Montreal

Asthma sufferers have long relied on inhalers for relief from wheezing or coughing attacks. But as of Dec. 31, Primatene Mist -- the only available over-the-counter asthma inhaler -- was taken off shelves because of its adverse effect on the environment. Other inhalers are available, but these require a doctor's prescription. Some people with asthma aren't happy about the change, but lung doctors and asthma specialists agree that Primatene Mist wasn't the best option for patients anyway.

Kent Nagano's tenure at the Montreal Symphony Orchestra appears uncertain following reports that the American conductor will depart the orchestra when his current contract as music director expires in 2016. But the orchestra's management has vigorously denied the reports. A report this month from Montreal's La Presse stated that Nagano's contract with the orchestra won't be renewed beyond 2016. The report, written by Claude Gingras, cites sources saying that Zarin Mehta is helping the orchestra find Nagano's successor.

Montreal's continuing search for a new general manager could end up winding though the Kings' organization to its Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille. The Montreal-born Robitaille is the Kings' president of business operations, the team's alternate governor and popular public face of the franchise. Sportsnet reported Wednesday morning that the Canadiens were planning to reach out to Robitaille. They are in the early stages of assembling possible candidates for the position. In fact, the Canadiens already have been in talks with AEG's Tim Leiweke, who is the president of that organization and governor of the Kings.

The Galaxy moved its April 6 home game against the Montreal Impact to Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. By shifting the Major League Soccer game, the Galaxy said Thursday that the team would not have to play a game in between the two legs of its CONCACAF Champions League semifinal against Monterrey of Mexico. The Galaxy host the first game against Monterrey on April 3 at 7 p.m. at Home Depot Center, then travel to Mexico for the second game April 10. The Galaxy said their season ticket holders would receive the same tickets for the rescheduled game with Montreal on Oct. 16. Other fans with tickets to the April 6 game can transfer their tickets to another regular-season game or receive a refund, the Galaxy said.

Bill Plaschke's article about Montreal pitcher Tim Burke should be read by baseball fans across the land and should be presented to athletic figures everywhere. Burke's adoptions of the South Korean girl, Stephanie, and the Guatemalan boy, Ryan, prove that Burke values life more than money and stardom. At the (All-Star) game, he received a small ovation during the introductions, but he received a large one from me. KURT F. HAGIHARA North Hollywood

Six Flags unveiled its 2013 lineup of new roller coasters, thrill rides, water slides and live shows at the amusement park chain's 13 locations. > Photos: New attractions coming to Six Flags parks in 2013 Six Flags' 2013 attractions include three roller coasters, two swing tower rides, four water slide complexes and two shows.   Among the highlights:   Six Flags Fiesta Texas (San Antonio) - The 1992 Rattler wooden coaster will be reborn as the Iron Rattler hybrid coaster with a steel track on wood supports.

Playing at home for the first time in three weeks, the Kings on Saturday did little to reward the 16th sellout crowd of what has been, to this point, a season of exceeded expectations. Unable to get their power play going -- and so vulnerable that they surrendered a short-handed goal to the Canadiens in the second period -- the Kings fell to Montreal, 4-2, at Staples Center. Coupled with their loss Thursday at Nashville, the Kings have lost consecutive games in regulation for the first time since Jan. 9-11.

-- Runs Batted In Berkman, Houston... 17 Bonds, San Francisco... 16 Barrett, Montreal... 15 VGuerrero, Montreal... 15 Pujols, St. Louis... 14 Castilla, Atlanta... 13 Hidalgo, Houston... 12 DeLee, Florida... 12 LWalker, Colorado... 12 -- -- Home Runs Berkman, Houston... 7 Bonds, San Francisco... 7 SSosa, Chicago... 6 Edmonds, St. Louis... 5 Piazza, New York... 5 10 tied...4 --

Three masked men escaped early Thursday with two gold bars worth about $430,000 after holding up a gold mine at gunpoint 290 miles north of Montreal, police and mine officials reported.

The Montreal Canadiens' best offense Tuesday night came from defenseman Larry Robinson. "I know we're a better club than what we showed in Montreal," Coach Jean Perron said after the Canadiens stayed alive in the National Hockey League semifinals with a 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 5. "Our defense has carried the club all year, and tonight it carried us again." Robinson, backbone of the NHL's top defense, starred on offense as well.

