He didn't score a goal. He didn't break up a play by the opposing team. Instead, John Scott did what he's done without fail this entire season: make the crowd roar.

After a disappointing campaign that saw the Montreal Canadiens spiral down to the bottom tier of the NHL and fail to make the playoffs, that was all fans could ask for.

Scott received huge ovation when he took to the ice on Tuesday at the Bell Centre in Montreal wearing number 22 for the Habs in his first NHL game in four months. Scott was called up by the club's American Hockey League affiliate in St. John's on Sunday.

His line got the start, facing off against future Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr and the Florida Panthers young stars, Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau.

Scott's return to the NHL got off to a rocky beginning as the Cats scored in 10 seconds.

But he later sprung his teammate Paul Byron on a partial breakaway and got the biggest cheer of the night when he pancaked Panthers forward Greg McKegg into the boards. Scott finished with three hits in nine minutes of ice time, and the Habs lost 4-1.

The six-foot-eight enforcer has had a whirlwind season. He was elected into the NHL all-star game as a write-in candidate that was part joke, and part act of protest.

Many thought it would funny to watch the lumbering tough guy with 11 career points take part in its new 3-on-3 tournament, while others voted for Scott in response to a perceived drop in the game's entertainment in recent years.

But then Scott was traded from the Arizona Coyotes to Montreal and sent to the club's American Hockey League affiliate in St. John's, N.L., making his status for the all-star game unclear.

Some NHL insiders speculated that Scott wouldn't be allowed to participate in what is traditionally considered a showcase for the league's premier talent.

But the league allowed him to keep his spot as Pacific Division all-star captain, after appeals from fans and players, and the rest is history.

Scott made highlight reels across North America after scoring two goals, pretending to fight Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane and he was eventually named all-star game MVP. In a moment that will likely go down in all-star game history, several of his teammates hoisted the 260-pound Scott onto their shoulders when the game came to an end.

But Scott spent the next few months in the AHL, where he racked up four points and 86 penalty minutes in 27 games.

He told CTV News that he was pumped for a chance to play at the NHL level once again.

"I am super grateful to be here. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play for the Canadiens," said Scott.

"It's a super franchise and I am excited to be here."

His teammates were also excited to share the ice with him. The Habs' star defenceman P.K. Subban said Scott has also been a great addition to the locker room.

"He's always got a ton of jokes. He is a funny guy," said Subban.

"He was telling me he almost fought my brother the other day in the AHL, it was pretty funny.”

Canadiens coach Michel Therrien said Scott has been a "real pro" since he joined the club.

"All the players really respect him around the league," said Therrien.

Even though the Canadiens have two other games remaining, Scott expects his latest NHL stint to last just one game.

"Unless I got out and score a hat trick," he said with a smile.

A movie about his up-and-down season is said to be in the works, with author Mitch Albom reportedly working on the script.

On top of everything else, Scott and his wife had twin daughters this year, making it difficult to pick a highlight in a season he likely won't forget.

"It's definitely been a whirlwind," Scott told The Canadian Press. "Getting back to the NHL is going to be a big deal. Obviously the twins are number one but this is going to be up there."

With a report from CTV’s Montreal Bureau Chief Genevieve Beauchemin and files from The Canadian Press