Game Day - Sharks @ Canadiens

BROSSARD - The Canadiens held an optional morning skate at the Bell Sports Complex on Friday in preparation for their game against the San Jose Sharks at the Bell Centre.

• Following the on-ice session, head coach Michel Therrien didn't reveal whether or not he would be featuring any lineup changes on Friday night. As such, it remains to be seen if Michael McCarron will get the opportunity to play in his first game with the big club this season.
  - Carey Price will get the start in goal for the Canadiens. The All-World netminder enters Friday night's game with a 16-3-2 record, 1.80 goals-against average and a .940 save percentage. The Sharks will counter with Martin Jones, who has compiled a 15-10-1 record, 2.10 goals against average and a .920 save percentage in 26 games so far this season.
  - It's been two weeks since the Canadiens and Sharks last met in Northern California. While Michel Therrien's troops came up short that night, falling 2-1 at the SAP Center, they certainly put up quite a fight against their Western Conference opponents. Jones was the real difference-maker in the contest, turning aside 31 of 32 shots against.
  Peter DeBoer's club enters Friday night's game riding a three-game winning streak after most recently downing the Senators in Ottawa on Wednesday. The Canadiens fully expect the Sharks to come out flying come puck drop, so finding a way to set the tone themselves will be of primordial importance.
  "Whoever wins this hockey game, is obviously the one who's going to dictate the style of game it is. We've played them once this year, and at times we had success in that game because of our speed. We created some chances off the forecheck. When they had success, it was because of their size and physicality, and they were able to create turnovers that way," offered Brendan Gallagher. "Whoever is able to dictate the pace of the play and the style of playing tonight, is probably the team that's going to win."

That being said, the Canadiens' bench boss believes his group is ready for their second meeting with the Sharks in 14 days. Their recent effort in San Jose - as well as in Detroit, Anaheim, Los Angeles and St. Louis during their season-long 12-day, five-game road trip - was proof positive that they're more than capable of going toe-to-toe with some of the toughest teams around.
"Our trip out West, I think we did well in all of those games. The results weren't always there and didn't come out in our favour, but I think that it gave us a lot of confidence. It's a good thing," mentioned Therrien, who is eager to see his club take on the Pacific Division leaders. "We played good hockey. We could have won with a few good chances. Tonight, we're facing the Stanley Cup finalists. They're a good team. We played a good game there and we need to make sure that we maintain that quality to our play."
- With Jones getting the call between the pipes again for the Sharks on Friday night, the Canadiens know they'll have to be razor sharp in the shooting department in order to light the lamp behind the one-time Stanley Cup champion.
Interestingly enough, Gallagher has been familiar with Jones for quite a while now.
"I'm sure he's excited [to go up against Carey]. I'm sure a lot of goalies get excited to go up against him because it's a challenge. Martin Jones is a very good goalie. I played against him back in junior [in the WHL]," said Gallagher, a former member of the Vancouver Giants, while Jones played for the Calgary Hitmen. "For us to make it as tough as possible as we can on him, it's going to be important, just like I'm sure they're going to do to Pricey."

• Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, as well as on TSN Radio 690 and 98,5 fm.
  - Following Friday night's game, the Canadiens will fly to Washington where they'll take on the Capitals on Saturday night. Al Montoya will get the start in goal. It will be his first start since December 6 against the St. Louis Blues.