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Habs take aim at consecutive wins against Islanders

Dec 13, 2011 - 3:51 PM (Sports Network) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to post consecutive wins for the first time in a month when they host the New York Islanders tonight at the Bell Centre.

The Canadiens notched a 2-1 regulation win in New Jersey on Saturday, giving the Habs just their second win in eight trips to the ice. Montreal will now get a chance to record back-to-back victories for the first time since defeating Phoenix and Nashville on Nov. 10 and 12, respectively.

Carey Price was a big part of Montreal's recent win over the Devils, as he made 28 saves and denied Zach Parise on a penalty shot in the final minute of regulation to help seal the win.

Canadiens defenseman Josh Gorges was whistled for covering the puck in the crease with 49.4 seconds remaining and Montreal holding a tenuous 2-1 lead. Parise came up slowly on the penalty shot, and his backhand stayed on the ice, allowing Price to kick save the attempt with his left leg.

Erik Cole scored the eventual game-winner and assisted on Max Pacioretty's second-period tally.

Tomas Kaberle also had two assists in his Montreal debut after coming over to the Habs from Carolina in a trade on Friday. Kaberle was acquired for fellow Czech defenseman Jaroslav Spacek and the Canadiens are counting on the former Maple Leafs to help their sagging power play. Montreal went 1-for-5 on the man advantage on Saturday and is ranked 28th in the league on the man advantage.

"[Kaberle is] going to help us out a lot on the power play," Pacioretty said after Saturday's game. "I didn't know how good his patience was."

The Canadiens could be getting defenseman Chris Campoli back on the ice tonight for the first time since the season opener when he tore his hamstring in Toronto. Campoli, who inked a one-year deal with Montreal this summer, had four goals and 17 assists in 77 combined games with Ottawa and Chicago last season.

Montreal captain Brian Gionta missed Saturday's game with an arm injury and is questionable for tonight.

The Habs are kicking off a three-game homestand tonight and are just 4-5-6 as the host this season. They will also welcome Philadelphia and New Jersey during the residency.

The Islanders enter tonight on a two-game skid after dropping the final two tests of a three-game homestand. New York, which is last in the Atlantic Division, is just 3-5-3 on the road this season compared to a 6-7-3 mark on Long Island.

New York's latest setback came Saturday against Pittsburgh, as James Neal scored twice and Steve Sullivan added a goal and an assist in a 6-3 win for the Penguins.

David Ullstrom, Milan Jurcina and Kyle Okposo tallied for the Islanders, while Al Montoya stopped just 25-of-31 shots in the loss. The Islanders were actually up 3-2 in the second period, but the Penguins scored four unanswered goals in the final 31:16 of regulation.

"After they got that tying goal and fourth goal, we never responded the way we started the game," Islanders head coach Jack Capuano said.

The Isles have won three straight against the Canadiens, including a 4-3 regulation decision at home on Nov. 17. New York snapped a three-game slide at the Bell Centre with a win on Feb. 10 of last season.