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NEW YORK -- David Sterns NBA owners gathered one last time, toasting the outgoing commissioner before he leaves after 30 years on the job. They also changed back one of the earliest changes Stern made. Leaving with Stern is the NBA Finals format he implemented in his first full year on the job, one that alleviated travel concerns but critics felt also gave an advantage to the lower-seeded team. Beginning with the 2014 finals, the higher-seeded team will host Games 1, 2, 5 and 7. The lower seed gets Games 3, 4 and 6, following the same format the NBA uses in all other rounds. The NBA for the previous 29 years has used whats referred to as the 2-3-2 format, in which the higher seed hosts the first two games, then goes on the road for three straight. The 2-3-2 format was instituted in 1985 in part to ease the amount of cross-country travel with the Celtics and Lakers frequently meeting for the championship. But some felt it also worked against the team that should have the advantage. "There certainly was a perception ... it was unfair to the team that had the better record, that it was then playing the pivotal Game 5 on the road. So this obviously moves that game back to giving home-court advantage to the team with the better record if its a 2-2 series," Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver said. The unanimous vote to approve the 2-2-1-1-1 format came Wednesday during Sterns final preseason meeting with his board of governors. Owners also voted to add an extra day between Games 6 and 7. The leagues competition committee had recommended the change last month back to 2-2-1-1-1, which was used in all but one finals from 1957 to 1984. Stern has often said he was acting on advice -- or complaints -- about the travel from former Celtics boss Red Auerbach when the finals format was switched. But with commercial flights long since replaced by charters, teams didnt have the same difficulties now with the number of trips. Instead, the ones who had the higher seed found it more inconvenient, Stern said, to be on the road for as many as eight days in a row when the opponent hosted the middle three games. Silver, who will become commissioner after Stern retires Feb. 1, is a proponent of the 2-2-1-1-1 format, though he said Stern and other league executives all thought it was time for the change. "It reached a crescendo where basketball people thought it was important and the business people stood down and said it was no longer necessary for the convenience of transportation or the media," Silver said. Beyond the re-election of Spurs owner Peter Holt as chairman, there was little other business for the owners, who toasted Stern during dinner Tuesday night. Stern said there was a video tribute voiced by Bill Russell, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, along with "some speechifying" and "a series of totally embarrassing photos of me over the last 36 years." "I got the opportunity to thank my colleagues at the NBA for their incredible work and saying how pleased I was that the league was in such good hands under those colleagues and Adams stewardship," Stern said. The owners were also presented with a Stern bobblehead doll. The commissioner said Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert joked that unlike most bobbleheads whose heads nod up and down, Sterns only moves side to side as if shaking its head no. "Its been a great opportunity," Stern said. "Believe it or not, even including my interaction with the media and the burns that come from being a lightning rod, its been a great run, and Im grateful to the owners for giving me the opportunity." Luke Kunin Jersey .Stanton suffered fractures in his face and other injuries when he was hit by a pitch Sept. 11. The Marlins are confident hell fully recover and be ready for spring training, and they hope to reach a long-term agreement with him. Mikko Koivu Jersey . Lack replaced an injured Roberto Luongo late in the first period then watched defenceman Chris Tanev score the winning goal midway through the third as the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Jets 2-1 in a tight NHL game. http://www.authenticwildpro.com/Eric-staal-wild-jersey/ . The game got off to a less-than-ideal start for the Jets as Oliver Ekman-Larsson found a wide open net from the slot and opened the scoring for the Coyotes a lead in the first period, but Olli Jokinen answered back just over half a minute later. Matt Dumba Jersey . New York City FC introduced Frank Lampard in Brooklyn on Thursday after signing the 36-year-old former Chelsea midfielder to a two-year contract. Mikael Granlund Jersey . CBS Sports Jon Heyman is reporting that Santana will sign a one-year deal, likely in the next two days with one of a trio of suitors, with the Toronto Blue Jays believed to be heavily involved.VANCOUVER - Daniel and Henrik Sedin werent in top form on Thursday night, but the talented twins showed up when it mattered most.Daniel Sedin took a delicate feed from brother Henrik off the rush and roofed a shot past Carey Price on the power play at 2:45 of overtime as the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-2.The winner came after Vancouver blew a 2-0 lead late in the third period — including Max Paciorettys game-tying goal with the Sedins on the ice with less than three minutes to go in regulation.Our line can play better, said Henrik Sedin. We really should have won this game after 60 minutes.There were just five