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Streaking Islanders challenge Canadiens for playoff spot

Feb 24, 2007 - 3:41 PM Montreal (32-25-6) at NY Islanders (30-23-8) 1:00 pm EST

UNIONDALE, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Islanders are making a run at the playoffs, but they'll have to go through the Montreal Canadiens to get there.

On the outside looking in at the Eastern Conference playoff race, the Islanders have a chance to tie the Canadiens when the two teams face off on Saturday.

Despite its stellar play of late, New York remains two points behind seventh-place Montreal and one back of eighth-place Carolina. The Hurricanes will play in Atlanta on Saturday night.

On Thursday, the Islanders posted a 3-2 shootout victory over Toronto. Trent Hunter scored his second goal of the game with six minutes to go in the third period and Randy Robitaille netted the only tally of the bonus format.

After allowing two goals on Toronto's first 17 shots, goaltender Rick DiPietro stopped the final 12 he faced and denied all three of the Maple Leafs' shootout opportunities as New York won for the fourth time in five games.

The Islanders also have earned a point in 13 of their last 15 contests.

The Canadiens also were victorious in a shootout Thursday, posting a 6-5 triumph over Nashville.

Saku Koivu scored in the fourth round of the shootout after notching two assists in regulation as Montreal extended its winning streak to three games.

The Canadiens had lost six in a row before posting a 3-2 victory over Columbus on Sunday behind netminder Jaroslav Halak, who was making his NHL debut.

With All-Star Cristobal Huet out for the remainder of the regular season following hamstring surgery and backup David Aebischer slumping, Halak again got the start against Washington on Tuesday and came away with a 5-3 win.