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Bailey leads Isles over Habs in SO

Mar 18, 2012 - 3:08 AM Montreal, QC (Sports Network) - Josh Bailey scored the game-winning goal in the sixth round of the shootout, lifting the New York Islanders to a 3-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre on Saturday.

After Canadiens' defenseman Andrei Markov shot the puck wide in the top half of the sixth round, Bailey came down the ice with speed on his attempt and buried a wrister past the stick side of Peter Budaj for the winner.

"We definitely wanted to get that one for Al," Bailey said. "He's had a tough go here lately, and I'm happy for him."

Bailey added an assist in regulation, while Mark Streit and Frans Nielsen scored for the Islanders, who snapped a five-game slide. Al Montoya made 28 saves in the victory.

Aaron Palushaj and Louis LeBlanc lit the lamp for the Canadiens, who have lost three of their last four games. Budaj stopped 36-of-38 shots in defeat.

The home team opened the scoring just 2:53 into the contest after Palushaj chased down a loose puck in the right corner, turned, and drove to the net before firing a sharp-angle shot off the right leg of Montoya that wound up in the net.

Skating with the man advantage, the Isles tied it at one two minutes into the second period.

Holding the puck in the defensive zone, Streit started up ice looking for a pass, but went coast-to-coast nearly untouched before sliding a backhander low to the far side past Budaj.

New York took the lead at 16:05 of the second period after Travis Hamonic lofted the puck out to the neutral zone and Nielsen jumped on it. Nielsen moved to the right circle and ripped a wrist shot high over the glove of Budaj.

Montreal, though, tied the game at two just 3:38 into the third period after PK Subban carried the puck into the offensive zone and worked his way to the left wing. Subban sent a saucer pass to the slot for LeBlanc, who backhanded it high over the left shoulder of Montoya.

"They were throwing a lot of pucks on net, which can either be good or bad for a goalie," Budaj said. "We have a handful of games left and we want to win as many as we can, and I'll try to do what I can when I'm called upon to help the team."

Game Notes

Islanders captain John Tavares had his four-game point streak snapped...Hamonic has six points in his last four games...New York improved to 12-3-1 in games that are tied after 40 minutes...It was Palushaj's first NHL goal...It was Montoya's first start since February 20 against the Ottawa Senators...The Islanders improved to 6-4 in shootouts, while Montreal fell to 5-9...New York finished 1-for-3 with the man advantage, while Montreal failed to score with four power-play chances.