difference." He and Wheeler havent been sought out by fault-finding fans. "The people are all very respectful," Wheeler said. "When people see us out and about, theyre happy to see us out in the community. "The wins and losses are obviously very important, but at the same time were still people. Theres nobody that wants it more than we do in this locker-room. Its just a matter of going out there and doing it." Noel acknowledged fans have higher expectations this season. "I think weve had that sense for a while," he said. "After the first year, we had that sense that they would like more performance and the honeymoon is over. "We dont sit here and take our fan base for granted. They expect us to work, and they should, and perform." Prior to Winnipegs loss to the lowly Sabres in Buffalo earlier this month, Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff revealed hes felt heat from critics. "If youre able to find a way to improve, then you try to act on it," he said. "But change doesnt always equate to improvement. "Change can certainly placate phone calls, emails on the different venues out there, but that doesnt necessarily mean thats the proper direction to go." Cheveldayoff, who extended Noels contract earlier this year through the 2014-15 season, was also asked if Noel is doing a good job. "Coaching in this league is a tough job," Cheveldayoff said. "Theres lots of second-guessing that goes on everywhere. "And thats the nature of it when youre in the public eye like this. Everyones got their own interpretation of whether someones doing a good job, not doing a good job. At the end of the day, I know that (all the coaches are) working hard and doing all they can." 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