Updates from morning skate - April 29

BROSSARD -- The Canadiens held a morning skate at the Bell Sports Complex ahead of the season finale against the Panthers.

Forwards Brendan Gallagher and Tyler Pitlick didn't skate. They were both given therapy days.
During his pregame media availability, interim head coach Martin St-Louis confirmed that Carey Price would start against Florida. It will mark the 700th start of his NHL career.
Forward Mathieu Perreault will take Laurent Dauphin's spot in the lineup.
Chris Wideman replaces William Lagesson on defense.

Wideman on Gervais: 'He's been a pleasure to get to know'
Shortly before the on-ice session began, the players presented longtime head equipment manager, Pierre Gervais, with a Polaris RANGER Utility Task Vehicle (UTV) to celebrate his retirement.

Gervais, who'll work his final game tonight, has spent over three decades in the organization.
Wideman talked about getting to know "Gerv" this season.
"I've kind of gone out of my way to make sure that I've asked about everything that he's seen during his career. He's got some great stories with the team traveling commercial, all the commercial airlines, all the stuff that's gone wrong that he's seen, the fun they've had, and just how things have changed during his time here," said Wideman. "He's been a pleasure to get to know and somebody that the guys are very close with."

With 244 games of NHL experience under his belt between Ottawa, Edmonton, Florida and Montreal, Wideman is well-versed in the kind of work Gervais and his fellow staffers do over the course of a long year.
The American blueliner has tremendous respect for the profession.
"There's a lot of late nights [on the road], but theirs are even later. They usually get to bed three to four hours after we do because they're getting everything set up. They're also at the rink before we even arrive," explained Wideman. "They're some of the hardest working people in the entire league and we definitely recognize that and appreciate it."

Gervais isn't the only veteran member of the club retiring after tonight, however.
Longtime team services coordinator Alain Gagnon, affectionately known as "Flower," is moving on, too.
Harris: Growing on the job
Making the jump from the NCAA to the NHL isn't easy, but Jordan Harris has handled the transition rather well.
The 21-year-old rearguard will play his 10th game of the season tonight.
He credits St-Louis for easing the move along and helping to steadily build his confidence.
"When I first joined the team, he was like, 'Hey, you're going to make mistakes and you're going to want three or four plays back at the end of the game.' That really meant a lot to me because it kind of lifts a little weight off your shoulders and you can just go out there and try and play your game," explained Harris. "I'm fortunate to have a coach like Marty who allows players to make mistakes and be put back on the ice. I'm definitely grateful for that."

The Northeastern University product is adamant that his brief time with the Canadiens will undoubtedly pay dividends come September when he attempts to crack the roster and solidify his place on the back end.
Every outing thus far has been immensely valuable and educational.
"Just being able to have that experience, getting to know the systems a little bit, to kind of get a feel for the game, and you have video that you can watch back over the summer, it's definitely important because it allows kind of a launching pad for the next year," added Harris. "You can start next year and you're not coming into it completely blind. You know some of the people and you know what your team's about and what they're trying to accomplish. It's definitely been a whirlwind over the past three weeks, but it's huge, and it'll make the step next year going to training camp a little easier."

Right now, though, the former third-round selection is laser-focused on capping the 2021-22 campaign with a strong performance versus the Presidents' Trophy winners.
"Marty kind of said it well in video this morning. He's like, 'It's like the last exam before you go away for the summer from school, so you want to make a good, lasting impression and do what you can to help the team.' We were talking earlier about getting a win for Carey, for Gerv, for Flower, for the guys who are leaving," mentioned Harris. "It's kind of a bigger meaning than just one game to end the season."
Some kind words for Nick and Carey
Wideman isn't sure if he'll be with the Habs next year, but he'd relish the opportunity to return.
The St. Louis native made that crystal clear on Friday.
"I would love to come back. I don't think I've been shy about that. The organization is unbelievable and the city has been amazing," praised Wideman, who signed a one-year contract with Montreal last July. "My wife and I have really enjoyed our time here. The group of guys, and the young guys, in particular, that I've been able to become close with, we're just having a lot of fun."

One of those youngsters Wideman was referencing was Nick Suzuki.
The team's leading scorer made a real impression on him over the last eight months.
"There's nothing I've seen from him that doesn't say "captain." He's a guy that carries himself with a lot of class. He leads by example. He's been our best player every night, basically. He's a guy that you can count on," noted Wideman. "I've really enjoyed getting to play with him and getting to know him, and I'm excited to see where he takes his career."

As for his thoughts on Price suiting up for the season finale…
"What he's doing to push his body to be able to play is inspiring for all of us. He's really pushing himself. That's something that we definitely take notice of," said Wideman. "We want to play hard for him and get him a win, so that'll definitely be a focus tonight."