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Habs fail to get that critical second point vs Isles

The New York Islanders had not won a game all season, when trailing after 40 minutes, until now.

The Montreal Canadiens had three leads, yet were not able to put away the Islanders and lost 4-3 in a shootout. It was clearly a game the Canadiens needed to claim two points, and should have been able to win.

Yes, they’ve played three sets of back-to-back games, Alex Auld was in goal (and did his job), and Hal Gill and Mathieu Darche were both out tonight, but it’s no excuse against a team like this. The Canadiens had a great chance to make up two points on the Boston Bruins for first in the Northeast Division. Instead they remain three back of the Bruins, having played two fewer games.

“We had some breakdowns and they capitalized,: said Canadiens coach Jacques Martin. There were elements of fatigue that caused mistakes” Martin did praise the work ethic of David Desharnais, Benoit Pouliot and Ryan White, who picked up his first point of the season after being called up Thursday morning.

It was also the first game for Habs defenseman Jaimes Wisniewski against his former team.  “It was a tough game, and they are a fast team,” he said. “We may have been a little tired, but it’s no excuse. We’re not satisfied with that one point.” Wisniewski played 28:36 and had a couple giveaways on the night.

Listening to the CJAD post-game show, the play of the Scott Gomez, Andrei Kostitsyn and Lars Eller (a combined three shots on goal) was brought into question, as well as Jacques Martin’s decision to put them out on the first shift.

Martin hid is emotions post-game when he commented on that trio, “You want more out of those individuals, but we’ll look at the tape and make the corrections and be ready for Saturday.”

Mikko Koskinen earned his first NHL win, with a 37 save night for New York.

The Canadiens will host the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday night at the Bell Centre.

I’ll leave it to you guys to debate, as the fiance wants to use the good computer to find a better car insurance company. Long story.

The take from the Islanders camp at Lighthouse Hockey

THREE STARS:1. Kyle Opkoso 2. Max Pacioretty 3. Tomas Plekanec

SCORERS
First period
14:10 MTL Max Pacioretty, 9 (David Desharnais, 4 Jaroslav Spacek, 15) (NYI: 27 21 38 12 1 MTL: 6 35 20 58 67)
16:35 NYI John Tavares, 19 (NYI: 24 15 8 26 1 91 MTL: 44 21 35 14 20 67)
Second period
05:49 MTL Benoit Pouliot, 11 (Ryan White, 1) (NYI: 15 26 38 36 1 91 MTL: 44 6 35 57 58 53)
17:10 NYI Michael Grabner, 18 (Frans Nielsen, 18 Jack Hillen, 6) (NYI: 27 51 21 40 38 1 MTL: 6 15 35 46 76 81)
18:08 MTL Tomas Plekanec, 19 (NYI: 44 58 47 12 36 1 MTL: 35 14 46 45 68 81)
Third period
04:08 NYI Michael Grabner, 19 (Frans Nielsen, 19 Jack Hillen, 7) (NYI: 27 51 21 40 38 1 MTL: 44 11 35 20 46 81)
First overtime
None
Shootout
00:00 NYI Kyle Okposo, 3 (NYI: 1 MTL: 35)

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