in consecutive games in New Yorks opening round series aga

MILAN, Italy -- Juventus drew 1-1 at bitter rival Inter Milan in their first Serie A clash at an electric San Siro on Saturday, while Napoli moved atop of the table with a 2-0 home win over Atalanta. A dramatic finale at Torino saw AC Milan come from behind to draw 2-2 thanks to two very late goals, including another Mario Balotelli penalty. Mauro Icardi scored his first goal for Inter to put the hosts ahead in a fixture known as Italys derby. However, Arturo Vidal levelled almost instantly for Juventus -- as Inter conceded its first goal this season. "The match confirmed today that Inter can target the top of the table this season, and that Juventus is a team which is very tough to beat," Juventus coach Antonio Conte said after his 100th match in charge. "I saw my team play very well in a difficult stadium against a side that can compete in everything right to the end, seeing as they dont have European commitments. "What I liked best was the effort and desire to do well." Inter coach Walter Mazzarri was also pleased how his side reacted to the pressure. "I saw positive responses, which is a reason to be proud," Mazzari said. "Some of the lads felt the situation too much at the beginning, faced with the top team, in a full stadium ... "Are we a title-winning team? You only need two bad matches and everything changes. Its not time to make those judgments now." Inter took the lead in the 73rd when Ricky Alvarez robbed Giorgio Chiellini and burst forward before putting in a through ball for substitute Icardi to run onto and smash home -- sending most of the 83,000 crowd into a frenzy. Icardi scored three goals against Juventus for Sampdoria last season. However, Vidal levelled 80 seconds later, catching the Inter defence napping as he drilled Kwadwo Asamoahs cross into the bottom right corner. Juventus almost took the lead moments later but Carlos Tevez fired just past the right upright. In Naples, Napolis new signings were again on target to help the team maintain its 100 per cent record after three games. Gonzalo Higuain scored his second goal in as many games since his moved from Real Madrid, to give the home side a 71st-minute lead and Jose Callejon, who also joined from Madrid, scored his third goal for his new club 10 minutes later. Former Napoli midfielder Luca Cigarini was sent off in the 74th for a second booking for a bad tackle on Callejon. At Torino, all eyes were on Kaka in his first game for Milan since 2009 after returning from Real Madrid. The Brazilian wore the captains armband for part of his debut after Riccardo Montolivo was forced off injured. Milan appeared to be heading for its second defeat of the fledgling season after goals from Danilo DAmbrosio and Alessio Cerci before the game changed with a somewhat fortunate goal for the visitors three minutes from time. Torino goalkeeper Daniele Padelli punched the ball clear and Sulley Muntari scuffed his shot but the ball took a deflection and rolled into the bottom left corner. Torino thought the goal had been disallowed because Balotelli appeared to be offside and confusion reigned before it was awarded to much protest from the home players. Matters grew worse for Torino in stoppage time when Milan was awarded a penalty after Giovanni Pasquale tripped Andrea Poli. Balotelli, who has never missed a penalty in his career, stepped up to convert his 26th spot kick and snatch a point with the last kick of the game. "Four minutes from the end wed lost this, but the lads did well to believe," Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said. "Torino played well, caused us a lot of problems and we left ourselves too open to their counterattacks. "We have changed some things in our system, so it takes time to rediscover our balance. At the moment we are too soft in defence -- by which I mean the whole team is not effective enough when defending. Its not good enough." Cheap Shoes China Wholesale . While Minnesota takes aim at its eighth win of November, the Canadiens will try to post just their third victory in nine games this month. Wholesale China Shoes Free Shipping . While the pair of Spain internationals return, midfielder Xavi Hernandez will not be included in the squad after failing to recover from a muscle strain to his left leg. http://www.wholesaleshoes.us.org/ . -- LeGarrette Blount made one last big splash into a soggy end zone. Wholesale Shoes From China . "I never commented to anyone that I wanted out," he explained. "My heart is with this group and making the playoffs." Kesler added that the rumours are "completely false" that he asked to be traded - recently or ever. Replica Shoes Wholesale China . Sterling was banned for life and fined US$2.5 million by the NBA on Tuesday for racist comments the league says he made in a recorded conversation. Nash, who plays for the rival L.A. Lakers, spoke as a representative of current NBA players at a press conference assembled by Sacramento mayor and National Basketball Players Association adviser Kevin Johnson.The Montreal Canadiens will try to get back in the Eastern Conference Final series with the New York Rangers when the two collide in Game 3 at Madison Square Garden this evening. Listen to the game