GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NHL: MONTREAL (11-9) at NY ISLANDERS (11-6)

NHL: MONTREAL at NY ISLANDERS

<div class="pre">NHL END OF THE 2ND 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MONTREAL 1 3 4
NY ISLANDERS 0 0 0 END OF THE 2ND

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: MON - STEVE BEGIN 2 (BRYAN SMOLINSKI, MATHIEU DANDENAULT)
0:56
2ND PRD: MON - CHRIS HIGGINS 8 (ROMAN HAMRLIK) 6:14
MON - STEVE BEGIN 3 (FRANCIS BOUILLON, MATHIEU DANDENAULT)
7:18
MON - (PP) TOMAS PLEKANEC 6 (ALEXEI KOVALEV, PATRICE
BRISEBOIS) 13:22

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MON 13 16 29
NYI 12 12 24

GOALIES: MON - CRISTOBAL HUET
NYI - RICK DIPIETRO</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at NY ISLANDERS

<div class="pre">------------------------------
Montreal 1 3 --4
Ny Islanders 0 0 --0
------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Montreal, Steve Begin 2 (Bryan Smolinski,
Mathieu Dandenault), 0:56. Penalties: B Witt, Nyi (hooking), 5:28; G
Latendresse, Mon (holding stick), 11:36; M Comrie, Nyi (tripping),
13:15; A Kovalev, Mon (hooking), 17:39.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Montreal, Chris Higgins 8 (Roman Hamrlik),
6:14. 3, Montreal, Steve Begin 3 (Francis Bouillon, Mathieu
Dandenault), 7:18. 4, Montreal, Tomas Plekanec 6 (power play) (Alexei
Kovalev, Patrice Brisebois), 13:22. Penalties: T Hunter, Nyi
(tripping), 4:13; A Sutton, Nyi (slashing), 9:03; B Witt, Nyi (major
fighting), 12:14; M Komisarek, Mon (major fighting), 12:14; C Simon,
Nyi (double minor roughing, unsportsmanlike cond), 12:14; F Bouillon,
Mon (hooking), 17:56; M Komisarek, Mon (double minor high sticking),
19:17.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------
Montreal 13 16 --29
Ny Islanders 12 12 --24
----------------------------------

Goalies : Montreal, Cristobal Huet (24 shots, 24 saves). Ny Islanders,
Rick DiPietro (29 shots, 25 saves). Referees: Kerry Fraser, Tom
Kowal. Linesmen: Jean Morin, Steve Barton.</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at NY ISLANDERS

<div class="pre">NHL MONTREAL 4
NY ISLANDERS 0 19:27 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at NY ISLANDERS

<div class="pre">NHL MONTREAL 4
NY ISLANDERS 0 16:04 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at NY ISLANDERS

<div class="pre">NHL MONTREAL 4
NY ISLANDERS 0 12:00 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at NY ISLANDERS

<div class="pre">NHL MONTREAL 4
NY ISLANDERS 0 8:43 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at NY ISLANDERS

<div class="pre">NHL MONTREAL 4
NY ISLANDERS 0 5:49 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at NY ISLANDERS

<div class="pre">NHL MONTREAL 4
NY ISLANDERS 1
3RD PRD: NYI - MIKE COMRIE 7 (CHRIS SIMON, TIM JACKMAN) 16:10</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at NY ISLANDERS

<div class="pre">NHL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MONTREAL 1 3 0 4
NY ISLANDERS 0 0 1 1 FINAL

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: MON - STEVE BEGIN 2 (BRYAN SMOLINSKI, MATHIEU DANDENAULT)
0:56
2ND PRD: MON - CHRIS HIGGINS 8 (ROMAN HAMRLIK, CRISTOBAL HUET) 6:14
MON - STEVE BEGIN 3 (MATHIEU DANDENAULT, BRYAN SMOLINSKI)
7:18
MON - (PP) TOMAS PLEKANEC 6 (ALEXEI KOVALEV, PATRICE
BRISEBOIS) 13:22
3RD PRD: NYI - MIKE COMRIE 7 (CHRIS SIMON, TIM JACKMAN) 16:10

