New York Islanders Strike on Power Plays, Montreal Canadiens Flip Game with 4-Goal Third

The New York Islanders left Bell Centre at 39-26 with 5 overtime losses and 83 points after a 7-3 loss, while the Montreal Canadiens improved to 38-21 with 10 overtime losses and 86 points. The Isles finished with 22 shots, 34 hits, and a 50 percent faceoff rate, while the Habs posted 36 shots and 25 hits in front of an announced attendance of 20962. This New York Islanders vs Montreal Canadiens match summary turns on special teams, with the Isles going 2-for-3 on the power play and the Canadiens going 3-for-4.

First period

The New York Islanders opened the scoring ledger with 2 goals in the first period, matching a physical tone with 34 total hits in the game. The Canadiens countered with 1 first-period goal while holding a narrow edge in shot volume that would finish at 36-22. The Isles received 1 assist from Mathew Barzal in the previous game, and that playmaking profile aligned with New York producing 3 assists in this matchup.

Second period

The New York Islanders were held without a goal in the second period, even with 18 even-strength shots on the night and 8 missed shots overall. The Canadiens added 2 second-period goals and leaned into a special-teams push that ended with 4 power-play opportunities. The Isles’ penalty count reached 7, and Montreal’s power play produced 3 goals on 8 shots.

Third period

The New York Islanders scored 1 goal in the third period, but the Canadiens produced 4 third-period goals to decide the outcome. The Isles’ special teams still accounted for 2 power-play goals on 4 shots, but Montreal’s even-strength attack generated 4 goals on 27 shots at 5-on-5. Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovský, and Kaiden Guhle were the named 3 stars as the Canadiens finished with 13 assists on 7 goals.

Postgame notes

The New York Islanders goaltending line showed 29 saves on 36 shots against, and Ilya Sorokin’s previous-game workload included 26 saves on 32 shots against. The Isles registered 20 blocked shot attempts and 11 giveaways, while the Canadiens recorded 18 blocked shots and 13 giveaways in a New York Islanders vs Montreal Canadiens result analysis. The New York Islanders full-time result also reflected discipline swings, with 30 penalty minutes assessed to the Isles and 28 to Montreal, alongside 2 misconducts for each team. For New York Islanders vs Montreal Canadiens final thoughts, track how the Isles’ 14 percent shooting rate compared with Montreal’s 19 percent mark.

The New York Islanders will be back at UBS Arena in Belmont Park on 3/22/2026 at 7:00 PM EDT against the Columbus Blue Jackets at 2150 Hempstead Turnpike, Belmont Park, NY 11003, with viewing on ESPN+, MSGSN, and FDSOH. Run it back by sharing this article with other Isles fans and dropping it in the group chat.