Brendan Gallagher to play 800th game versus Detroit Red Wings

The Montreal Canadiens face the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night at Little Caesar's Arena, in what will be Brendan Gallagher's 800th NHL game.

Originally Gallagher wore No. 73, which he eventually gave up to Bonavista, Newfoundland., native Michael Ryder. Gallagher swapped it for number 11, last worn by Scott Gomez (2011-2012) and Saku Koivu before. Since the 2013 season, Gallagher has made his mark in Habs history wearing 11.

It's pretty clear by the way he carries himself on and off the ice, that he intends to be a career Hab. To this point he has skated in 799 games, all with the Habs, and the heartbeat of the team is hard to picture playing elsewhere. Gallagher touched on how lucky he is, and how special it is, that he is approaching 800 games.

Gallagher has seen many players come and go, and he can mark being a part of the first rebuild in the club's history. The mere fact that the 5'9" and 180 lbs forward has gone through what he has, and is still approaching 800 games is amazing. Gallagher is the definition of toughness, and no matter how many times he has been down - the heart of a lion comes through - and he keeps coming back.

It is wild to think that a guy with four 20-plus goal seasons including 31 and 33 in back-to-back seasons (2017-18 & 2018-19) fell to pick 147. Gallagher has played the same way from game No.1 to game No. 799, and for that reason, he personifies what it is to be a Hab. The team has changed plenty over the years, and Gallagher has adapted and helped the core push the team toward success.

Montreal isn't quite where they want to be yet, but the team is getting better, and utilizing their many tough lessons to move forward. Gallagher has been a huge part of helping the team with his tenacious, hard-nosed style and I think he could be one of the last veterans that remains with the Habs. So long as he doesn't hurt the team, and continues to be a pain in the opposition's neck, he belongs with the Canadiens.

Adam Engstrom ices Hershey in OT

The Laval Rocket found themselves in a two-goal hole against the Hershey Bears on Wednesday night. But like the Canadiens did against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, the Rocket battled back. Laurent Dauphin tied the affair at 8:59 of the third period, and the teams remained in a deadlock after 60 minutes of regulation.

Canadiens 2022 third-round 92nd overall selection, defenseman Adam Engstrom pulled off a power move, and finished off the play with finesse. The Canadiens have compiled quite the group of left-shot defenders, and Engstrom is another one with high NHL potential. Engstrom hasn't lit it up with the Rocket, he has been adapting to the league, but he has a respectable 19 points through 37 games.