New York Islanders

Canadiens' Andrei Markov celebrates scoring his first goal of the season against Islanders' Martin Biron Saturday night. Al Bello,Getty Images

Gazette preview | Matchups | Saturday's NHL schedule | Boone's Game Blog and About last night ... | Stubbs on Twitter | Pat Hickey's game story

• At a Glance:  Andrei Markov wasted little time making his presence felt Saturday night as he returned to the Canadiens after missing 35 games with an injury, scoring two goals as Montreal defeated the Islanders 3-0. All three of the Canadiens goals were scored on the power play, while Montreal was perfect in killing off five shorthanded situations. Markov knocked in a loose puck in the Martin Biron’s crease 7:44 into the first period as he snuck down from the point as he often does. In the second period, Markov used his other weapon when his blistering shot went off Biron’s shoulder and into the net. In the third, Scott Gomez served up a perfect pass to Glen Metropolit at the side of the net for an easy tap in for Metropolit’s eighth goal of the season. Jaroslav Halak was outstanding in nets for the Canadiens, stopping all 40 shots he faced. It’s Halak’s fifth career shutout and his first of the season.

• Key Moments: Several times in the game, Halak made spectacular saves on point-blank shots from the slot to preserve the win.

• What It Means: With the win, the Canadiens snapped a five-game losing streak and improved to 16-18-3 on the season for 35 points. Montreal is a perfect 3-0 against the Islanders this season and has limited New York to three goals.

• What's Next: If the Canadiens can make it out of the New York area after the massive storm hitting the area, they will take on the Atlanta Thrashers on Monday and then travel to Carolina on Wednesday before a short Christmas break.

Today in Washington, with as much as 60 cm to pound the city. This is why it's called the White House.
Yuri Gripas, Reuters

"Is there bad weather coming?" The Gazette's Canadiens beat writer and resident meteorologist Pat Hickey repeats the question put to him over the phone then roars in laughter.

There's no change in the schedule for tonight's Canadiens-New York Islanders game on Long Island – yet – but stay tuned as a monster storm working its way up the Eastern seaboard is about to pound the area with as much as 45 cm of snow driven by heavy winds. That's almost 18 inches, on the Imperial scale that some of us learned in school.

The storm is expected to hit around midday ET and it's going to be a mess. The Canadiens have made contingency plans to stay overnight if they can't get out to Atlanta immediately after the game, as planned. And that's a distinct possibility, given that the Habs charter is due to fly out of a small, private airfield in Farmingdale, L.I.

Jaroslav Halak will start in goal for Montreal, and defenceman Andrei Markov will return after missing 36 games with lacerated tendons in his left foot. Marc-André Bergeron is to move up onto the fourth line.

About a dozen players skated this morning, including forward Brian Gionta, who wore special foot protection to take part in his first workout with teammates since suffering a broken bone in early November. But he won't play tonight. Nor will defenceman Roman Hamrlik, who didn't skate and remains out with a lower-body injury. Coach Jacques Martin didn't even go to Nassau Coliseum for the session.

New York IIslanders left-winger Jon Sim is hit into the glass divider by Canadiens defenseman Hal Gill Monday night. Pierre Obendrauf, The Gazette

Gazette Preview | Today's NHL Schedule | Matchups | Mike Boone's Game Blog and About last night ... | Pat Hickey's game story

AUDIO: Jacques Martin | Roman Hamrlik I and II | Tomas Plekanec | Travis Moen | Mike Cammalleri | Jaro Halak

• At a Glance: The Canadiens wrapped up their six-game homestand on Monday night with a 3-2 overtime win against the New York Islanders, who were in town for the second time in five days. Roman Hamrlik gave the Canadiens their fourth straight win when he converted a nice pass from Tomas Plekanec to beat Martin Biron 1:31 into OT. Jaroslav Spacek scored his first goal with the Canadiens to open the scoring after a nice pass by Glen Metropolit, who was questionable for the game with the flu-like symptoms. Metropolit also got an assist on Travis Moen's third goal of the season to give the Canadiens a 2-1 lead 7:44 into the third period. Jeff Tambelini scored both goals for the Islanders, beating Jaroslav Halak with a nice move on the first goal near the end of the second period. Halak and Biron eached faced 31 shots, with Halak being just one stop better.

• Key Moments: The Canadiens gave the Islanders seven power plays, including two on penalties for too many men on the ice, and New York made the Cabadiens pay with a pair of goals with the man advantage, both my Jeff Tambelini. The Canadiens were 0-for-2 on the power play.

• What It Means: After a five-game losing streak that saw their record drop to 2-5, the Canadiens are back above the .500 mark at 6-5, but they have been giving their opponents points by being forced to win games in overtime or shootouts.

• What's Next: The Canadiens hit the road for two games this week. They are in Pittsburgh on Wednesday and Chicago on Friday before returning home to play the Maple Leafs on Oct. 31.

