Canadiens Snap 8-Game Losing Streak, Beat Islanders 4-2
MONTREAL (AP) — Phillip Danault, Brendan Gallagher and Shea Weber each had a goal and an assist, and the Montreal Canadiens beat the New York Islanders 4-2 Tuesday night to snap an eight-game losing streak.
Jeff Petry also scored and Carey Price stopped 21 shots to earn his 11th win of the season for Montreal, which ended an 0-5-3 skid.
Scott Mayfield and Matthew Barzal scored in the third period for the Islanders, and Thomas Greiss finished with 36 saves.
The Canadiens seemed determined to snap the losing streak as they came out with a fast and physical game right from the get-go.
Greiss turned away early chances by Gallagher and Nate Thompson before Danault scored in the last second of the first. With time ticking away as he crossed the blue line, Danault fired a shot off Mayfield, kicked the loose puck onto his stick and beat Greiss. It was Danault's first goal since Nov. 15 at Washington — Montreal's last victory before the skid.
The Canadiens team kept pushing in the second period with good pace, big hits and quality scoring chances.
That effort paid off when Gallagher doubled the lead with 6 1/2 minutes left after batting down a one-timer from Weber in the crease for the easy tap-in for his team-leading 11th of the season.
Montreal made it 3-0 at 2:12 of the third on Petry's shot from the blue line, which deflected off forward Josh Bailey.
The Islanders remained in the game by getting on the scoreboard just 41 seconds later as Mayfield's one-timer came off a bouncing puck that knuckled past Price.
Barzal then cut the deficit to 3-2 with 2:29 remaining by deflecting Nick Leddy's shot from the point.
However, Weber's empty-netter with 27 seconds left sealed the win.
NOTES:
The Canadiens placed backup G Keith Kinkaid on waivers and recalled G Cayden Primeau and F Matthew Peca from their AHL affiliate. Montreal avoided the club's first nine-game skid since the 1939-40 season.
The Islanders dropped to 14-3-1 against Eastern Conference opponents.
UP NEXT:
Islanders: Host Vegas on Thursday night.
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