McCarron to play against Toronto, Gallagher talks about facing Plekanec

TORONTO - Michael McCarron will get his first taste of NHL action since November 7 on Saturday night at Air Canada Centre.

After being recalled from the AHL's Laval Rocket earlier in the week, the 23-year-old forward will suit up against a Maple Leafs squad that is riding a three-game winning streak overall and an 11-game winning streak on home turf.
Needless to say, the veteran of 59 NHL games is eager to make a good impression with the big club this time around and do everything in his power to stick around for the remainder of the 2017-18 campaign.
"I just want to be hard to play against. It was a struggle for me early on, maybe worry about other things too much. When I play more simple, it's way more effective. I just want to come out and bring my game," said McCarron, following Saturday morning's optional skate. "You've got to be consistent. I think consistency is what makes good NHL players. I've been finding it in the minors there, and I've strung a couple of months together where I've been really consistent. I just want to bring that here. Hopefully, I can do that."

McCarron, who boasts seven goals and 24 points in 52 games with Sylvain Lefebvre's squad on the year, is still quite confident that he can make his mark at hockey's highest level. He feels he's still on the right track.
"At the end of the day I'm confident I'm going to be an NHL player and be an NHL player for a long time," shared the Grosse Pointe, MI native, who was held without a point in eight games with the Habs this season. "I want to stay here and play for the CH. I wasn't too worried [about not being recalled]. I knew I just had to work on my game. It wasn't where it needed to be and I just continued to work and stay positive. I knew my time was going to come, and here it is."
While head coach Claude Julien hasn't really had a chance to see McCarron play all that much recently, the Rocket brass has said good things about him. With that in mind, the Canadiens' bench boss is eager to see the former 25th overall pick at work.
"This is a chance for him to prove himself. He's a big guy. He plays a heavy game and he continues to improve," explained Julien, who has yet to reveal which forward will serve as a healthy scratch on Saturday night to make room for McCarron up front. "In Laval, I think he was playing more of an offensive role. Now, we can evaluate him with us and he can show us what he can do."
Meanwhile, Julien's contingent will be going up against Tomas Plekanec for the first time since the veteran pivot was dealt to the Maple Leafs on February 25.
That, according to Brendan Gallagher, will be somewhat strange for players and fans alike.
"It'll be different, for sure. He did a lot of good things for a lot of years," said the Canadiens' leading goal-scorer so far this season. "I think a lot of Habs fans have a lot of good memories of him in a Habs sweater, so if they're watching the game, it'll be a little bit strange at the start. But, as professional athletes you've just got to adjust to different situations and I think this is one of them."

Even though the pair are close friends, Gallagher isn't planning on taking it easy on his former teammate under the bright lights of the ACC.
"I'd probably enjoy hitting him," cracked Gallagher. "I had a lot of fun with Pleky over the years. Anytime you get to play against your friends, you're going to have fun before, but you want to win. You don't want to hear about it all the time. I think it's going to be a fun night."