Canadiens' Max Pacioretty scores against Islanders goalie Martin Biron as teammate Radek Martinek looks on Thursday night. Phil Carpenter, The Gazette

Gazette Preview | Today's NHL Schedule | Matchups | Mike Boone's Game Blog and About last night ... | Pat Hickey's Game story

PRE-GAME AUDIO: John Tavares | Matt Moulson

POSTGAME AUDIO: Jacques Martin | Mike Cammalleri | Glen Metropolit | Jaro Halak

• At a Glance: For the first time this season, there was little drama for the Canadiens as they defeated the New York Islanders 5-1 Thursday night, a score that is flattering to the Islanders thanks to Martin Biron, who kept the score closer than it could have been. The Canadiens outshot the Isles 43-22, and Jaroslav Halak would love to have a mulligan on the one that got past him. During a Canadiens power-play early in the third period, Halak mishandled the puck behind his net and Josh Bailey took advantage by slipping the puck into a wide open net. Scott Gomez, who played another solid game, opened the scoring, with Marc-André Bergeron, Max Pacioretty, Mike Cammalleri and Maxim Lapierre also scoring for the Canadiens. Bergeron and Cammalleri scored with the man advantage. Glen Metropolit returned to the lineup after missing the last six games, and recorded a pair of assists.

• Key Moments: Bergeron scored his first goal with the Canadiens and he received a nice cheer from the Bell Centre crowd. It was a power-play goal, a rare one for the Canadiens this season, and gave the Habs a 2-0 lead before the end of the first period.

• What It Means: After losing five straight, the Canadiens have now won two straight at home and improved their record to 4-5, winning in regulation for the first time this season.

• What's Next: New York's other team, the Rangers, visit the Bell Centre on Saturday night for the fifth game of this six-game homestand before the Islanders return next Monday.

Jaroslav Halak will be back in goal Thursday night for the Canadiens when they face the New York Islanders at the Bell Centre. Halak is coming off a 2-1 shootout victory over the Atlanta Thrashers on Tuesday.

Martin Biron will start in goal for the Islanders, while Doug Weight, who is battling the flu, won't suit up for New York.

Canadiens' Mathieu Dandenault looks for a rebound from Islanders goalie Yann Danis Thursday night. Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Preview | Rosters | Tale of the Tape | Play-by-Play | Faceoffs | Game Summary | Event Summary | Boone

PRE-GAME AUDIO:  Bob Gainey  Christopher Higgins  Mike Komisarek  Mark Streit

• Postgame Audio:  Bob Gainey  Jaro Halak  Mike Komisarek  Alex Kovalev

• At A Glance: With goaltender Carey Price suffering from the flu and forced to miss the game, Jaorslav Halak picked up where his teammate left off with a solid performance between the pipes as the Canadiens defeated the New York Islanders 5-1 in a game Montreal could not afford to lose. After a slow start, the Canadiens got four straight goals before the Islanders got on the board. Saku Koivu, Mathieu Schneider, Alex Tanguay, Andrei Markov and Mike Komisarek beat former Hab Yann Danis. Jeff Tambelini was the only Islander to get one by Halak as the Canadiens won their second straight game and fourth out of their last five.

• Key Moment: Two quick goals in the second period - by Alex Tanguay and Andrei Markov - gave the Canadiens a 4-0 lead and they never looked back in a dominant win.

• What It Means: The Canadiens win, combined with a loss for the New York Rangers, allowed the Canadiens to jump into seventh spot in the Eastern Conference with 90 points, one more than New York and three more than the idle Florida Panthers, who sit in ninth spot. The Carolina Hurricanes moved into fourth spot with 93 points, while the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins sit fifth and sixth, respectively, with 92 points.

• Who's Next: The Canadiens head to Toronto for the next game on Saturday before returning to the Bell Centre to welcome the Ottawa Senators on Monday.

Pat Hickey checks in from Long Island to report that there's doubt whether goaltender Carey Price will play tonight as scheduled against the New York Islanders.

Price didn't take part in the morning skate, remaining at the team's hotel with what appears to be the flu.

Watch for the Canadiens to recall Marc Denis from Hamilton later in the day as a backup to probable starter Jaroslav Halak, who hasn't played since suffering a 5-2 loss against Toronto on March 21.

Sergei Kostitsyn after having been run over by Chicago's Aaron Johnson.
John Mahoney, Gazette

The Gazette's Herb Zurkowsky reports, without bitterness, that the media outnumbered the players on the ice at this afternoon's optional practice in Brossard before the team was to board a flight for Long Island and tomorrow night's game vs. the Islanders.

Sergei Kostitsyn, who left Tuesday's game in the first period after being splattered into the end boards by Chicago's Aaron Johnson, will not make the trip. Upper-body injury, the report remains. Defenceman Roman Hamrlik, who left the game in the second after a weird collision along the Blackhawks bench, will travel to Long Island.

The hardy few on Brossard ice: Matt D'Agostini, Ryan O'Byrne, Gregory Stewart, Georges Laraque and Jaroslav Halak.

•  •  •

Et le but!

Credit Christopher Higgins with the Canadiens' fourth goal against Chicago. Higgins tipped the point drive of Mathieu Schneider during a Canadiens power play.

•  •  •

Mark Streit has a wonky groin and is a Maybe on the Island tomorrow. 

