Less than 24 hours after scoring his first NHL goal, Brendan Gallagher had another reason the celebrate.
The 20-year-old from Tsawwassen learned Monday he would remain with the Montreal Canadiens for likely the rest of the season. The former Vancouver Giants star has two points in three games, including a goal in Sunday's 4-3 overtime win over the New Jersey Devils.
On a two-on-one break, Gallagher took a pass from 18-year-old linemate Alex Galchenyuk and one-timed it past Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur at the 13: 35 mark of the first period. The South Delta Minor Hockey graduate says he will be giving the puck to his parents to take back home.
"I have to thank (Alex) for the pass," said Gallagher. "He pretty much looked off Brodeur and all I had to do was put it in the net.
"When I stop to think about it, it's pretty amazing that I got to score my first goal against Martin Brodeur.
"It'll be a nice hockey story to have in the future. He was my favorite goaltender growing up. To be able to score one on him was amazing and being able to get those two points made it even better."
Last week, Gallagher set up Galchenyuk for his first NHL goal against Florida.
"It's great that we're getting to have these experiences together," he added. "We talk a lot about that stuff and we get along really well both on and off the ice."
During the NHL lockout, Gallagher played for the Canadiens' American Hockey League affiliate in Hamilton where he managed 10 goals and 20 points in 23 games. His brilliant career with the Giants saw him become the Western Hockey League club's all-time leading scoring with 359 points, including 136 goals, over four seasons.
The 5-foot-9, 163-pound dynamo grew up in South Delta Minor Hockey's rep program, highlighted by captaining the South Delta Bantam A1 Storm to a provincial berth in 2007. A year later he suited up for the Greater Vancouver Canadians of the B.C.Major Midget Hockey League where he led the team in scoring with 56 points in 29 games.
