Sooner or later, it had to happen, and it did last night with a 5-3 loss in Habtown.

Sooner or later, it had to happen, and it did last night with a 5-3 loss in Habtown.

The New York Islanders' previously productive offense couldn't keep pace with an ersatz 40-minute opening two periods of flat hockey, and that was that.

What remained the same at Montreal's Bell Centre is the Orange and Blue's indomitability. Down Zip-four going into the third period, the lads rolled up their sleeves and got it to 3-4 but couldn't put another past goalie Sam Montembeault.

"If we had played the first forty minutes the way we played the last twenty," said coach Lane Lambert, "we'd be singing a different tune right now."  

Alas, the tune is "Am I Blue!"

Thanks to Brock Nelson -- two goals -- and Bo Horvat, with one more, for making a most thrilling comeback attempt.

Bo's point streak (7-9-16) has been extended to 10 games, a new career record. "He's feeling it," said captain Anders Lee. "Bo's playing great hockey." 

You have to love Horvat's consistent, continuous point production. His goal last night -- number 12 in the red light department -- along with 18 assists and 30 points -- makes the deal Lou Lamoriello made for him keep looking better by the game -- or streak, if you will.

The club is 14-8-7 this season, putting them third in the very crowded Met Division. Also, the Islanders have had points in 14 of their last 16 games (9-2-5), and 14 of those matches have been one-goal games.

Unfortunately, another solid road goaltending effort by Semyon Varlamov was wasted. The Reliable Russian faced 40 shots in a contest dominated by Montreal in the first two frames.

"Our goalie gave us a tremendous effort," added Lambert, "but we didn't give him a lot of help in the first forty minutes."

A good question is "Why no help?"

One explanation is fatigue. This was the second of back-to-back games after a toughie with the Bruins. Also, it was the seventh game in the last dozen nights. 

But defenseman Noah Dobson was not buying the "tired" alibi. Dobby had three assists, marking the third time he hit the trifecta of A's in his last nine games, something he's never accomplished before.

Dobson: "I don't think 'fatigue' is the reason we lost. The Canadiens played really well. The trouble was that we didn't get any traction until the third period."

By that time, the two late Montreal goals in the second period turned out to be the real killer dillers in the long run.

"Our last twenty-minute push just wasn't enough," Lee explained. "We have to learn that we can't have lapses like we had in the first forty minutes."

Looking ahead to Connor McDavid's visit to UBS Arena on Tuesday night with the revived Oilers, the local focus will be on the Elmonters response. Or, to be specific, shoring up the D while maintaining the O as in offense.

Surely, the good news is being provided by Nelson and his lamp-lighting. Nor could Brock's game analysis be disputed.

"We were sloppy and didn't generate much in the first two periods," he said. "We dug ourselves too big a hole and couldn't get out of it."

Truer words never were spoken; not even by The Maven!

But  the carny barker said it best, "Close, but no cigar!"