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: MON - 1 OF 7, NYI - 0 OF 7.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MON 13 16 4 33
NYI 12 13 19 44

GOALIES: MON - CRISTOBAL HUET
NYI - RICK DIPIETRO

OFFICIALS: REF - KERRY FRASER, TOM KOWAL
LIN - JEAN MORIN, STEVE BARTON

ATT: NA</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at NY ISLANDERS

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Montreal 1 3 0 --4
Ny Islanders 0 0 1 --1
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Montreal, Steve Begin 2 (Bryan Smolinski,
Mathieu Dandenault), 0:56. Penalties: B Witt, Nyi (hooking), 5:28; G
Latendresse, Mon (holding stick), 11:36; M Comrie, Nyi (tripping),
13:15; A Kovalev, Mon (hooking), 17:39.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Montreal, Chris Higgins 8 (Roman Hamrlik,
Cristobal Huet), 6:14. 3, Montreal, Steve Begin 3 (Mathieu Dandenault,
Bryan Smolinski), 7:18. 4, Montreal, Tomas Plekanec 6 (power play)
(Alexei Kovalev, Patrice Brisebois), 13:22. Penalties: T Hunter, Nyi
(tripping), 4:13; A Sutton, Nyi (slashing), 9:03; B Witt, Nyi (major
fighting), 12:14; M Komisarek, Mon (major fighting), 12:14; C Simon,
Nyi (double minor roughing, unsportsmanlike cond), 12:14; F Bouillon,
Mon (hooking), 17:56; M Komisarek, Mon (double minor high sticking),
19:17.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Ny Islanders, Mike Comrie 7 (Chris Simon,
Tim Jackman), 16:10. Penalties: B Smolinski, Mon (tripping), 7:27; A
Markov, Mon (unsportsmanlike cond), 9:02; J Vasicek, Nyi
(interference), 12:00.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Montreal 13 16 4 --33
Ny Islanders 12 13 19 --44
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Montreal - 1 of 7, Ny Islanders - 0 of 7.
Goalies : Montreal, Cristobal Huet (44 shots, 43 saves; record:
7-5-2). Ny Islanders, Rick DiPietro (33 shots, 29 saves; record:
10-6-0). A: NA. Referees: Kerry Fraser, Tom Kowal. Linesmen: Jean
Morin, Steve Barton.</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at NY ISLANDERS

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
MONTREAL 4
NY ISLANDERS 1</div>

 

By Doug Mittler
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


UNIONDALE, New York (Ticker) - The New York Islanders have hadrecent success by keeping it close. Steve Begin and CristobalHuet of the Montreal Canadiens kept them from striking distanceon Wednesday.


Begin scored twice and Huet stopped 41 shots as the Canadiensscored three times in the second period - including twice in a64-second span - and coasted to a 4-1 victory over theIslanders.


Long Island native Christopher Higgins also scored for theCanadiens, who took the lead 56 seconds into the contest on agoal by Begin and built a three-goal cushion 7:18 into thesecond period.


The Islanders had played seven straight one-goal games and were5-2 in that span.


New York again suffered another "Ranger hangover" afterdefeating its cross-town rivals at Madison Square Garden onMonday. Since the end of the lockout, the Islanders fell to6-10-1 after playing the Rangers.


New York's Miroslav Satan hit the crossbar with a shot midwaythrough the second period and Montreal killed off a two-manadvantage for 40 seconds late in the second and for 25 secondsin the third.


Begin's only other goal this season came October 22 againstBoston, but he gave the Canadiens the early cushion when hefired a slap shot from the left circle over the shoulder of RickDiPietro.


Higgins skated around defenseman Chris Campoli before lifting aforehand shot over DiPietro at 6:14 of the second. The24-year-old from nearby Smithtown has seven goals in eightcareer games against the Islanders.


Begin scored his third goal of the season at 7:18 of the second,putting a wrist shot from the right circle over DiPietro'sshoulder to make it 3-0.


Brendan Witt fought with Montreal's Michael Komisarek, anotherLong Island native, a few minutes later, but it did little tospark the Islanders.


