or-6 with an RBI against him and Robbie Grossman is 2-for-4

MONTREAL -- There was to be no long, giddy playoff ride this season for the Montreal Canadiens. A surprising regular season that saw them go from last in the NHL Eastern Conference a year ago to second place with a 29-14-5 record in the lockout-shortened 2013 campaign came to a crashing halt in the playoffs. The Canadiens were ousted in only five games by the seventh-seeded Ottawa Senators, losing the final game in a 6-1 blowout on home ice on Thursday night. Players looked to be in shock after the game that it could be over so soon. "Its a heartbreaker," said winger Max Pacioretty. "A couple of bounces the other way and we come into (Game 5) up 3-1." While the Canadiens felt they outplayed Ottawa in all but Game 3 -- a fight-filled 6-1 defeat -- they were outscored 20-9 in the series, including 13-0 in third periods and one overtime period. The NHLs fourth-best attack in the regular season (3.04 goals per game) outshot Ottawa 172-147 in the series, but couldnt solve goaltender Craig Anderson or the big defencemen who cover the front of his net. At the other end, shots that probably shouldnt have gone in squeaked past Carey Price, who suffered a suspected groin injury late in Game 4. Backup Peter Budaj was lit up for six goals on 29 shots in the series finale. The story of the series played out in Game 1, when Montreal fired 50 shots at Anderson but lost the game 4-2. They also lost centre Lars Eller, who left behind a pool of blood as he was stretchered to an ambulance after an open-ice hit from Eric Gryba, who was suspended two games. Forwards Brian Gionta, Brandon Prust and Ryan White also didnt finish the series with injuries, while Pacioretty missed Game 2 but toughed it through the rest despite a separated shoulder. "The last two weeks we had a lot of bad luck," said coach Michel Therrien. "But our approach since Day 1 was that that was not an excuse. "And I dont think the players used that as an excuse because every game, the way they prepared themselves and the way they started the games, I could tell that was not an excuse." Now Canadiens management has to figure out what went wrong and what changes are needed for next season. Montreal made wholesale changes after the 2011-12 debacle, replacing general manager Pierre Gauthier with Marc Bergevin. He brought in a new front office, extra support staff and new coaches, led by Therrien. The team got better for many reasons, starting with remaining relatively healthy through the 48-game regular season. Big strides were made by developing players like Norris trophy candidate P.K. Subban and physical defenceman Alexei Emelin, whose injury late in the season looked to disrupt the entire defence, especially his regular partner Andrei Markov. It would not be a surprise if Bergevin went looking for more size and muscle at the back end this summer. The teams most pleasant surprise was the play of rookie forwards Alex Galchenyuk, the third overall pick in the 2012 draft, and small but gritty Brendan Gallagher, a Calder Trophy nominee after a 15-goal season. "Those two kids progressed all season long," said Therrien. "Even in the last month, they were a big factor to the team. I was really impressed with how they played in the playoffs." Six-foot-six defenceman Jarred Tinordi also emerged late in the season and the playoffs as another promising rookie, while more blue-line talent awaits in the AHL in Nathan Beaulieu and Greg Pateryn. Bergevin may also want more height and weight on his forward lines, where Gionta, Gallagher, Tomas Plekanec and David Desharnais all fall in the smaller-than-average category. His addition of tough free agent Prust last summer was a hit, and the GM is likely to want more like him. The Canadiens have 18 regulars signed for next season and may increase their cap space to the $9 million range if, as expected, they buy out unused rearguard Tomas Kaberles final year at $4.2 million and if unrestricted free agent Michael Ryder, who makes $3.5 million, signs elsewhere. Fourth-liner Colby Armstrong ($1 million), Jeff Halpern ($700,000), Petteri Nokelainen ($575,000) and defenceman Davis Drewiske ($616,000) can also be UFAs. Their restricted free agents include White, who they will likely re-sign, and defenceman Yannick Weber, who they likely wont, as well as prospects Michael Blunden and Gabriel Dumont. Despite the playoff setback, the Canadiens looked to have taken a step forward this season and should take another if, as expected, Galchenyuk emerges as a top points producer at centre and other young players like Gallagher and Eller continue to progress. 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BOSTON -- Hanley Ramirez and Max Kepler are both coming off impressive games at the plate on Wednesday night, and theyll hope to keep their hot hands as the Boston Red Sox host the Minnesota Twins in the opener of a four-game weekend series on Thursday.Ramirez had a career night in Wednesdays 11-7 shootout win over the San Francisco Giants at Fenway Park, clubbing three two-run homers and driving in a career-high six RBI.A great night for Hanley, both offensively and defensively, Red Sox manager John Farrell said of Ramirez, who also flashed the leather and made some impressive plays in the field.Ramirezs heroics boosted Boston (53-39) to a season-best 14 games above .500 with its sixth consecutive win at Fenway. The Red Sox are 11-3 in July after sweeping the two-game series.Boston also reclaimed sole possession of first place in the American League East for the first time since June 4.Kepler, meanwhile, hit a tiebreaking solo home run with two outs in the ninth that propelled Minnesota to a 4-1 victory over the Tigers in Detroit.When he has gotten hits, they seem to be at large moments to give us a chance to win games, Twins manager Paul Molitor said. Thats a good trend, that hes getting more comfortable with the game on the line.Although in last place in the AL Central, the Twins (35-59) have strung together back-to-back victories and have three wins in their last five games after taking two of three at Detroit.ddddddddddddSteven Wright hopes to replicate his first outing of the year for the Red Sox against Minnesota in Thursdays start.Wright (11-5, 2.78 ERA) gave up an unearned run, seven hits and two walks with six strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings of a June 10 victory over the Twins.The knuckleballer is 1-0 with a 2.03 ERA in two career starts against Minnesota and figures to have the element of surprise on his side.Nobody on the Twins roster has had more than 10 at-bats against Wright. Kurt Suzuki is 4-for-6 with an RBI against him and Robbie Grossman is 2-for-4 with an RBI and three walks.Minnesota counters with Tyler Duffey (5-6, 5.23 ERA), who is 3-0 with a 3.10 ERA in his last four starts.The Twins have won the last five games Duffey has started.Duffey has faced Boston only once in his career, starting the June 10 game against Wright -- but unlike Wright, his results werent favorable.He tied his season highs by giving up six runs and 10 hits with three strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings while taking the loss.Xander Bogaerts is 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBI against Duffey. Dustin Pedroia is 2-for-3 with a double.Boston took two of three games in Minnesota on June 10-12, scoring a season-high 15 runs in a June 11 rout. ' ' '