Lines, defense pairings and updates - January 28

BROSSARD -- The Canadiens practiced at the Bell Sports Complex on Friday.

Here are the lines and defense pairings featured by head coach Dominique Ducharme:
News and notes
Forwards Paul Byron and Brendan Gallagher were still wearing no-contact jerseys.
It remains to be seen if one or both players will return to the lineup this weekend when the Canadiens battle the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday and the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday.
Defenseman Brett Kulak says the pair has made a noticeable impact since returning to practice earlier in the week.
"The guys look up to them because of their leadership qualities. They lead the charge, even in practice right now in the blue jersey. They play with speed, they play with intensity every rep they get, and it pushes everyone else. They make crisp passes on the tape. They're a big part of the team," praised Kulak. "It's going to be awesome when we get those two back in there. Paul hasn't played yet this year. We're looking forward to getting him back. He brings that speed and just some veteran presence to the team, which is really welcome."
Tweet from @CanadiensMTL: 🎥 \[Gally Cam 🔴\]#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/MFOTY4hd2x
While Cayden Primeau was the lone goaltender on the ice for the group session, Sam Montembeault later practiced with goalie coach Eric Raymond.
Defenseman David Savard didn't skate. He was given a therapy day.
A host of medical updates
Before the players met the media, the Canadiens provided status updates on Jonathan Drouin, Christian Dvorak, Joel Edmundson and Mathieu Perreault.
Drouin is out indefinitely with a wrist injury, while Dvorak is sidelined with an upper-body injury until after the All-Star break.
Dvorak isn't dealing with a concussion, but he was placed on injured reserve.
Click here for a complete recap of Friday's medical updates.
Pitlick on Byron: 'I would love to be another story like that'
Forward Rem Pitlick is certainly relishing his time with the Canadiens since being claimed off waivers on January 12.
He appreciates the opportunity to put his skills on display more regularly, which wasn't the case in Minnesota where he averaged 9:43 of ice time per outing in 20 appearances earlier this season.
Pitlick, 24, is averaging 16:18 of ice time per game with Montreal. That's a significant switch.
"It feels good. The biggest thing as a player when you have more ice time, there's an ability to have more puck touches, and when you have more puck touches, you feel a part of the game and you're able to get more flow and rhythm," explained Pitlick, who has five points (2 goals, 3 assists) in seven games with his new squad. "It's making me feel like I can play a little bit more of my game. I want to be able to contribute offensively and not neglect the defensive parts of the game. That's my end goal. That's my hope as a player. I feel like I've been able to produce a little bit. We all want more."
Video: MTL@MIN: Pitlick scores in 3rd period
Admittedly, playing alongside fellow NCAA product Jake Evans has been a real treat for Pitlick.
He has admired Evans' game for years, dating back to their matchups in the collegiate ranks.
"We were joking on the bench the other day about how I played against him in college. I was at the University of Minnesota and he was at Notre Dame, and I would watch him. He would always enter the zone and pull up. What I'm trying to say is he has really good poise. He has great creativity to his game," praised Pitlick. "He holds onto pucks and finds those holes, those triangles to make plays, and obviously there's a time and place to shoot or do this or do that, but I really like his ability to suck guys in and find guys who are in the wide open space. His poise and his creativity makes him really fun to play with."
Video: Rem Pitlick on being more involved in Montreal
Pitlick is hoping that he can achieve the same kind of success that Byron has enjoyed since being claimed off waivers from Calgary in October 2015.
"I would love to be another story like that. I hope and I work and I dream of being that type of player. I'm never going to give up on hope, on continuing to play in this league," stated Pitlick, who hails from Ottawa like Byron. "I believe I can do it, and I'm just going to focus on my preparation day in and day out to bring the best that I can to the team and contribute to their success. Hopefully, that means that I'm sticking around for as long as I can. That's what any hockey player wants and that's what we all dream of, so that's what I'm going to focus on."