live on TSN Radio 690 at 8pm et/5pm pt and watch live coverage of the post-game news conferences on TSN.ca. The Canadiens, who are without the services of No. 1 goaltender Carey Price, will have 24-year-old Dustin Tokarski between the pipes again tonight with Peter Budaj serving as the backup. Tokarski performed admirably in his postseason debut on Monday, but it wasnt enough to prevent Montreal from falling behind two games to none. Henrik Lundqvist outdueled the Canadiens netminder, making 40 saves to anchor New York to its fifth consecutive victory. Tokarski, who had played in three games earlier in the season, allowed all three goals on 30 shots in his first taste of NHL playoff action. "We looked at his record. Tokarski is a winner and we know that from his past record. I thought he played very well tonight," said Montreal head coach Michel Therrien. "I liked our team effort, which was great tonight. We were engaged. But the reason we lost tonight was Lundqvist, he stole the game tonight. We had lots of chances to score but Lundqvist made key saves." Tokarski became the first goaltender to make his playoff debut in the Conference Final or later since the NHL expanded to a four-round postseason format in 1975. Price is out for the remainder of the Conference Final due to a lower-body injury suffered in Game 1. Forward Thomas Vanek, who has no points, one shot and a minus-3 rating, took turns skating on the fourth line during practice Wednesday. Therrien told reporters not to read into it, as it all could change again ahead of Game 3. Max Pacioretty scored for Montreal at 6:14 of the first period, but McDonagh answered with his tally just 17 seconds later. The Canadiens put a ton of pressure on New York in the opening 20 minutes, but Lundqvist stopped 13-of-14 shots in the period and Nash would score late in the stanza to give the Rangers the lead for good. "Hes the only reason we were still in the game because they had tremendous push," said New York head coach Alain Vigneault about Lundqvist. Montreal was 0-for-4 on the man advantage and has failed to score over seven chances in the first two games. The Rangers went 1-for-3 on the power play and are 4-for-10 in the series. "We had a number of opportunities to put ourselves in a good position, but they were optimistic and capitalized on their opportunities," said Habs defenseman P.K. Subban. "The difference is, we didnt. Were getting pucks to the net, but not getting the bounces right now. We have to stick with it, because sooner or later the pucks will ggo in for us.dddddddddddd" New York played without forward Derick Brassard, who suffered an injury early in Game 1 and was replaced in the lineup by Daniel Carcillo on Monday. He skated Wednesday and Vigneault said hes is day-to-day. "It was good to get back out there with my teammates," Brassard said Wednesday. "I havent talked to the medical staff, well see whats going to happen." Vigneault also said winger Benoit Pouliot "is good" for tonight after taking a maintenance day on Wednesday. New York is 10-2 all-time when winning the first two games of a seven-game playoff series, including a 4-1 mark when claiming the first two tests on the road. New York is 5-0 since falling behind 3-1 in its semifinal set against Pittsburgh. Mondays win improved the Rangers to 6-3 on the road in these playoffs, marking the first time the Blueshirts have won six away games in one postseason since they last won the Stanley Cup in 1994. The Rangers, however, are just 4-3 on home ice in the playoffs. The Habs are 4-2 as the guest. Tonights tilt is the first of two straight at the Garden, as the clubs are set to meet Sunday in Manhattan for Game 4. Ryan McDonagh posted a goal and an assist in Mondays win, while Martin St. Louis and Rick Nash also scored for the Rangers. Derek Stepan added two assists in the victory. McDonagh has six points (2G, 4A) in the first two games of this series. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, McDonagh is the first Rangers defenseman to record six points in a two-game span in the postseason since Brian Leetch in 1995. Leetch registered three points in consecutive games in New Yorks opening round series against the Quebec Nordiques in 1995. "Not everyone plays consistently at the level you want, and I can say the same thing about me," said McDonagh. "But other guys stepped up and its a good thing to win both games here. You focus on one game at a time, but weve really been ready to push ourselves to consistently to put us in this manner and give ourselves a chance in every game." This is the first postseason encounter between these Original Six rivals since the opening round of the 1996 playoffs when New York won in six games. The clubs have split 14 previous playoff series, but the Rangers have now won six straight postseason games against Montreal, becoming just the fourth team in NHL history to take six playoff tilts in a row versus the storied Canadiens franchise. Both teams are attempting to get back to the Cup Final for the first time since the 1990s. Montreal was the last team based in Canada to win it all in 1993, but has yet to return to the Cup Final, and the Rangers are aiming to get back to the final stage for the first time since 1994. ' ' '