Canadiens defenceman Mike Komisarek brings down Islanders' Andy Hilbert Thursday night at the Bell Centre. THE GAZETTE/ Pierre Obendrauf

Preview | Rosters | Tale of the Tape | Play-by-Play | Faceoffs | Game Summary | Event Summary | Boone

AUDIO:  Bob Gainey  Saku Koivu  Carey Price  Tom Kostopoulos

Carey Price is back, now only if the rest of his teammates would follow his lead. The Canadiens goaltender started his fifth straight game on Thursday night and made many  spectacular saves to help the Canadiens steal at least a point.

Price was bombared with 29 shots during the final 40 minutes of regulation play and is the main reason the Canadiens earned at least a point in the overtime loss. Once again, the Canadiens were outshot 38-26, with Price making 35 saves overall.

But Price would probably like another shot at the overtime winner. Kyle Okposo scored when he slid his own rebound between Price's legs only 24 seconds into the overtime period for a 3-2 Islanders win.

The only good news is that the Philadelphia Flyers, Florida Panthers and Pittsburgh Penguins all lost, allowing the Canadiens to  maintai their hold on fifth place in the east with 80 points. The Penguins, who lost in overtime to the Blue Jackets, sit sixth with 79 points.

The worst team in the Eastern Conference came into the Bell Centre Thursday night and made the Canadiens pay dearly for their poor play, expecially in the second period - again.

And it was two former Canadiens who played an integral role in the New York victory.

Canadiens' Alex Tanguay can't get a handle on a loose puck behind Islanders goaltender Joey MacDonald
during first period at the Bell Centre Monday. THE GAZETTE/Dave Sidaway

Updated by Kevin Mio

Preview | Rosters | Tale of the Tape | Play-by-Play | Faceoffs | Boxscore | Game Summary | Event Summary | Game Story | Boone

The Canadiens have gone to overtime eight times this season, and all eight games have been decided in a shootout. That was the case again Monday night as the Canadiens lost 4-3 to the New York Islanders at the Bell Centre.

Richard Park and Bill Guerin scored in the shootout, while Andrei Kostitsyn and Alex Tanguay couldn't beat Joey MacDonald in the Islanders net.

But this one should never have gone to overtime in the first place.

Canadiens' Alex Kovalev celebrates his second goal of the game, the game-winner in the third period, with teammates Tomas Plekanec (left) and Mike Komisarek.
Shannon Stapleton, Reuters

Audio: Higgins   Plekanec   Kovalev

Play-by-play | Faceoffs | Game Summary | Event Summary | Lineup | Game Story | Boone | 

Here's a thought: the Canadiens set their clocks back an hour before tonight's game, instead of after, and were an hour late showing up to play the New York Islanders.

Outskated, outshot, outplayed, outeverythinged for 40 minutes, the Habs stirred from their slumber in the third period.

And then some, roaring back from a 4-1 deficit to score four unanswered goals and earn a wild, highly improbable 5-4 victory on Long Island.

• Boone: About last night ...

Are the Canadiens that good? Or are the Islanders lousy?

The first question will be answered, to some degree, tomorrow night in Buffalo, where the Canadiens begin a home-and-home.

Prospects are good, if they play as well as they did on the Island. It was a very solid team effort, keyed by excellent work from the defencemen. I thoght Roman Hamrlik and Patrice Brisebois were exceptional.

Cristobal Huet faced 44 shots – a season high – but his night kind of duplicated Martin Gerber's at the Bell Centre. The Islanders were kept to the perimeter for the most part, while the Canadiens did to the Islanders what Ottawa had done to them – cash scoring opportunities.

Canadiens are 7-3-1 on the road, best in the Eastern Conference. The guys on 110% last night said the team plays with greater focus away from the Bell Centre because there are fewer distractions than in Montreal.

There was also some talk about whether the Canadiens need an enforcer. The 110 crew thought that hits like Mike Sillinger's on the captain and that dirty, late-game shot Mike Richards gave Alex Kovalev will multiply in February and March if other teams perceive that Canadiens lack toughness.

Chris Simon had tried to goad Mike Komisarek into a fight, which would have been a very bad trade-off for the Canadiens.

I'm still with Guy Carbonneau on this. The coach is adamant he doesn't want some goon who plays two minutes a game. Carbo likes to roll four lines, and I think that will pay off in stamina down the stretch.

It would be great to have a Chris Neil. But players like that are rare in the league.

Okay, the Islanders fired 44 shots at Cristobal Huet.

But he stopped 43 of them, and by the time Mike Comrie spoiled the shutout bid, this W was in the bag.

Canadiens got two goals from Steve Bégin and singles from Christopher Higgins and Tomas Plekanec to rack up an impressive road win against a tough defensive team that's been hot lately ... and a goaltender who's one of the best in the league. 

Third period shots were 20-4 in favour of the Islanders. That sounds like domination, but Canadiens were shorthanded three times during the period, and they took their feet off the gas pedal with a 4-0 lead. 

Three Canadiens goals were scored at even strength. And nine players – including Huet – got their names on the scoresheet. 

Most impressive stat: 327 Comments.