With the game tied late, Tatar’s pass at the top of the crease went off the stick of Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore and past netminder Marc-Andre Fleury to give the Canadiens a 5-4 win.
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It marked the seventh goal and 14th point in 17 games for Tatar, who played 20 regular-season games last year with Vegas after being traded by Detroit in February. Following the trade to Montreal, the 27-year-old center told reporters during a conference call, “I want to prove I can be on the top lines and be productive and I can score maybe 30 goals.”
So far, he looks to be on a pretty good pace.
Aside from the strong game Tatar has brought to the Habs, Pacioretty’s play has given a reason for Montreal to believe it got the better end of the deal. The 29-year-old left winger has only two goals in 13 games with Vegas; however, he did miss four games after suffering an upper-body injury against Tampa Bay on Oct. 26.
Prior to the game, Montreal showed a video tribute to its former captain, who spent 10 seasons with the club. Sportsnet cut to Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin, who had a cantankerous relationship with Pacioretty, showing him clapping for the 2007 first-round pick.
With the win, Montreal snapped a two-game losing streak. The Golden Knights have dropped three straight.
