Montreal – The Montreal Canadiens claimed at least a point in each of the first 18 games they led through two periods this season.
Then along came Trent Hunter and the New York Islanders.
Hunter scored his second goal of the third period with 8:34 remaining Saturday, and Miroslav Satan added his second goal of the game moments later for New York’s third goal of the period to send the Islanders to a 4-2 victory over Montreal.
The Canadiens, who led 2-1 after the second period, had gone 16-0-2 this season when they led after two periods.
The Islanders have recorded points in a season-high six consecutive games (4-0-2).
“That was a good effort by everybody,” said Rick DiPietro, who stopped 28 shots for the Islanders. “I think we played a smart game and limited our mistakes, and when you do that you’re going to give yourself a chance to win every night.”
Hunter extended his points streak to six games with a power-play goal 1:35 into the third period that tied the game at 2. He put the Islanders ahead 3-2 midway through the period with his second goal in just less than 10 minutes, his fifth goal in five games.
“They feel good any time they go in the net,” Hunter said. “I’ve had some pucks going in for me lately. Sometimes you just go in those stretches where everything you shoot goes in.”
Satan scored his second of the game at 13:11 to put the Islanders up by two.
Radek Bonk and Mark Streit scored for Montreal, 3-1-1 in its previous five games.
