Pacioretty strong in regular-season debut as Montreal Canadiens captain

Call it patchwork.

In his first regular-season game as captain of the Montreal Canadiens, Max Pacioretty certainly led by example on the ice.

In front of a stellar goaltending performance by Carey Price who stopped 36 of 37 shots, Pacioretty’s two goals, including the insurance marker into an empty net with 31 seconds remaining in regulation, paced the visitors to a 3-1 opening night victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre.

Alex Galchenyuk scored the winning goal with under eight minutes remaining in the third period, whacking in a long rebound to break a 1-1 deadlock.

Pacioretty did not want to focus on his new title but after deflecting the initial questions on the matter, did acknowledge that the sensation he experienced prior to the game was unique in some way this time around.

“Definitely at first (coming out on to the ice), I felt different,” said Pacioretty, who was formally introduced as the team’s 29th captain on Sept. 18 after being voted into the role by his teammates.  “As the game started I kind of relaxed.”

It didn’t take long for the 26-year-old forward from New Canaan, Conn., to assert himself as he opened the scoring 3:09 into the first period. Receiving a long outlet pass from P.K. Subban near the Maple Leafs blueline, Pacioretty charged into the offensive zone and unleashed a high shot that handcuffed Maple Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier.

It was the Canadiens first shot on goal.

Pacioretty, who sustained a knee injury while working out in July which shelved him for 12 weeks, just resumed contact in practice on Sept. 30, a week prior to the start of the season.

It was only Bernier who appeared to be rusty on the scoring play.

In the second period, after Nazem Kadri’s shot caromed off James van Riemsdyk’s leg to tie the game, the newly minted captain thought he had helped give his team another lead after feathering a backhand cross-ice pass to Jeff Petry who netted the puck at 6:36.  However it was ruled that Tomas Plekanec had made incidental contact with Bernier and the goal was overturned.

Linemate Brendan Gallagher noted Pacioretty’s playmaking ability in addition to his sharp-shooting prowess.

“He is an easy guy to play with, he doesn’t need the puck on his stick too long to create some offensive chances,” said the diminutive first-line right winger.  “This room is full of a lot of leaders but when you look at Patch, everything he does is what you want out of a player.”

Touted by analysts as a possible 40-goal scorer entering 2014-15, he came close with 37, two short of his career-high set the season prior.

“I’m sure he doesn’t want to talk about that right now, but I think he has got the opportunity to be a 40-goal scorer,” said Subban, who assisted on all three Canadiens goals.  “Every year he has that opportunity, the sky is the limit for Max.”

In addition to his two goals, Pacioretty finished with a +2 rating, 5 shots and 18:07 ice-time (2nd highest amongst team forwards behind Plekanec).

Follow Neil Acharya on Twitter: @Neil_Acharya