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BROSSARD, Que. -- George Parros will get a taste of the Canadiens-Leafs rivalry right off the bat. The veteran enforcer who joined Montreal this summer has been declared fit to play in the NHL season opener against Toronto on Tuesday night at the Bell Centre. With Leafs tough guy Frazer McLaren out with a broken finger, some are making wagers on how long it will take Parros to tangle with one of Torontos other enforcers, like Colton Orr. "Its a big game and Im looking forward to it," Parros said Monday. "I had no pre-season games, but youve got to jump in at some point. "Its a source of pride for me to be back on time. And given the nature of the game -- the first game at home against a rival like that -- I think its going to be fun." Parros had off-season shoulder surgery and wasnt certain to be ready, but rehab went better than expected. Montreal hopes the six-foot-five right winger will even out the imbalance in size and grit the Canadiens, a smaller team that thrives on quickness, have endured against some teams in recent years. Coach Michel Therrien did not confirm his lineup, but Parros skated on the fourth line in practice with centre Brandon Prust and Travis Moen, while forwards Ryan White and Michael Bournival looked like they would sit out. The off-season saw Montreal add three veterans -- Parros, big defenceman Douglas Murray and scoring winger Danny Briere. Murray will not make his Canadiens debut. Therrien said the former San Jose Shark suffered an upper body injury in practice this week and will be out four-to-six weeks. His spot will be taken by six-foot-seven youngster Jarred Tinordi, who had an excellent camp. He skated on the third pair with Francis Bouillon. Defenceman P.K. Subban likes what he has seen of Tinordi, who got some regular season action and stayed on for the playoffs last season while filling in for Alexei Emelin, who will be out until December after ACL surgery. "Tinners a big guy and he plays physical and mean," said Subban. "I enjoy watching him hit guys and fight guys and all that fun stuff. "Hes going to be a very impactful player for our team. Itll be interesting to see what he looks like in a couple of years. If he continues to improve hell be a really good hockey player." Briere will make his Montreal debut on right wing on the top line with centre David Desharnais and Max Pacioretty. The Leafs will be without one of their key newcomers, David Clarkson, who is serving a 10-game suspension for leaving the bench during a pre-season brawl. Newcomers that may be in the lineup include defenceman Paul Ranger and forwards Dave Bolland, Mason Raymond and Carter Ashton. Coach Randy Carlyle has yet to decide whether James Reimer or new addition Jonathan Bernier will start in goal. Carlyle is aware the Canadiens have added size, but still sees their strengths as speed and a quick transition game. "Theyve got a well-rounded lineup, theyve got speed, theyve got a world-class goaltender in Carey Price," he said. "They went out and added more competitiveness to their mix. Theyve got a tough guy now in George Parros, a big, rugged defenceman in Murray. "Montreals a transition team, and if you turn the puck over, youre going to be playing in your own zone all night. They rely specifically on their skill-set and their speed through the neutral ice to attack, and if we turn the puck over its going to be a long night." Parros was a welcome addition for many of the Canadiens speedy forwards, but centre Lars Eller said the team is still built on moving the puck quickly. "We have an asset we didnt have before -- a big guy who can drop the gloves and be intimidating," said Eller. "Thats something we havent had a lot before. "But I still think our identity is speed and quickness. We cant forget that." The Leafs are not all size and physicality. They can also burn teams with speed. At least thats what Carlyle hopes to see. "Id like to see a team thats going to be a strong, forechecking hockey club," he said. "Were a skating team, and we have to skate, but we have to do some things that are going to allow us to skate. "We have to execute to a higher level than we have in the pre-season at puck recoveries and transitioning the puck out of our defensive zone through the neutral ice to allow us to get in and be a skating team. Were a hockey club that has to skate, and if were turning the puck, usually were skating in our own zone instead of the oppositions zone." Both teams made the playoffs last season, with Toronto ending a seven-year drought and Montreal rebounding from 15th in the Eastern Conference to second during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign. This season, most pundits see both in the mix for the final post-season berths in their newly realigned division, or perhaps one of the conferences two wildcard spots. Both the Leafs and Canadiens will want to show the other whos the favourite in the opener. "Its a good test right away," said Prust. "Theyve got a point to prove and weve got a point to prove. "It should be fun." TORONTO -- Patrick Patterson knows his role and, usually, its making an impact off the bench. But on Monday, the back-up forward got his first start since coming to Toronto two months ago and made the most of it, pouring in a season-high 22 points as the Raptors defeated New Orleans 108-101. "My role doesnt change whether its starting, or whether Im coming off the bench," said Patterson, who learned earlier in the day he would join the starting five in place of Amir Johnson, sidelined with a right ankle injury. "Setting screens, rebounding, shooting my shot, running the floor in transition and making my teammates better." Patterson, who came over to Toronto from the Sacramento Kings on Dec. 9 in a seven-player trade that sent Rudy Gay West, did all of that Monday in his first start in 30 games as a Raptor. He was a tidy 7-for-11 from the field -- including 3-for-5 from three-point range -- had six rebounds and added two assists. In his fourth season in the NBA, Patterson had 54 career starts, the majority with the Houston Rockets, coming into Monday night. He had started just six games this season, all with Sacramento. "Its all about making sure I have a positive role," Patterson said his rare start. Pattersons 22 points was one more than he had for the Kings against the Los Angeles Clippers Nov. 23. "Fifteen deep. Thats how we play. Thats how we role," starting point guard Kyle Lowry said of Pattersons ability to step into the line-up. "We won. Everybody stepped up." Lowry had another complete performance, scoring 19 points, doling out 12 assists and grabbing seven rebounds while DeMar DeRozan addded 22 points as the Raptors (27-24) snapped a two-game losing streak before a crowd of 17,596 at Air Canada Centre.dddddddddddd With the win, the Raptors, returning home from a five-game road trip out West, widened their lead over the Brooklyn Nets atop the NBAs Atlantic Division to three games. Toronto, 8-2 at home since Jan. 1, plays seven of its next nine at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors host the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday in their final game before the All-Star break. "We want to get both wins at home, protect home court and go into the break with a great conscience and try to hit the stretch run running," Lowry said of the teams approach to this weeks two games. The Raptors squandered a 15-point lead in the second quarter to go into halftime tied at 49. They then built up an 18-point edge in the third but again saw the Pelicans (22-29) battle back. Tyreke Evans had a game-high 23 points and 10 assists to lead New Orleans. Anthony Davis added 19. New Orleans went on a 16-5 run over the opening 5:10 of the fourth quarter to cut the Toronto lead to 87-86. But the Raptors responded with an 11-3 run over the next 2:30 to pull away for the victory. "For whatever reason, we are losing our leads with our second unit," said Raptors head coach Dwane Casey. "What its doing is putting a lot of pressure on our starters and them in big minute situations." DeRozan logged 40:21 and Lowry put in 38:48 to lead in court time among all players. 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