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Canadiens' Matthew Peca: Active Friday

Byron will miss the next two games, so there could be more opportunities for Peca, who has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 27 games. Coach Claude Julien told Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette that Peca got the nod over Charles Hudon because of his penalty-kill ability.

Canadiens' Matthew Peca: Byron suspension opens door

Paul Byron's three-game suspension opens the door for Peca or Hudon, both of whom are more familiar with the press box than the ice over the past month. Peca has been a healthy scratch the last four games and eight of the last nine, while Hudon has sat for 11 of the last 12. Given Byron's contributions, including time on the penalty kill, Peca is a more apt fit as a replacement, but both players should get an opportunity.

Canadiens' Matthew Peca: Stays in lineup

Peca returned to the fourth line Thursday after a three-game stint as a healthy scratch and scored in a win over Carolina. He played so well against the Hurricanes that coach Claude Julien kept him in the active lineup Saturday and for a second straight game, Peca scored Montreal's first goal. He later added an assist on Jonathan Drouin's empty-netter. Montreal's fourth line is generating offense, so until Julien feels he needs Nicolas Deslauriers' muscle, Peca will remain in the starting lineup.

Canadiens' Matthew Peca: Rejoins lineup, has impact

Peca, who had been healthy scratch the previous three games, replaced Nicolas Deslauriers on the fourth line. That was one of the changes coach Claude Julien made following an embarrassing 7-1 loss to the Wild on Tuesday. Peca's second-period marker evened the game at 1-1 and sparked Montreal's offense. He brings an element of speed to the fourth line, though he can't replace Deslauriers' muscle.

Canadiens' Matthew Peca: Fourth-line casualty

We surmised changes were looming for the fourth line following Monday's loss to the Capitals. That unit -- Peca, Charles Hudon and Nicolas Deslauriers -- were on the ice for two of Washington's four regulation goals, and no fourth-liner had more than 8:46 of ice time. "We just need a better performance from our fourth line," coach Claude Julien told Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette after Wednesday's morning skate. "It's not just the center position, it's all three guys have to be better. The way that they're getting scored on for a fourth line has to be better." Michael Chaput, called up from AHL Laval on Wednesday, took Peca's spot on the fourth line.