It's the company man against the bad boy. The fitness freak against the unapologetic pot smoker. Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre is as close to the face of the brand as any fighter in the organization. Stockton's Nick Diaz is the black sheep, someone who marches to his own beat, has blown off planned news conferences and tested positive for marijuana after his most recent fight. St-Pierre (23-2) has chafed at how "disrespectful" Diaz (27-8-1)

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has its most popular fighter back, and his return can set up an even more lucrative event. Welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre (22-2) returns Saturday night from a 19-month layoff prompted by a knee injury and surgery, taking on Carlos Condit (28-5) in a pay-per-view card in Montreal. Condit claimed the UFC's "interim" belt in St-Pierre's absence with a unanimous decision over Nick Diaz in February. Although Condit is a dangerous kicker and aggressor who could pose problems for St-Pierre, who has lost just once since 2006, mixed martial arts fans anticipate a victory by the Canadian whose return home has generated more than $3 million in ticket sales.

Six Flags unveiled its 2013 lineup of new roller coasters, thrill rides, water slides and live shows at the amusement park chain's 13 locations. > Photos: New attractions coming to Six Flags parks in 2013 Six Flags' 2013 attractions include three roller coasters, two swing tower rides, four water slide complexes and two shows.   Among the highlights:   Six Flags Fiesta Texas (San Antonio) - The 1992 Rattler wooden coaster will be reborn as the Iron Rattler hybrid coaster with a steel track on wood supports.

Jorge Villafana's season started with such promise, with the midfielder being selected for the under-23 national team and a shot at the Olympic Games. Then the U.S. failed to qualify for London and Villafana lost his starting job with Chivas USA. Lately he's found himself sitting on the bench next to Juan Pablo Angel, a three-time Major League Soccer All-Star and the highest-paid player on the roster but a player who, like Villafana, has spent more time watching than playing this season.

When: 7:30. Where: Home Depot Center. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket. Records: Chivas USA 4-7-3, Impact 4-7-3. Record vs. Impact: First meeting. Update: Chivas was held scoreless for the sixth time in 14 games in Saturday's loss to Real Salt Lake, falling to a league-worst 1-6-1 at home. And now it gets a fired-up Montreal team coming off a franchise-best four-goal performance against Seattle. Patrice Bernier had three assists for the expansion Impact in that game, winning league player-of-the-week honors.

Successful, micro-targeted neighborhood music festivals have been proliferating — including Make Music Pasadena, the Eagle Rock Music Festival, Venice's Abbott Kinney Music Festival and Echo Park's Culture Collide — and now we can now add "The Nice Stretch of West Hollywood That's West of Fairfax Avenue but East of the Sunset Strip Festival. " Sunday's festival is actually called the Hudson Block Party, and for a second year the classy-casual bar and restaurant that throws it has booked an unexpectedly buzzy bill of local and national acts, including White Rabbits, LP and Haim.

'That's just the worst showing. I never would have dreamed it possible. And now that I've got that over with and out of the way, I'm not going to talk about it any more.' John Smoltz, Atlanta Brave closer, after blowing a save Sunday by giving up three runs in the ninth inning against Montreal

VANCOUVER, Canada -- An off-ice note before we get to the on-ice festivities leading up to the Kings' playoff opener against Vancouver on Wednesday night at Rogers Arena. The Montreal Canadiens are interested in talking to Luc Robitaille, the Kings' president of business operations, and Ron Hextall, the Kings' assistant general manager, about the vacant general manager's job in Montreal. However, nothing is expected to proceed until the Kings' season is over. The Kings would have to give permission for Montreal to interview them.

When: 1 p.m. PDT Where: Olympic Stadium, Montreal. On the air: TV: KDOC, KWHY. Radio: 1150, 1330 Records: Galaxy 3-5-1, Montreal 3-5-2. Record vs. Montreal: First meeting. Update: David Beckham's North American Tour stops in Montreal for the first time Saturday and the expansion Impact is bracing for a record crowd that could reach 60,000. But what kind of soccer will they see? The Galaxy, which has been struggling, played perhaps its worst match of the season last week in a home loss to the depleted New York Red Bulls.

Spend five days exploring Montreal and Quebec City on a trip that would work in summer or in fall. By day, tour highlights of the two cities; by night, unwind at historic Fairmont hotels on the Gems of French Canada Luxury Tour from TruExperiences Tours.  The Eastern Canada trip begins in Montreal where a half-day bus tour visits the old French Quarter, McGill University and the city's high point at Mt. Royal Park. Participants then hop a train to Quebec City and later tour the Latin Quarter, City Hall and the historic fortress the Citadel.