Canadiens' Max Pacioretty out 12 weeks with knee injury

Montreal Canadiens sniper Max Pacioretty suffered a significant knee injury during an off-ice workout on Thursday and will require 12 weeks to recover, the team announced Friday.

The timetable set forth puts him on track to return at the beginning of October. Montreal will begin its Atlantic Division title defense Oct. 7 versus the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Pacioretty has scored 76 goals over the last two seasons, good for third-most in the NHL, and emerged as one of the league's premier defensive wingers. Opponents scored just 1.33 goals against per 60 minutes at even strength with him on the ice last season.

The injury was suffered while training in Florida.