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.