Max Pacioretty was hospitalized after being knocked into the boards by Ducks defenseman Clayton Stoner on Thursday. Roughly 48 hours later, Pacioretty chipped in two assists in Montreal’s 4-1 victory over Ottawa.
There was no easing Pacioretty back into the lineup either as he went on to log 18:48 minutes, playing in both power-play and shorthanded situations. Along the way he got things started on Brendan Gallagher’s game-winning goal:
Brandon Prust, Tomas Plekanec, and Alex Galchenyuk accounted for the Canadiens other three goals as they earned their fourth victory in five games. Goaltender Carey Price has played in every game during that stretch and didn’t surrender more than two goals in any of those games.
This loss ended Ottawa’s winning streak at just two, reducing new bench boss Dave Cameron’s record to 3-2-1.