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A quartet of dramatic MLS conference semi-finals resulted in upsets, outstanding individual performances and possibly the end for some of footballs most iconic names. Colorado Rapids have reached their second ever MLS Conference final where they will face Seattle Sounders, who will make their third appearance at this stage. In the Eastern Conference, Canada rules as Toronto FC and Montreal Impact face off against each other for the first time ever in a post-season with neither side reaching this phase of the competition before.Ahead of the season-defining games, live on Sky Sports, we dissect some of the subplots to have come out of the play-off semi-finals, with a look ahead to what seems set to be one of the most exciting climaxes to an MLS campaign in its 20-year history. Highlights as Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard suffer defeats in the MLS semi-finals with their contracts up at the end of the season Is Steven Gerrards playing career over?Gerrard has hinted that he might end his playing career at LA Galaxy, with his contract at the club expiring at the end of the season. Media reports have linked the 36-year-old with a return to Liverpool to take up a coaching role under Jurgen Klopp.Should Gerrard retire or opt to leave Galaxy, he will depart America without an MLS Cup to his name.Considering the Galaxy are the most decorated club in American soccer history, the 1-1 aggregate defeat on penalties at the conference semi-final stage was as a real upset. Ashley Cole was among the players to miss a penalty as LA Galaxy crashed out of the MLS playoffs against Tim Howards Colorado Rapids side Will Didier Drogba start in MLS again?Montreals 3-1 aggregate victory over New York Red Bulls would have been an important statement to Didier Drogba. The 38-year-old is no longer the clubs star, Ignacio Piatti is.The former Chelsea striker refused to feature for the Impact last month after learning he would not be starting. He has not played since with reports of an apparent back problem, missing Impacts final regular season game and then their first two play-off matches.Drogba came off the bench for the final ten minutes on Sunday with Montreal already 2-1 up on aggregate, playing a cameo role reminiscent of his second spell at Chelsea. Piattis double in the second leg against the Red Bulls means he has three goals and an assist in the play-offs after three matches, while Drogbas striker replacement Matteo Mancosu has also scored three.If a fully fit Drogba does not start against Toronto on November 27, the end of his MLS career may be in sight.Sebastian Giovinco shiningToronto will have thought they would be up against it when they were drawn to face a New York City team consisting of Frank Lampard, Andrea Pirlo and David Villa, but Sebastian Giovinco had other plans. Sebastian Giovinco scored a hat-trick to help Toronto through Having already dispatched Philadelphia Union 3-1 in a one-game knockout round, the first leg of their Eastern Conference semi-final clash with NYC came just four days later. That did not faze coach Greg Vanneys side, though. Jozy Altidore and Tosaint Ricketts gave the Reds a two-goal cushion going into the away leg before Giovinco scored a hat-trick at Yankee Stadium in the 5-0 victory. The tie finished 7-0 to Toronto on aggregate, the largest play-off scoreline in league history.In their first MLS season, New York City were competing in their first ever play-off. An achievement in itself, but questions will now be raised over the longevity of Pirlo, 37, and Lampard, 38, in Major League Soccer. Resurgence in SeattleThe majority of Seattles season had been difficult, only winning six league matches in the first five months of the season. But the tough decision to replace long-standing coach Sigi Schmid for his assistant Brian Schmetzer looks to have paid off. How the MLS play-offs work Our guide to the MLS post-season Seattle have won their last ten home matches in a row and has been greatly spurred on by Osvaldo Alonso and forwards Jordan Morris and Nicolas Lodeiro.So despite Clint Dempsey being ruled out for the season in August with health issues relating to an irregular heartbeat, the Sounders have stayed strong.FC Dallas were on the hunt for the treble this season having already won the Supporters Shield and U.S Open Cup, but Seattle have ended any chance of further success earlier than expected with a 3-0 win in the first leg carrying them over the line in the end as they lost 2-1 in the return fixture.The Sounders have never gone past the conference championship final, but they have also never lost at home in the penultimate round before MLS Cup so plenty of reason to suggest theyre a significant threat. LA Galaxy were knocked out of the MLS Cup after a penalty shoot-out defeat to the Colorado Rapids on Sunday Underdogs Colorado out for second MLS CupThe only team out of the four to have lifted an MLS Cup, Colorado Rapids have been this seasons MLS surprise packages.Last year, the Rapids finished bottom of the West on 37 points and have now gone on to reach the Conference finals after seeing off a star-studded LA Galaxy team on penalties.A 40-yard strike from former Basel forward Shkelzen Gashi to send the tie to extra-time will go down as one of the great goals in MLS play-off history while Tim Howard pulled off the necessary heroics with two saves in the shoot-out.The resilience seen in the Rapids post-season campaign so far could see the Rapids lift their first MLS Cup since 2010. Colorado have not reached the same stage of the play-offs in the last six years, and would surely make for one of the leagues great success stories should they overcome an expensively assembled Seattle side.What are the dates and times? MLS play-offs schedule Date Knockout round Time October 27 Toronto 3-1 Philadelphia LA Galaxy 3-1 Real Salt Lake October 28 DC United 2-4 Montreal Seattle 1-0 Kansas Conference semi-finals First leg October 30 East: Toronto 2-0 NYC (2) West: LA Galaxy 1-0 Colorado (2) East: Montreal 1-0 NY Red Bulls October 31 West: Seattle 3-0 Dallas (1) Second leg November 6 East: NY Red Bulls (1) 1-2 Montreal West: Colorado (2) p1-0 LA Galaxy November 7 East: NYC (2) 0-5 Toronto West: Dallas (1) 2-1 Seattle Conference finals November 21 Seattle v Colorado Midnight November 23 Montreal v Toronto Midnight November 27 Colorado v Seattle 8pm November 30 Toronto v Montreal 11pm MLS Cup Final December 10 West winner v East winner Midnight Also See: Toronto and Impact advance WATCH: Gerrards final kick? Brad Peacock Jersey . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. Jose Urquidy Jersey . -- Three close looks at the bucket, three misses. http://www.customastrosjersey.com/custom-jimmy-wynn-jersey-large-166y.html . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. Carlos Lee Jersey Large . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble. Andy Pettitte Jersey . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July.ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills have signed offensive lineman Doug Legursky. Legursky, who can play centre and guard, visited the Bills on Tuesday, and the five-year veteran agreed to a deal on Wednesday. Legursky, 26, spent his first four NFL seasons in Pittsburgh, and appeared in all 16 games for the Steelers in 2012. He has played in 50 NFL games with 17 starts.dddddddddddd He will be in the mix for the starting left guard position for the Bills, a race that also includes Colin Brown, Zach Chibane, Chris Scott, Thomas Welch and Sam Young. Legursky could also push David Snow for the backup centre role behind Eric Wood. To make room for Legursky on the roster, Buffalo released linebacker Greg Lloyd. ' ' '