MONTREAL 4, ISLANDERS 1
Habs score three second-period goals for third win against Islanders this season

After a scoreless first period, the Montreal Canadiens took control in the second period, scoring three goals to ultimately defeat the Islanders 4-1, Saturday afternoon at the Bell Centre.

"We're going through a tough stretch because of our inability to make decisions at the right time," said Ted Nolan referring to their second period turnovers which led to goals. "We have to put in the effort every game. We can't have effort some time. We can't fall behind and expect to come back down two goals. The effort has to be there. We'll continue to talk about it. The turnovers is the parts of our game that's unacceptable."

Tomas Plekanec, Mark Streit and Alexei Kovalev scored in the third period for the Canadiens, who now lead the season series against the Islanders 3-0-0. Plekanec scored his fourth goal – second shorthanded – in three games against the Islanders this season. Cristobal Huet picked up the win on 29 saves.

"We got our chances, but we couldn't bury them when the game was close," said Nolan. "When we didn't put them in, they came back and did. We have to bear down when we have chances and bear down on giving them the puck so much.
Right now we don't have strong faith in our ability to score goals. We're having our chances, but we're not burying them."

Blake Comeau scored the lone goal for the Islanders, his fourth of the season. Rick DiPietro did all he could do to keep it close in the third period as he faced chance after chance, thwarting 14 third-period shots. DiPietro ended the game with 28 saves.

Following a 0-0 first period, the second period scoring began early. While shorthanded, Kovalev dropped a pass to Plekanec, who recorded his fourth goal against the Islanders in three games this season, just 37 seconds into the middle frame.

Comeau tied the game at 5:01 of the second period. Comeau scored on a sharp-angle backhand, converting a 2-on-1 with Miroslav Satan.

Montreal then scored two in a row to grab a 3-1 lead. Streit scored on the power play on a nice feed from Saku Koivu, 7:32 into the second period. Then Kovalev scored on a wicked wrist shot with 7:25 left in the second period.

In the third period, DiPietro made stop after stop until Mathieu Dandenault scored from a pass by Streit for a 4-1 lead late in the game.

The Islanders will host the defending Stanley Cup Champion Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday at 7 pm.

Five Stars of the Game:
1. Mark Streit: The defenseman, turned forward went 1-1-2 with 6 shots
2. Alexei Kovalev: Back on top of his game, scoring goals and setting them up, 1-1-2, +2
3. Andrei Markov: Two assists, 3 blocked shots and recovered from a puck to the face
4. Rick DiPietro: His stellar effort in the first and third periods not enough
5. Tomas Plekanec: Has become and Islanders killer with another shorthanded goal

Stat of the Game: The Islanders have failed to score on 13 power play chances against the Canadiens in three games this season.

Slapshots: Mike Comrie and Long Island-native Mike Komisarek were having their own personal battle all game...Ted Nolan changed up the lines for today's game... Ruslan Fedotenko and Andy Sutton returned to the lineup after missing time with the flu.

Check out the Islanders TV Game Day tab for complete coverage of Saturday’s game.


ISLANDERS
Goaltenders
39 Rick DiPietro
34 Wade Dubielewicz

Defensemen
24 Radek Martinek – 32 Brendan Witt
8 Bruno Gervais - 44 Freddy Meyer
47 Marc-Andre Bergeron – 25 Andy Sutton
4 Bryan Berard

Forwards
57 Blake Comeau – 89 Mike Comrie – 81 Miroslav Satan
26 Ruslan Fedotenko – 63 Josef Vasicek – 13 Bill Guerin
10 Richard Park – 18 Mike Sillinger – 7 Trent Hunter
20 Sean Bergenheim – 11 Andy Hilbert


MONTREAL
Goaltenders
39 Cristobal Huet
41 Jaroslav Halak

Defensemen
79 Andrei Markov - 8   Mike Komisarek
44 Roman Hamrlik -  26 Josh Gorges
51 Francis Bouillon – 71 Patrice Brisebois

Forwards
21 Chris Higgins - 11 Saku Koivu – 73 Michael Ryder
46 Andrei Kostitsyn - 14 Tomas Plekanec - 27 Alexei Kovalev
84 Guillaume Latendresse – 40 Maxim Lapierre - 74 Sergei Kostitsyn
32 Mark Streit - 20 Bryan Smolinski - 25 Mathieu Dandenault





   

ISLANDERS HOST STANLEY CUP CHAMPS ON TUESDAY

The defending Stanley Cup Champion Anaheim Ducks will visit the Nassau Coliseum on Tuesday evening. After a mediocre start to their season, Anaheim is primed to make another run at the Cup with the recent addition of Scott Niedermayer from his pending retirement. Don't miss your chance to catch the Ducks, who make their only visit of the season.

To purchase individual game tickets, click here or visit the Coliseum box office, the Islanders Team Store at the Broadway Mall in Hicksville or call Ticketmaster at 631.888.9000.

Click here to purchase tickets today!





High School and college students, this is your chance for $10 tickets to see the 2007 Stanley Cup Champion Anaheim Ducks. Watch as the Islanders go up one of the most formidable opponents in the Western Conference. For Long Island students, there isn't a better deal in professional sports.

LOUDVILLE tickets go on sale 60 minutes before game time. There are a limited number of seats available per game, so arrive early to secure a seat. Remember to bring your Student ID! There is a limit of one $10 LOUDVILLE ticket per ID. Once you get to the LOUDVILLE section, do your part to help lead the crowd in giving the Islanders the best home-ice advantage in the NHL!




ISLANDERS VALENTINES PACK FOR HOCKEY & HEELS - Feb. 12

Bring you and your special someone to the game on Tuesday, February 12 when the Islanders host the Philadelphia Flyers, starting at just $49 and receive a gift card to Butera's Italian Restaurant and a chocolate gift box.

With Valentine's Day only two days after the game, the Islanders have put together a special Islanders Valentines Pack for you and your special someone to watch the Islanders and then celebrate V-Day on February 14. Starting at only $49, fans will receive two tickets to the game, a $30 gift card to Butera's Italian Restaurant for some fine dining and a chocolate gift box.

Valentines Pack

• 2 tickets
• 1 $30 Butera's Italian Restaurant gift card
• 1 chocolate gift box

For those interested in purchasing a Valentines Pack, please contact the customer service department at 1.800.882.ISLES EXT. 2 or customerservice@newyorkislanders.com





FAMILY FUN PACK FOR KIDS' DAY, TOO - Feb. 18

With school off on Presidents', there is no better way to spend a day with the whole family than taking in an exciting Islanders game at the Nassau Coliseum. The Islanders have put together a special Family Fun Pack for Kids' Day, Too on February 18 when the Islanders meet the San Jose Sharks,  to get you and three others to the game. The Family Fun Pack includes:

• 4 tickets
• 1 Dave & Buster's $40 Power Card Voucher
• 1 Friendly's $25 Gift Card
• Valued at $265, the Family Fun Pack can be purchased for just $124

For those interested in purchasing a Family Fun Pack, please contact the customer service department at 1.800.882.ISLES EXT. 2 or customerservice@newyorkislanders.com