With Chris Simon serving a double minor, Tomas Plekanec put homea pass from Alexei Kovalev to make it 4-0 at 13:22 of thesecond.


The Canadiens played defensively in the third to protect Huet.They did not have a shot in the third period until 7:58remaining.


Mike Comrie broke the shutout with 3:50 remaining in thesession. It was his seventh goal of the season.

 

NHL: MONTREAL at NY ISLANDERS

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Montreal 1 3 0 --4
Ny Islanders 0 0 1 --1
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Montreal, Steve Begin 2 (Bryan Smolinski,
Mathieu Dandenault), 0:56. Penalties: B Witt, Nyi (hooking), 5:28; G
Latendresse, Mon (holding stick), 11:36; M Comrie, Nyi (tripping),
13:15; A Kovalev, Mon (hooking), 17:39.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Montreal, Chris Higgins 8 (Roman Hamrlik,
Cristobal Huet), 6:14. 3, Montreal, Steve Begin 3 (Mathieu Dandenault,
Bryan Smolinski), 7:18. 4, Montreal, Tomas Plekanec 6 (power play)
(Alexei Kovalev, Patrice Brisebois), 13:22. Penalties: T Hunter, Nyi
(tripping), 4:13; A Sutton, Nyi (slashing), 9:03; B Witt, Nyi (major
fighting), 12:14; M Komisarek, Mon (major fighting), 12:14; C Simon,
Nyi (double minor roughing, unsportsmanlike cond), 12:14; F Bouillon,
Mon (hooking), 17:56; M Komisarek, Mon (double minor high sticking),
19:17.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Ny Islanders, Mike Comrie 7 (Chris Simon,
Tim Jackman), 16:10. Penalties: B Smolinski, Mon (tripping), 7:27; A
Markov, Mon (unsportsmanlike cond), 9:02; J Vasicek, Nyi
(interference), 12:00.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Montreal 13 16 4 --33
Ny Islanders 12 13 19 --44
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Montreal - 1 of 7, Ny Islanders - 0 of 7.
Goalies : Montreal, Cristobal Huet (44 shots, 43 saves; record:
7-5-2). Ny Islanders, Rick DiPietro (33 shots, 29 saves; record:
10-6-0). A: NA. Referees: Kerry Fraser, Tom Kowal. Linesmen: Jean
Morin, Steve Barton.</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at NY ISLANDERS

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Montreal 1 3 0 --4
Ny Islanders 0 0 1 --1
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Montreal, Steve Begin 2 (Bryan Smolinski,
Mathieu Dandenault), 0:56. Penalties: B Witt, Nyi (hooking), 5:28; G
Latendresse, Mon (holding stick), 11:36; M Comrie, Nyi (tripping),
13:15; A Kovalev, Mon (hooking), 17:39.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Montreal, Chris Higgins 8 (Roman Hamrlik,
Cristobal Huet), 6:14. 3, Montreal, Steve Begin 3 (Mathieu Dandenault,
Bryan Smolinski), 7:18. 4, Montreal, Tomas Plekanec 6 (power play)
(Alexei Kovalev, Patrice Brisebois), 13:22. Penalties: T Hunter, Nyi
(tripping), 4:13; A Sutton, Nyi (slashing), 9:03; B Witt, Nyi (major
fighting), 12:14; M Komisarek, Mon (major fighting), 12:14; C Simon,
Nyi (double minor roughing, unsportsmanlike cond), 12:14; F Bouillon,
Mon (hooking), 17:56; M Komisarek, Mon (double minor high sticking),
19:17.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Ny Islanders, Mike Comrie 7 (Chris Simon,
Tim Jackman), 16:10. Penalties: B Smolinski, Mon (tripping), 7:27; A
Markov, Mon (unsportsmanlike cond), 9:02; J Vasicek, Nyi
(interference), 12:00.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Montreal 13 16 4 --33
Ny Islanders 12 13 20 --45
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Montreal - 1 of 7, Ny Islanders - 0 of 7.
Goalies : Montreal, Cristobal Huet (45 shots, 44 saves; record:
7-5-2). Ny Islanders, Rick DiPietro (33 shots, 29 saves; record:
10-6-0). A: NA. Referees: Kerry Fraser, Tom Kowal. Linesmen: Jean
Morin, Steve Barton.</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at NY ISLANDERS

