Deslauriers: 'It goes by so fast'

ST. LOUIS - After welcoming his third child into the world three weeks ago, Nicolas Deslauriers will have another reason to celebrate on Thursday night.

The 27-year-old winger will be suiting up for his 300th career NHL game when the Canadiens battle the St. Louis Blues at the Enterprise Center to close out their two-game road trip.
"It goes by fast. I don't really look at stats, but when things like this happen, it's fun to see numbers like that go up," said Deslauriers, who met with members of the media on Thursday morning. "I hope there will be more."

Deslauriers returns to the lineup after watching the Habs' victory in Detroit as a healthy scratch earlier in the week.
In retrospect, the six-year NHL veteran is simply grateful to have been given a shot at making his hockey dreams a reality.
While everything worked out for the best in his case, it certainly wasn't easy.
"At each camp, I just tried to stay with the team and get in the lineup. As a player who was drafted as a defenseman and is now a forward, playing one NHL game was something," explained Deslauriers, a third-round selection of the Los Angeles Kings in 2009. "Then, it was about staying in the lineup."
According to head coach Claude Julien, Deslauriers has been able to do just that, for the most part, by executing his particular assignments rather well since being acquired from the Buffalo Sabres last October.
"I think Nicolas knows his role. He did a lot of work to get here. When you look at the situation last season, it seemed like a minor trade to go from one place to Laval, but then he had his chance with us. We all know that we weren't a very physical team, and he brought that. He also scored big goals for our team. He's the type of player that our team needed. That's why he's still in the NHL," praised Julien, who saw Deslauriers light the lamp a career-high 10 times in 58 games during the 2018-19 campaign. "He's good on the forecheck, finishes his hits and respects his role as someone who's always there to protect his teammates when he has to."

At 6-foot-1 and 221 pounds, the LaSalle native isn't shy at all when it comes to sticking up for his buddies.
He knows it's a big part of his job description, and he prepares himself accordingly during the offseason.
"When I broke into the League, I didn't think I'd be a player like that. It's a style I developed," mentioned Deslauriers. "A lot of people say it's going away, but that's why the summers are there to train and develop new skills to try to play hockey and stay in the lineup."
Matthew Peca and Charles Hudon will both be healthy scratches on Thursday night, while Michael Chaput draws back in to center a line with Deslauriers and Kenny Agostino.
Carey Price will get the start in goal.
Alzner returns
Defenseman Karl Alzner will play in place of Mike Reilly against the Blues.
It will mark Alzner's first taste of game action with the Canadiens since November 24.
Three days later, the 30-year-old veteran rearguard was assigned to the AHL's Laval Rocket where he patrolled the blueline for 10 games before being recalled by the big club.
"He played good hockey in Laval," said Julien, ahead of explaining his rationale behind re-inserting Alzner into the lineup right now. "We're playing a big team tonight. I wouldn't say they're an ultra-fast team, but they play a heavy brand of hockey. That's why we need some bigger size to counter what we're going up against. That's why those guys [including Deslauriers] are in the lineup."

While the season has undoubtedly been tough on Alzner, Julien has been impressed by the way he has managed the adversity.
"His attitude says a lot because it isn't easy when you have 23 players and you're left out. I really like his work ethic on the ice during practice. I'm sure that inside it bothers him, but it's a part of the game," concluded Julien. "I think the way he has handled the situation is really good. It hasn't bothered anyone in the locker room. On the contrary, the guys support him a lot because of that."