Savard Reaches Scoring Milestone as Canadiens Defeat Canucks, 8-3

Denis Savard scored three goals, including the 400th of his career, in the Montreal Canadiens’ 8-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks Monday night at Montreal.

Savard, in his 12th NHL season and his second with Montreal, became the 37th player in NHL history to record 400 goals. It was his 12th career three-goal game.

Savard was parked at the side of the net on a power play when he one-timed Petr Svoboda’s pass behind Kirk McLean at 18:31 of the first period for his landmark goal, which prompted a standing ovation from the crowd of 16,838.

“When I got to 395 I thought that it would be nice to get 400. Gilly (linemate Brent Gilchrist) told me he’d give me an assist on my 400th.

“He won the faceoff and Petr put a perfect pass on my stick.”

Savard, who has six goals and four assists in his last five games, helped the Adams Division-leading Canadiens improve to 33-21-4 and win for only the second time in seven games.

Shayne Corson scored two goals and Gilbert Dionne, Kirk Muller and Todd Ewen each had one for Montreal.

Peter Nedved had two goals and Tom Fergus also scored for the Canucks, who ended a five-game road winning streak.