seconds left in an interference penalty assessed to Montreal defenceman Tom Gilbert when Daniel Sedin swooped in and ended what was an entertaining, fast-paced affair.When their games not a good game its still not a bad game, Canucks head coach Willie Desjardins said of his stars. Maybe it wasnt quite to their standards but it was a pretty good game.Added Daniel Sedin: You should not give up a 2-0 lead at home (but) it happens. We stuck with our game plan and it paid off.Nick Bonino and Brad Richardson also scored for Vancouver (7-3-0), which got 22 saves from Ryan Miller.Alex Galchenyuk had the other goal for Montreal (8-2-1), while Price stopped 27 shots.I like the way we competed tonight, said Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien. We never gave up and gave ourselves a chance to win this hockey game with the comeback.Up 1-0 after two periods, Richardson stretched Vancouvers lead to two at 2:17 of the third off the rush, ripping a shot over Prices glove shortside a few minutes after Alexandre Burrows hit the post behind the Montreal goaltender.The visitors cut the deficit to 2-1 at 12:11 when Galchenyuk tipped home is fourth of the season past Miller off a shot from P.K. Subban. The Canucks argued to the referees that Miller — who knows the Canadiens well from his time with the Buffalo Sabres — had been interfered with by Montreals Brendan Gallagher in the crease.The goal came much to the delight of the boisterous Canadiens fans in attendance, who were enjoying their teams only visit to Vancouver this season and were in full voice for most of the night.That was a fun game. You kind of dont like it, but you like it, Miller said of the atmosphere. Toronto or the Habs, in Buffalo we got a lot of that. Its kind of cool. Hockey has such a deep following.Montreal kept pushing and got its tying goal with 2:33 remaining when former Canucks forward Dale Weise made a nice pass to Pacioretty, who made no mistake from the slot for his fourth.I thought we played a pretty good third period for quite a bit of it, said Desjardins. Thats the way the game goes sometimes. Montreal is a good team. Theyre creative and they put lots of pressure on your defence.After a scoreless first, the Canucks grabbed the lead at 8:29 of the second on a play that left the Canadiens fuming.Montreal defenceman Alexie Emmelin made a pass up the middle that was intercepted by Bonino to create a 2-on-1 the other way with Derek Dorsett.dddddddddddd. Burrows drilled an off-balance Emelin with a high check after he released the puck, appearing to make contact with his head.There was no penalty on the play and as Emelin lay on the ice, Bonino finished off a nice passing play for his fourth of the season behind a helpless Price.Emelin went to the locker-room for the rest of the period, but returned in the third.I was trying to finish my check and my intent was not to hurt him, said Burrows, who added he didnt think the hit was late. Obviously you never want to hurt someone and Im glad he came back.Im not going to speculate on what people are going to say. My intent was not to hurt him.Not surprisingly, Therrien took a decidedly different view.We all saw the hit to the head on Emelin and instead of having a power play of five minutes the puck is in your own net, said the coach. That was a dirty hit to the head.Vancouvers Shawn Matthias rang a shot off the post behind Price earlier in the period before Miller made a great save off Gallagher on a power play.The Canadiens were coming off a 2-1 shootout victory over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, and Price had to be sharp to keep the deficit at just one in the dying seconds of the period, shooting out an arm to deflect a quick shot from Bonino out of play.We cant be upset with our effort tonight, I thought we competed hard, said Subban. We had opportunities to win the hockey game, thats all you can ask.Montreal recorded the games first three shots, but it was Vancouver that had the first real chance when Dorsett cut in off the wing on a partial breakaway, only to lose control at the critical moment in front of Price.Acquired in a trade with Vancouver last season, Weise nearly had a dream return four minutes in on another break, but couldnt get a shot away after taking a slash from Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieska.Vancouvers Jannik Hansen saw his shot on a 2-on-1 stopped by Price at the other end moments later, but the Canadiens goaltender saved his best work for the final flurry of the first period.Chris Higgins fed Bonino right in front of Price, who had to stretch to stop the Canucks forward and was sharp again on Dan Hamhuis buzzer-beater shot from the point.That brought chants of Carey! Carey! from the Montreal fans who dotted the stands and drowned out their Canucks counterparts with three raucous Go Habs Go chants in the opening 20 minutes alone.When you have an atmosphere like that and a team with that kind of tradition its fun, said Desjardins. At the same time you want to see how your guys respond and I think we responded pretty well.Notes: Vancouver visits the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday before hosting the Nashville Predators on Sunday. ... Montreal welcomes Calgary on Sunday. ... The Canadiens host the Canucks on Dec. 9 in the clubs only other meeting this season. Wholesale USA Soccer Jerseys discount uswnt jersey Wholesale AC Milan Jerseys Wholesale Arsenal Jerseys Wholesale A.S. 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