National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Montreal 4, NY Islanders 2
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, February 9, 2012
Where: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York
Referees: Steve Kozari, Frederic L'Ecuyer
Linesmen: Ryan Galloway, Tim Nowak
Attendance: 12312


Max Pacioretty notched a hat trick and Scott Gomez scored his first goal in more than a year as the Montreal Canadiens fended off the host New York Islanders 4-2 Thursday night.

Pacioretty's 20th goal of the season opened the scoring 1:23 into the game, and his 21st came midway through the second session. David Desharnais centered a pass from the side boards right to Pacioretty, who whistled a shot from between the circles that beat Evgeni Nabokov down low.

With the Canadiens on a power play midway through the third period, Gomez waited for a loose puck near the side boards, then one-timed it past Nabokov for his first tally in 53 games dating back to Feb. 5, 2011.

All-Star Carey Price handled things at the other end, turning aside 31 shots to improve to 4-1-2 lifetime against New York.

Goals from Matt Moulson and captain Mark Streit 48 seconds apart made it a one-goal game with 1:53 remaining, but Pacioretty iced things with an empty-netter with one second left.

Nabokov made 28 saves for the Islanders, who lost in regulation for just the second time in 11 games.

Top Game Performances
 
Montreal   NY Islanders
Max Pacioretty 3 Points Matt Moulson 1
Max Pacioretty 3 Goals Matt Moulson 1
Chris Campoli 1 Assists Kyle Okposo 1
Scott Gomez 1 Power Play Goals Matt Moulson 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Carey Price .939 Save Percentage Evgeni Nabokov .903
Carey Price 31 Saves Evgeni Nabokov 28
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Montreal 32 4 1-1 1-2 4 39
NY Islanders 33 2 1-2 0-1 2 28
Upcoming Games
  • NY Islanders will play their next game at home against Los Angeles. The Islanders have a W/L % of .455 after a win and .387 after a loss.
  • Montreal will play their next game on the road against Toronto. The Canadiens have a W/L % of .409 after a win and .394 after a loss.