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
MONTREAL 1 3 0 --4
NY ISLANDERS 0 0 1 --1
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Montreal, Steve Begin 2 (Bryan Smolinski,
Mathieu Dandenault), 0:56. Penalties: B Witt, Nyi (hooking), 5:28; G
Latendresse, Mon (holding stick), 11:36; M Comrie, Nyi (tripping),
13:15; A Kovalev, Mon (hooking), 17:39.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Montreal, Chris Higgins 8 (Roman Hamrlik,
Cristobal Huet), 6:14. 3, Montreal, Steve Begin 3 (Mathieu Dandenault,
Bryan Smolinski), 7:18. 4, Montreal, Tomas Plekanec 6 (power play)
(Alexei Kovalev, Patrice Brisebois), 13:22. Penalties: T Hunter, Nyi
(tripping), 4:13; A Sutton, Nyi (slashing), 9:03; B Witt, Nyi (major
fighting), 12:14; M Komisarek, Mon (major fighting), 12:14; C Simon,
Nyi (double minor roughing, unsportsmanlike cond), 12:14; F Bouillon,
Mon (hooking), 17:56; M Komisarek, Mon (double minor high sticking),
19:17.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Ny Islanders, Mike Comrie 7 (Chris Simon,
Tim Jackman), 16:10. Penalties: B Smolinski, Mon (tripping), 7:27; A
Markov, Mon (unsportsmanlike cond), 9:02; J Vasicek, Nyi
(interference), 12:00.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
MONTREAL 13 16 4 --33
NY ISLANDERS 12 13 20 --45
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: MON - 1 of 7, NYI - 0 of 7. Goalies :
Montreal, Cristobal Huet (45 shots, 44 saves; record: 7-5-2). Ny
Islanders, Rick DiPietro (33 shots, 29 saves; record: 10-6-0). A: NA.
Referees: Kerry Fraser, Tom Kowal. Linesmen: Jean Morin, Steve Barton.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

MONTREAL NY ISLANDERS
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
S Koivu 0 0 +1 0 R Park 0 0 even 4
T Plekanec 1 0 -1 2 A Hilbert 0 0 even 1
B Smolinski 0 2 +2 1 C Simon 0 1 +1 1
C Higgins 1 0 +1 4 B Guerin 0 0 -2 3
S Begin 2 0 +2 5 C Campoli 0 0 -2 3
M Dandenault 0 2 +2 0 T Jackman 0 1 +1 3
A Kovalev 0 1 -1 2 M Sillinger 0 0 -1 4
K Chipchura 0 0 even 0 S Bergenheim 0 0 even 1
M Streit 0 0 even 2 R Martinek 0 0 +1 2
C Huet 0 1 -- 0 A Sutton 0 0 -1 5
R Hamrlik 0 1 +2 2 R Fedotenko 0 0 -3 0
A Kostitsyn 0 0 -1 1 B Witt 0 0 +1 0
F Bouillon 0 0 +1 3 B Berard 0 0 -2 3
T Kostopoulos 0 0 even 1 J Vasicek 0 0 even 2
P Brisebois 0 1 +2 1 T Hunter 0 0 -1 8
M Ryder 0 0 +1 7 B Gervais 0 0 -1 0
A Markov 0 0 -1 0 M Satan 0 0 even 4
M Komisarek 0 0 even 1 M Comrie 1 0 -1 1
G Latendresse 0 0 even 1 M Bergeron HEALTHY
J Gorges HEALTHY F Meyer IV HEALTHY
M Grabovski HEALTHY</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at NY ISLANDERS

