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Islanders-Canadiens Preview

Oct 22, 2009 - 5:32 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

New York (1-3-3) at Montreal (3-5-0), 7:00 p.m. EDT

The Montreal Canadiens avoided their worst start in 68 years, but they haven't won in regulation in their last 12 games.

Montreal continues its six-game homestand Thursday night, when it hosts a New York Islanders club looking to build off its first victory of the season.

The Canadiens (3-5-0) snapped their five-game losing streak with Tuesday's 2-1 shootout victory over Atlanta.

Michael Cammalleri missed, but first-year Canadiens Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta found the back of the net in the shootout as Montreal avoided its worst start since beginning 1-10-0 with a tie in 1941-42.

"We showed a lot of staying power there," said Gionta, who scored his team-leading fourth goal in the first period off an assist from Cammalleri. "When you lose five in a row and a team ties it up in the third period like that it could kill your confidence, but I thought we did a good job of sticking with it."

Montreal, though, has scored 10 goals in its last six games.

The Canadiens posted overtime victories in Toronto and Buffalo to open the season, but they have not won in regulation since a 6-2 victory over the Maple Leafs on April 4.

Montreal will get an opportunity to change that as it faces the Islanders for the first time this season. The teams split four matchups in 2008-09, with the visiting team winning each contest.

The Islanders (1-3-3) go for their third straight victory at the Bell Centre following Wednesday's 4-3 shootout win over Carolina. John Tavares, this year's No. 1 overall draft pick, scored the clinching goal and the Islanders avoided the franchise's worst-ever start. The 1973-74 team was winless in its first seven games.

"I just tried to think back to when I was a kid and there was no pressure," said the 19-year-old Tavares. "I got to my forehand and I knew I had to get it up and once I saw it go in, it was a great feeling to secure the win."

Defenseman Andy Sutton had a goal and assisted on Matt Moulson's first-period tally. Sutton's last multipoint game was a 4-2 win over Ottawa on Nov. 29 when he had two assists.

He played in 81 games the last two seasons due to a number of injuries.

"Andy is starting to get up to speed after having so much time off in the last two seasons," coach Scott Gordon told the Islanders' official Web site. "He's a big guy for us, not just in a size-sense, but he's a guy that can eat minutes as a defenseman and take up a lot of space, and blocks a lot of shots."

Moulson has scored a goal in a career-high four consecutive games.

Playing for Edmonton, Islanders goaltender Dwayne Roloson went 1-0-1 with a 2.96 GAA against Montreal last season.

Gordon could start Martin Biron on Thursday. Biron, who spent the previous two seasons with Philadelphia, is 13-8-0 with a 2.22 GAA in 23 games against the Canadiens.

Making his second start of the season, Montreal's Jaroslav Halak had 22 saves Tuesday. He is 2-1-0 with a 1.34 GAA in three career starts against the Islanders.

If Carey Price gets the nod for the Canadiens, it will be his 100th career appearance. He is 0-4-0 with a 4.18 GAA in his last four starts.

Montreal finishes its homestand Monday night against the Islanders.