John Tavares scores first goal with Maple Leafs

The first of many.

John Tavares netted his first goal with the Maple Leafs in the season opener Wednesday evening against the Montreal Canadiens.

With the game tied 1-1 in the second period, Tavares took a pass near the circle before quickly making a sharp move to burn the Montreal defenseman Matthew Peca and take the puck to the middle. Tavares beat goaltender Carey Price over the shoulder with a perfect wrist shot to give Toronto the 2-1 lead.

Tavares’ first regular-season goal in Toronto comes after an impressive preseason in which he racked up five goals in four exhibition contests. He’s coming off a great season in New York where he registered 37 goals and 84 points in 82 games.

Tavares signed a a seven-year, $77-million contract with the Leafs this offseason after spending the first nine years of his NHL career with the Islanders. The 27-year-old recorded 272 goals and 621 points in 669 games with the Islanders before choosing the Leafs in free agency.

With Tavares in the fold, a young and eccentric Toronto team that already includes Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander up front, is looking as lethal as ever

The John Tavares era has officially begun.