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Montreal 1 3 0 --4
Ny Islanders 0 0 1 --1
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Montreal, Steve Begin 2 (Bryan Smolinski,
Mathieu Dandenault), 0:56. Penalties: B Witt, Nyi (hooking), 5:28; G
Latendresse, Mon (holding stick), 11:36; M Comrie, Nyi (tripping),
13:15; A Kovalev, Mon (hooking), 17:39.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Montreal, Chris Higgins 8 (Roman Hamrlik,
Cristobal Huet), 6:14. 3, Montreal, Steve Begin 3 (Mathieu Dandenault,
Bryan Smolinski), 7:18. 4, Montreal, Tomas Plekanec 6 (power play)
(Alexei Kovalev, Patrice Brisebois), 13:22. Penalties: T Hunter, Nyi
(tripping), 4:13; A Sutton, Nyi (slashing), 9:03; B Witt, Nyi (major
fighting), 12:14; M Komisarek, Mon (major fighting), 12:14; C Simon,
Nyi (double minor roughing, unsportsmanlike cond), 12:14; F Bouillon,
Mon (hooking), 17:56; M Komisarek, Mon (double minor high sticking),
19:17.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Ny Islanders, Mike Comrie 7 (Chris Simon,
Tim Jackman), 16:10. Penalties: B Smolinski, Mon (tripping), 7:27; A
Markov, Mon (unsportsmanlike cond), 9:02; J Vasicek, Nyi
(interference), 12:00.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Montreal 13 16 4 --33
Ny Islanders 12 13 20 --45
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Montreal - 1 of 7, Ny Islanders - 0 of 7.
Goalies : Montreal, Cristobal Huet (45 shots, 44 saves; record:
7-5-2). Ny Islanders, Rick DiPietro (33 shots, 29 saves; record:
10-6-0). A: NA. Referees: Kerry Fraser, Tom Kowal. Linesmen: Jean
Morin, Steve Barton.</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at NY ISLANDERS

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
MONTREAL 1 3 0 --4
NY ISLANDERS 0 0 1 --1
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Montreal, Steve Begin 2 (Bryan Smolinski,
Mathieu Dandenault), 0:56. Penalties: B Witt, Nyi (hooking), 5:28; G
Latendresse, Mon (holding stick), 11:36; M Comrie, Nyi (tripping),
13:15; A Kovalev, Mon (hooking), 17:39.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Montreal, Chris Higgins 8 (Roman Hamrlik,
Cristobal Huet), 6:14. 3, Montreal, Steve Begin 3 (Mathieu Dandenault,
Bryan Smolinski), 7:18. 4, Montreal, Tomas Plekanec 6 (power play)
(Alexei Kovalev, Patrice Brisebois), 13:22. Penalties: T Hunter, Nyi
(tripping), 4:13; A Sutton, Nyi (slashing), 9:03; B Witt, Nyi (major
fighting), 12:14; M Komisarek, Mon (major fighting), 12:14; C Simon,
Nyi (double minor roughing, unsportsmanlike cond), 12:14; F Bouillon,
Mon (hooking), 17:56; M Komisarek, Mon (double minor high sticking),
19:17.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Ny Islanders, Mike Comrie 7 (Chris Simon,
Tim Jackman), 16:10. Penalties: B Smolinski, Mon (tripping), 7:27; A
Markov, Mon (unsportsmanlike cond), 9:02; J Vasicek, Nyi
(interference), 12:00.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
MONTREAL 13 16 4 --33
NY ISLANDERS 12 13 20 --45
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: MON - 1 of 7, NYI - 0 of 7. Goalies :
Montreal, Cristobal Huet (45 shots, 44 saves; record: 7-5-2). Ny
Islanders, Rick DiPietro (33 shots, 29 saves; record: 10-6-0). A: NA.
Referees: Kerry Fraser, Tom Kowal. Linesmen: Jean Morin, Steve Barton.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

