Canadiens Defeat Golden Knights, Spoil Pacioretty’s Return to Montreal

Peter Allen Bak
Peter Allen Bak
4 Min Read
Nov 10, 2018; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens forward Andrew Shaw (65) reacts with teammates after scoring a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

In a much-anticipated return, all eyes were on former Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty. Still, Tomas Tatar, the player acquired in the trade, sent Pacioretty to Vegas, who led Montreal to a thrilling comeback victory.

Tatar netted the game-winning goal in the third period, helping the Canadiens edge the Vegas Golden Knights 5-4 on Saturday night, spoiling Pacioretty’s first game back in Montreal since the trade.

Pacioretty, who was dealt to Vegas in exchange for Tatar, prospect Nick Suzuki, and a second-round draft pick, was held scoreless despite registering a game-high nine shots on goal. He played just over 20 minutes but ended the game with a minus-2 rating.

Reflecting on his performance, Tatar, who played briefly for the Golden Knights last season, shared his satisfaction: “It felt really good. I was highly motivated to play against my old team, and it was special to come out on top.”

Tatar’s game-winner came with 7:43 remaining in the third period, breaking a 4-4 tie. His pass, intended for teammate Phillip Danault, took a fortunate deflection off Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore’s stick and found the back of the net. Tatar, who now has 15 points in 17 games, humbly credited the lucky bounce for the goal.

The victory marked a significant turnaround for the Canadiens, who erased deficits twice during the game. Andrew Shaw’s second goal of the night, which tied the score at 4-4, came just three minutes before Tatar’s winner. The Canadiens also overcame a 2-0 hole after the first period, snapping their two-game losing streak in the process.

Pacioretty, a fan favorite during his 10 seasons with the Canadiens, received a standing ovation following a video tribute before the game. Despite his determination to make a big impact, the Golden Knights fell short. “I really wanted to win,” Pacioretty admitted. “The support from the fans was great, but we just couldn’t get the result. I’m confident it’ll turn around soon.”

Vegas jumped out to an early lead with goals from Brad Hunt and Jonathan Marchessault in the first period. Hunt scored on a power play at 17:40, followed less than a minute later by Marchessault’s goal, which deflected off his skate into the net. The Golden Knights dominated the opening frame, outshooting Montreal 15-4.

However, the Canadiens responded strongly in the second period with three unanswered goals in under four minutes. Charles Hudon initiated the comeback with a goal at 6:40, followed shortly by Shaw’s tying goal and Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s tally, which gave Montreal a 3-2 lead. Vegas’ Alex Tuch leveled the score 3-3 before the period ended.

In the third period, William Karlsson briefly put Vegas ahead with a power-play goal, but Montreal’s resilience paid off. Tatar’s decisive goal secured the victory for the Canadiens, while goaltender Antti Niemi made 34 saves, improving his record to 4-1-0. Starter Carey Price watched from the bench after struggling in recent games.

Game Notes:

  • Canadiens goaltender Carey Price served as Niemi’s backup after conceding four or more goals in four consecutive games.
  • Defenseman David Schlemko made his season debut for Montreal.

Next Up:

  • Golden Knights: At Boston on Sunday.
  • Canadiens: At Edmonton on Tuesday night.
Peter Allen Bak is a part-time writer and reporter based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Born and raised in Casa Grande, Arizona, Peter played both football and soccer for his high school team. His passion for sports continued into adulthood, where he became an avid fan of the Las Vegas Raiders, Vegas Golden Knights, and the Los Angeles Lakers. Peter graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in 2008, where he honed his writing skills and developed a keen interest in sports business. An enthusiastic traveler, Peter enjoys exploring international destinations during his free time. When he's not globetrotting, he can often be found hiking the scenic trails around Las Vegas or testing his strength and agility through bouldering. In recent years, he has also taken up pickleball. In 2012, Peter married his high school sweetheart, Kimberly. The couple has since welcomed three children into their lives: their son Connor, and twin daughters Kiara and Kacey.