Getting that first goal on a new team is always relieving, and the Montreal Canadiens have had a number of those within their lineup.
No one score more goals on the Montreal Canadiens last season than Brendan Gallagher. However, no one has scored more goals in a Habs uniform in their career than Max Pacioretty (relatively speaking). As the years go by, more are added to an overall total, but there’s nothing more special than the first one.
Whether it’s the first in the NHL or the first on a new team, that tally holds more weight than the rest. Some players on the Montreal Canadiens last year are still waiting to reach that milestone. Victor Mete capped off his rookie season with seven assists, but no goals. Mike Reilly and Brett Lernout are in the same camp and will be looking for it if they get the opportunity.
Some of those firsts came this year, but a lot of them were beyond that. Do you remember any of them? If not, let me take you on a trip down memory lane of the players’ first goals as a member of the Montreal Canadiens.
Max Pacioretty
After playing in the NCAA for the entirety of the 2007-08 season, Max Pacioretty made the jump to the professional realm with the Hamilton Bulldogs. He was fitting in nicely scoring 6 goals and 23 assists in 37 games before. Pacioretty was called up to play in a game against the New Jersey Devils on January 2nd, 2009 where he scored his first goal on his first NHL shot while being the first Montreal Canadiens player to wear 67.
It was something Habs fans would get used to as he exploded out of the defensive zone down the right wall ripping a shot past Scott Clemmensen.