The AFC/NFC Championships.

NFL Football Preview:

The NFL conference finals are set and come sunday we'll see the San Francisco 49ers host the New York Giants in the NFC championship (Sunday 6:30PM) and the Baltimore Raven's travel New England to take on the Patriots (Sunday 3:00PM).

Preview the early game:

The "Tebow-Terminator" Tom Brady and the New England Patriots will be looking to exact some playoff revenge on the Ravens.

If you remember the Pats lost to the Ravens at home in their last playoff meeting in 2010. The Ravens got off to a great start, outscoring the Pats 24-0 in the first quarter and intercepting Brady 3 times.

Anything can happen this sunday.

The Pats are a different looking team from 2010. They have three new faces who weren't playing back then and these guys could make all the difference. Were talking tight-ends, Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez and wide receiver Wes Welker.

Gronkowski is the best tight end in the game. He had a big 2011 season, setting a number of single season records including, most receiving TD's (17), most total TD's (18) and most receiving yards (1, 327).

Brady connected with Gronkowski 10 times during the Bronco's game and he reached the end zone three times.

Baltimore, their running back Ray Rice is a game breaker. Baltimore is 9-0 when he carries the ball more than 20 times. Rice had a big game in 2010, carrying the ball 22 times for for 2 TD's and 159 yards.

Their defence is strong and they will look to get pressure on Tom Brady. They rest a lot of hope that Terrell Suggs can get his hands of Brady and make it uncomfortable for him and ultimately force some interceptions.

I have The Patriots winning the game this time around. They look unstoppable on offence.

The night game:

NY Giants will travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers. The Giants are the only team to win on the road this playoffs, defeating the Packers last week. Can they win on the road again?

The 49ers are having a great run under first year head coach Jim Harbaugh. Since taking over the team the 49ers improved to a 13-3 regular season record, a big improvement from their 6-10 record last year.

Still the 49ers have gone largely under the radar (perhaps because this is the first time they have made the playoffs in nine years).

Vernon Davis had 180 yards receiving and caught the game winning touchdown with nine seconds left. Davis looks like a locomotive running down the field. Frank Gore needs to have a big game and get a 100 yards.

Alex Smith is having a coming out party. He was able to throw for 299 yards and stay neck and neck with Drew Brees. He had three touchdown passes and one rushing major.

Then there is their defence led by 11 year defensive tackle Justin Smith who looks tougher than nails out there and what about the other Smith, Aldon? He had 14 sacks this year as a rookie and will look to put pressure on Eli Manning.

The Giants are getting hot at the right time. Eli Manning is playing some of the best football he's ever played. His wide receivers are all healthy.

Hakeem Nicks was unstoppable against Green Bay Last week. Pulling in seven catches, two TD's and 165 yards. Victor Cruz has elevated his game and Mario Manningham, what can I say? That guy's name is so close to Manning, they could be brothers.

The run game with Brandon Jacobs specifically will have to fight and battle and pick up some first downs especially in the red zone against the tenacious 49ers defence.

I strongly believe in the home field advantage and I have the 49ers winning it.

Toronto Rock Vs Calgary Roughnecks

Rock lose home-opener 12-9
The 2011 NLL Champion Toronto Rock opened the season sunday night at home vs the Calgary Roughnecks.

There was a short banner raising ceremony and ring presentation before the game. Rock owner Jamie Dawick and retired net-minder Bob 'Whipper' Watson presented the banner.

The Royal Canadian Mounties walked in the NLL Champions Cup, the rings were presented and the fans cheered as they raised the banner to the rafters.

The Rock got off to a strong start, scoring five straight goals in the first quarter. It wasn't until the second quarter when Cory Conway got Calgary on the board. The Rock's Blaine Manning would get one back and the Rock had a 6-1 lead.

Calgary would go on a 6 goal run and at the end of the third quarter the score was locked at eight apiece.

After a slow and shaky start Calgary began to steal back the momentum. Calgary would would outscore the Rock 9-3 in the second half and finish with a 12-9 victory.

The game was back and forth but at times sloppy. Turnovers were a problem for both teams. Each side has plenty of new faces, so the feeling out situation was expected.

Neither team could convert on many of their power-plays. This could be the game changer for the games to come.

Toronto were outshot heavily and they did not fare-well in the face-off circle. Rock's goaltender Matt Roik out played Mike Poulin. Calgary outshot the Rock 53-38.

Calgary's Geoff Snider won 16 out of 25 face-offs.

There was a reported crowd of 10,341 on hand.

In Montreal for the Habs game

The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Winnipeg Jets 7-3 on wednesday night. Lars Eller scored four times and had a beauty spinner-rama penalty shot goal.

Here are some images from the warm-up, the singing of the national anthem and the opening face-off.

Out of the line-up for the Canadiens were captain Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez.

The atmosphere was electric at the Bell Centre. The Habs were back home after six game road trip and a holiday lay off.

The opening face-off.

I had a large Molson Export in hand. As the ref drops the puck and the action ensues, buddy next to me yells "Here we go! Let's see see some blood!" What a beauty.

Winnipeg would get on the board first but the Canadiens would reply two goals before the end of the first period.

If P.K. Subban is on the ice at the time of a Habs goal he will always skate down and give a pound to Carey Price.