Young Canuck will play his first NHL game tonight!

Hunter Shinkaruk will make his NHL debut tonight.

He will be taking the spot left open by Alex Burrows not being in the lineup due to the birth of his child on Sunday. There is a funny story behind the fact that Shinkaruk will face the Canadiens in his first career game. Hunter slept with Habs sheets when he was young after receiving them as a gift from his grand parents.

Shinkaruk has been lighting it up in Utica this season. He has 10 goals in 12 games and is tied for the AHL lead in goals. So hopefully he can carry his scoring touch to the NHL and pick up his first career goal in his first career game.

He will be playing on the fourth line with Adam Cracknell and Derek Dorsett.

Good luck Hunter!

Photo credit: Vancouversun.com