Max Pacioretty warmly received in Montreal return

A former captain of the NHL’s most storied franchise made his way back to where it all began on Saturday.

Max Pacioretty took to the ice at the Bell Centre for the first time with a visitor’s jersey on his back. To no surprise, the now-Vegas Golden Knight received a sizzling ovation while welcomed by the fans he played in front of for nearly a decade.

The rousing ovation followed a special pregame video tribute which highlighted some of Patches’ defining moments from his time in Montreal.

The soon-to-be 30-year-old was drafted by the Habs 22nd overall in the 2007 draft out of Michigan and made his debut in early 2009 against the New Jersey Devils — netting his first NHL goal in that contest.

That game seemed to be a bit of an omen for the rest of Pacioretty’s time with the Canadiens, as the speedy winger tangled the twine another 225 times and added 222 helpers over his 10-season, 626-game stint with the Habs.

Before struggling with injuries and a lack of production last season when he posted the lowest points and goals totals since he became a full-time NHLer, Pacioretty was the epitome of scoring consistency for Montreal. In the five non-lockout campaigns from 2011-2017, Pacioretty hit the 30-goal mark in all five and buried 35 or more three times — putting up a career-high 39 tallies in 2013-14.

The Golden Knights acquired Pacioretty in a pre-camp deal with the Canadiens, sending Tomas Tatar, prospect Nick Suzuki and a 2019 second-round pick to Montreal in return.

Patches has seen an adjustment period while getting off to a slow start to his career in Sin City, recording only two points in 12 games entering Saturday’s action.

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