MONTREAL -- Alexander Radulov was beaming on Thursday night.He was showing his 11-month-old son around the Canadiens digs at the Bell Centre. The expression on Radulovs face as he carried his baby son around in his right arm could have lit up the entire arena.These are good times indeed for the once-banished Nashville Predators winger. Ra-du, Ra-du, the crowd had chanted once again during a Habs power play in Montreals 3-1 win over the?Tampa Bay Lightning.Its been good [here] so far for me and my family, Radulov, 30, said on Friday. Its nice to hear that reaction from the fans. Its big for me obviously, but I have to work hard and keep going. Every time I step on the ice, I have to do something to help the team.Just eight games into the NHL season, it appears that Alexei Kovalev, version 2.0, has surfaced here in La Belle Province. The passionate Montreal fans have embraced the latest version of the misunderstood, enigmatic Russian winger with oodles of talent.Kovalev found new life in his NHL career when he came here years ago. The fans absolutely loved him. This might be happening all over again with Radulov, who is winning over the folks in these parts not just with his offensive flair, but just as much for his dogged determination away from the puck.You learn from things you go through, said Radulov. Its not all about just scoring goals or getting assists. Hockey is about playing both ways. To be a good player, defense, neutral zone, you have to block shots, take a check, whatever helps at that time in a game. The goals and assists will be there if you work hard and do the right job.?And the fans have noticed. People here see if youre working hard, they will respect that,?said Radulov.One person who would have easily predicted Radulovs early-season success in his return to the NHL after four years back in Russia is his former junior coach in Quebec City.I love Alexander Radulov as a person, said Hall of Famer Patrick Roy?in French via email Thursday. Hes a dominant player and dedicated and Im not surprised at all to see his success so far this season.The Habs struck out when they took a flyer on a Russian project named Alexander Semin a year ago. Montreal sent Semin packing rather quickly last December.The Canadiens are banking on a different player his time around. Canadiens general manager?Marc Bergevin talked with a lot of people before signing Radulov to a one-year, $5.75-million deal on July 1.Our guys in Europe really liked his compete level. His skating level was high off the charts, Bergevin said before Thursdays win. For me, personally, that part is very important, the compete level. I think skill is important, but if you have skill and you dont compete, those guys come and go. Theres always a risk, especially for a guy whos been gone (from the NHL) for a while, so the term of the contract was very important.On a day in which some teams once again had to overpay for the top free agents -- as veteran players landed five-, six- and seven-year deals all over the place last July 1 -- the Habs got an impact player on a one-year deal. In todays cap world, thats found gold.As long as he delivers, of course.I think the fact he played in Quebec City helped us sell him on the passion of our fans in Montreal. So far its worked out well, said Bergevin.Radulov said his history with the Quebec Remparts was what he pointed to when Bergevin first approached him about playing in Montreal.The first thing in the meeting with Marc, he was asking if I could handle the pressure here in Montreal, said Radulov. I said, Yeah, I played before in Quebec, I know the French-Canadian people, I had success there. I get that feeling that Montreal is a great place to play hockey, great fans, great organization, Original Six team.Its all about winning here, Radulov continued. Thats why I chose Montreal. I hate losing, too. I want to win. We have a good group of guys with a chance to win.Among that group of guys is an old Predators buddy in Shea Weber. And yes, Bergevin made sure to tap into Webers personal knowledge of Radulov before taking the plunge.Oh yeah, I talked to Shea. He said, Berg, I would (sign him) if you can, said the Habs GM. He said, We grew up together. I think it could work with him. Yeah he put his stamp on it, he did.The Predators and the Habs have some interesting connections this season, dont they? There was so much debate about the Weber-for-P.K. Subban blockbuster. And then you have Bergevin scooping up a player whom Nashville GM David Poile drafted, developed and then brought back a second time from Russia for the 2012 playoffs, an experiment that famously ended with Radulov missing curfew and the Predators self-imploding against the Coyotes in part because of that distraction.When we drafted him, we were looking for a high-end, offensive, talented player, Poile said in a phone conversation earlier this week. There are sometimes some risk with every player when they have that type of skill level. We were really excited when we drafted him, really excited when we brought him over here.But where it breaks off for me is that there was a whole series of things that probably fall under immaturity that didnt allow him to be successful on a consistent basis on our team, added Poile. Youd have to ask him why he went back to Russia in the first place, because I think that hurt him more than anything. I think if he would have stuck it out, my guess is that it would have worked out for us. And him.The second time was real unfortunate, at the most important time of year. We made a decision, and it was the end of our relationship.Seeing a more mature Radulov having this kind of early season success with the Habs? Poile always knew that player was in there. Its why he brought him back a second time.?It turns out that the third time was the charm.Do I wish he would have found the maturity and consistency level with us a few years ago? Absolutely, but it didnt happen, said Poile.When he left Nashville in 2012, Radulov wondered if that was the end of the line for him in the NHL. But he kept the hope -- and the drive --alive.?I wont lie to you, I had a lot of things in my mind, said Radulov. I still believed if I kept working hard back home in Russia and play as good and hard as I can over there, make sure people here see me in case I could come back when I had a chance. Its worked out. Im hoping to play over here for a number of years. Custom Kansas City Royals Jerseys . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed. Custom Toronto Blue Jays Jerseys . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto. http://www.customjerseysbaseball.com/ . Spiller left Week 3s 27-20 loss to the New York Jets with a thigh injury, but fully practiced with the team all week and expects to be ready to go on Sunday. Wholesale Custom Baseball Jerseys . Jeff Green scored 13 points and Kris Humphries 12 for the Celtics, who nearly blew an 18-point, second-half lead. Sullingers 20-20 was the first by a Celtics player since Kevin Garnetts first game in Boston in 2007. Garnett was dealt -- along with Paul Pierce -- to Brooklyn during the off-season. Custom San Diego Padres Jerseys . -- Ryan Blaney provided more evidence that Penske Racings No. WINTER PARK, Fla.-- Dayton used hot shooting, making 12 3-pointers, to defeat Texas A&M 74-57 in the Florida Sunshine Classic at Warden Arena.The Flyers (4-6) went 9-of-14 from beyond the arc in the first half, as they built a 45-25 advantage over the Aggies. Dayton shot 12-of-22 (54.5%) beyond the arc for the game.Danni Williams led the Aggies (8-3) with 16 points. Khaalia Hillsman scored in double figures, as she has for all 11 games this season, to add in 14.Anriel Howard led the Aggies with 10 rebounds, marking her 10th consecutive game with double-digit rebounds.The Aggies return to action at 2:15 p.m. CT on Wednesday, December 21 to face No. 19 Syracuse in the ffinal game of the Florida Sunshine Classic.dddddddddddd.QUICKIE NOTESTexas A&M falls to 8-3 on the season, while Dayton improves to 4-6.Khaalia Hillsman has scored in double figures in all 11 games this season. She has 24 double-digit scoring games.Danni Williams scored in double figures for the 10th time this season and the 11th time in her career.Anriel Howard had 10+ rebounds for the 10th straight game and 15th time in her career.Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair is 317-132 in 14 seasons at Texas A&M and 725-295 in his Hall of Fame career ' ' '