MONTREAL NY ISLANDERS
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
S Koivu 0 0 +1 0 R Park 0 0 even 4
T Plekanec 1 0 -1 2 A Hilbert 0 0 even 1
B Smolinski 0 2 +2 1 C Simon 0 1 +1 1
C Higgins 1 0 +1 4 B Guerin 0 0 -2 3
S Begin 2 0 +2 5 C Campoli 0 0 -2 3
M Dandenault 0 2 +2 0 T Jackman 0 1 +1 3
A Kovalev 0 1 -1 2 M Sillinger 0 0 -1 4
K Chipchura 0 0 even 0 S Bergenheim 0 0 even 1
M Streit 0 0 even 2 R Martinek 0 0 +1 2
C Huet 0 1 -- 0 A Sutton 0 0 -1 5
R Hamrlik 0 1 +2 2 R Fedotenko 0 0 -3 0
A Kostitsyn 0 0 -1 1 B Witt 0 0 +1 0
F Bouillon 0 0 +1 3 B Berard 0 0 -2 3
T Kostopoulos 0 0 even 1 J Vasicek 0 0 even 2
P Brisebois 0 1 +2 1 T Hunter 0 0 -1 8
M Ryder 0 0 +1 7 B Gervais 0 0 -1 0
A Markov 0 0 -1 0 M Satan 0 0 even 4
M Komisarek 0 0 even 1 M Comrie 1 0 -1 1
G Latendresse 0 0 even 1 M Bergeron HEALTHY
J Gorges HEALTHY F Meyer IV HEALTHY
M Grabovski HEALTHY</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at NY ISLANDERS

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
MONTREAL 4
NY ISLANDERS 1</div>

 

By Doug Mittler
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


UNIONDALE, New York (Ticker) - The New York Islanders have hadrecent success by keeping it close. Steve Begin and CristobalHuet of the Montreal Canadiens kept them from striking distanceon Wednesday.


Begin scored twice and Huet stopped 41 shots as the Canadiensscored three times in the second period - including twice in a64-second span - and coasted to a 4-1 victory over theIslanders.


"I think we played a very good 60 minutes tonight," Huet said."We came out strong in the first period."


Long Island native Christopher Higgins also scored for theCanadiens, who took the lead 56 seconds into the contest on agoal by Begin and built a three-goal cushion 7:18 into thesecond period.


The Islanders had played seven straight one-goal games and were5-2 in that span.


New York again suffered another "Ranger hangover" afterdefeating its cross-town rivals at Madison Square Garden onMonday. Since the end of the lockout, the Islanders fell to6-10-1 after playing the Rangers.


"I wouldn't say (44) shots exactly is a letdown," Islanderscenter Mike Sillinger said. "We gave them the first goal and ittook awhile for us to wake up. We didn't make them earn theirgoals."


Mike Comrie spoiled Huet's shutout bid with his seventh goal ofthe season with 3:50 remaining.


New York's Miroslav Satan hit the crossbar with a shot midwaythrough the second period and Montreal killed off a two-manadvantage for 40 seconds late in the second and for 25 secondsin the third.


"We just didn't have it tonight for whatever reason," Islanderscoach Ted Nolan said. "There are going to be games like thiswhere things don't work - and this is one of them."

Begin's only other goal this season came October 22 againstBoston, but he gave the Canadiens the early cushion when hefired a slap shot from the left circle over the shoulder of RickDiPietro.


"I always go high and hard in practice, so I figured I might aswell do it in a game," Begin said.


Higgins skated around defenseman Chris Campoli before lifting aforehand shot over DiPietro at 6:14 of the second. The24-year-old from nearby Smithtown has seven goals in eightcareer games against the Islanders.


"Good ol' Long Island comes through again," said Higgins, whoscored on the road for the first time this season. "For somereason, I'm pretty lucky in this building. And every year in mycareer, I've always scored more goals on the road than at home,so this is something new.'"


Begin scored his third goal of the season at 7:18 of the second,putting a wrist shot from the right circle over DiPietro'sshoulder to make it 3-0.


Brendan Witt fought with Montreal's Michael Komisarek, anotherLong Island native, a few minutes later, but it did little tospark the Islanders.


With Chris Simon serving a double minor, Tomas Plekanec put homea pass from Alexei Kovalev to make it 4-0 at 13:22 of thesecond.


The Canadiens played defensively in the third to protect Huet.They did not have a shot in the third period until 7:58remaining.


DiPietro made 29 saves for the Islanders.