Montreal Canadiens fans will get a first glimpse at their new and hopefully improved team Thursday night as the Habs play their first exhibition game of the season.
Expected to be game breakers for the Habs, Mike Cammalleri and Scott Gomez will make their debuts in Canadiens uniforms when the club hosts the Florida Panthers at the Bell Centre.
"I asked probably the dumbest question to Max (Lapierre) today," said Brian Gomez. "'Is it gonna be a sellout?' Everybody laughed."
The diminutive centreman didn't realize that avery single game in Montreal is a sellout. But he does know first impressions are lasting ones in a city like Montreal. He wanted the opportunity to play with sniper Cammalleri and Thursday night, he will get that chance.
"The games are the ones that are going to tell (us) how we're going to play," Gomez said about playing with Cammalleri. "(So far) it's felt great, typical. He's a shooter; I like to pass the puck. Hopefully that works.
"We've gotten the chance to get to know each other lately. We've gone out to dinner and hung out. Today on the ice, I thought he was cutting in the middle and I misread him but it'll take some time."
Head coach Jacques Martin has made it clear he will give the two stars enough time to familiarize themselves with one another. But he isn't just looking for them or the other veterans to produce on the ice.
"What we've done is given people an opportunity to step up and be leaders," Martin said. "Whether it's players from other organizations like Brian Gionta, Scott Gomez, Mike Cammalleri, Jaroslav Spacek, Hal Gill. They have an opportunity to bring forward some knowledge, intensity and leadership. At the same time, people that were here before are in a new environment. In the past, it was dictated by the leadership of the captain. Now suddenly they have a chance to express themselves."
NOTES: Carey Price will get the start in goal for the Canadiens. Curtis Sanford will take over halfway through the game.
