It’s game day for the first place Montreal Canadiens as they prepare to host the Ottawa Senators.

For Defenceman Greg Pateryn, it will mean playing his first game at Bell centre at the NHL level.

The 22-year old was called up when Yannick Weber suffered a knee injury in Carolina and he saw action in back to back games in Florida.

While Pateryn has played at the Bell centre before, lacing up with the Bulldogs a few weeks ago in a matchup against the Rochester Americans, he says wearing the Habs jersey changes everything.

“Absolutely, even when we played there a couple of weeks ago with the Bulldogs the atmosphere was awesome, I can’t believe what it’s going to be like there tonight.

Pateryn went through his first real practice yesterday with the team and says adjusting to the new system shouldn’t take too long.

“There’s not too much of a gap. Hamilton does a good job of giving us pretty much the same systems in all situations so it’s pretty easy with the transition.”

Although Pateryn's long term future with the club remains uncertain once Webber returns to the lineup, coach Michel Therrien says so far, he likes what he sees.

“First of all, he’s got size. He’s playing solid defensively. He doesn’t complicate his game. We want to give him this opportunity to see where he’s at, first of all for him, and for us too.”

Aside from Webber,  the Habs injury list includes Rene Bourque and Raphael Diaz, who are both out with concussions.

The Sens will be without forward Jason Spezza, defenseman Erik Karlsson  and goalie Craig Anderson.