MONTREAL - David Desharnais, Mathieu Darche, Brendan Gallagher and Nathan Beaulieu all shone on Sunday at the Montreal Canadiens training camp.
The four skaters helped the C-team Reds to a 5-4 victory over the White team, composed of A-team players such as Tomas Plekanec, Michael Cammalleri and Erik Cole.
The 19-year-old Gallagher impressed with his speed and strength, which allowed him to make many impressive moves, wowing a crowd of over 1,000 at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard.
The diminutive Gallagher scored a goal by getting around defenceman Jarred Tinordi, who had been checking him closely. Gallagher also assisted on the last-minute, scrimmage-winning goal by Andreas Engqvist.
Mathieu Darche showed an aptitude for being at the right place at the right time to score a pair while Desharnais picked up a pair of assists and was denied a goal by a great save by Carey Price.
Newcomer Nathan Beaulieu impressed with his calm play and fluidity.
Alex Henry scored the other goal for the Reds.
The Habs A squad, which beat the B team yesterday, saw Alexei Yemelin playing with more restraint but once again impressing with his puck mastery and positioning, racking up an assist Sunday.
Veterans Tomas Plekanec (one goal, two assists) and Erik Cole (one goal) showed that they are taking training camp seriously.
Jarred Tinordi also showed some encouraging signs, playing much better than he did at his first training camp last year.
Alexander Avtsin had a goal and an assist and Swiss forward Alain Berger scored a goal for the Whites.
Goalies Carey Price (Team A) and Nathan Lawson (Team C) each allowed two goals in the first two periods while Robin Gusse yielded three goals in the second period and Peter Delmas let in two.
PK Subban and Ryan White sat out as did Lars Eller, Andrei Markov and Louis Leblanc. Michael Bournival was injured in the first period.
Jacques Martin said he hoped that after participating in full practice sessions Saturday and Sunday, Subban will be able to play his first intrasquad game Monday.
White and Bournival are day-to-day while Eller and Leblanc continue to train but are not yet cleared to play.
The team will be making its first roster cuts Monday and the Habs play their first exhibition game Tuesday at the Bell Centre against the Dallas Stars.
"He reminds me a little of Brian Gionta," said Jacques Martin about Brendan Gallagher. "He wasn't drafted higher only because of his size. But when you see a player like that with his determination and character and unafraid of going into the corners, sure he has to develop, but it's encouraging for the team."
"That's a great compliment," said Gallagher. "Gionta is an excellent player and of course playing alongside him this week is really cool because it gives me a chance to learn and see how he acts on and off the ice."
Gallagher was drafted 147th overall in 2010 and appreciates the attention he has received.
"I feel lucky to be drafted by this organization," said the 5'9", 174 pound forward Sunday in Brossard. "I'm surrounded by great role models. There are a lot of small players on this team and many who can teach me," he said.
Based on files from The Canadian Press
