Sean Monahan scored the game-winner with less than three minutes left as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the New York Islanders.
GAME RECAP | Montreal Canadiens 4 vs New York Islanders 3 | FINAL
Canadiens Lineup
Forwards
22 Cole Caufield - 14 Nick Suzuki - 17 Josh Anderson
20 Juraj Slafkovsky - 91 Sean Monahan - 40 Joel Armia
70 Tanner Pearson - 71 Jake Evans - 11 Brendan Gallagher
55 Michael Pezzetta - 82 Lucas Condotta - 49 Rafael Harvey-Pinard
Defensemen
8 Mike Matheson - 21 Kaiden Guhle
47 Jayden Struble - 58 David Savard
72 Arber Xhekaj - 26 Johnathan Kovacevic
Goaltenders
Starter: 35 Sam Montembeault
Alternate: 34 Jake Allen
Out of the lineup
Scratches: Jesse Ylonen, Jordan Harris, Cayden Primeau
Injuries: Carey Price (knee), Chris Wideman (back), Kirby Dach (knee), Alex Newhook (lower body), Christian Dvorak (upper body)
Watch Along Livestream (replay)
Game Report
This was not a typical Thursday night game in late January.
It's not everyday that the Canadiens press room is packed for a visiting coach's media availability. Patrick Roy wanted to be treated as any other NHL head coach but that isn't possible in Montreal for the legendary goaltender.
Coach Roy received special permission from the Canadiens to access the Islanders' bench from Montreal's tunnel rather than crossing the ice prior to the game.
During the Canadian national anthem, the Canadiens played a montage of Patrick Roy, the player, on the Jumbotron. It was just one more example of it being a very special night, but also a very unusual night at the Bell Centre.
The Canadiens took advantage of the focus on Roy scoring three times in just over five minutes of play midway through the first period. Nick Suzuki and Sean Monahan each scored power play goals with Cole Caufield recording his 17th goal of the season.
The Islanders dominated the second period outshooting Montreal 18-7. Bo Horvat got New York on the board with a one-timer that beat Sam Montembeault while the Isles had a two-man advantage. Horvat had scored one minute earlier but referees rules that they had intended to blow the whistle before the puck crossed the goal line.
In the third period, Brendan Gallagher received a 5-minute major and a game misconduct for this high elbow to the head of Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech.
The penalty to Gallagher ignited a furious finish. The Islanders power play scored twice to tie the game. And just over a minute later, Monahan scored his second goal of the game.
Montreal ended a three-game losing streak. Gallagher will be hearing from the NHL's Department of Player Safety.
Game Statistics
Canadiens (19-21-7)
Shots: 26
Face-off %: 48.0
Power play: 2/5
Penalty minutes: 15
Hits: 22
Blocks:18
Islanders (20-16-11)
Shots: 46
Face-off %: 52.0
Power play: 3/8
Penalty minutes: 10
Hits: 14
Blocks: 10
Scoring Summary
Canadiens Scorers
1st period: Suzuki (13)-PPG, Caufield (17), Monahan (12)-PPG
2nd period: --
3rd period: Monahan (13)
OT: --
SO: --
Islanders Scorers
1st period: --
2nd period: Horvat (20)-PPG
3rd period: Barzal (13)-PPG, Palmieri (12)-PPG
OT: --
SO: --
Goaltenders
MTL: Montembeault (W) 11-7-4
NYI: Varlamov (L) 6-5-2
Canadiens Player of the Game
Sean Monahan - Monahan scored twice and added an assist. He led the team with five shots on goal.
Cole Caufield - Caufield scored a goal and assisted on the winning goal.
Video Highlights
Post-game Quotes
Patrick Roy
"I’d like to thank the Montreal Canadiens (fans) for [the ovation.] That was really nice of them, what they did. The fans were like usual: this is a good crowd, like in New York. They love their team and they want to support them and I'm thankful for that."
Martin St. Louis on whether he spoke to Brendan Gallagher
"No, I did not. I'll see him tomorrow and take a look at the video."
Up Next
The Canadiens will head to Pittsburgh before the All-Star break playing the Penguins on Saturday night.
Be sure to bookmark THN.com/Montreal for year-round coverage of the Montreal Canadiens, Laval Rocket, and Habs prospects playing in leagues around the world.
Gretzky Signature Series.