Islanders edge Canadiens, end 4-game skid

ELMONT, N.Y. -- The New York Islanders ended a four-game losing streak with a 2-1 win against the Montreal Canadiens at UBS Arena on Saturday.

Casey Cizikas and Anthony Beauvillier scored, and Ilya Sorokin made 22 saves for New York (23-18-3), which was 0-3-1 during the skid.
"It was big," Beauvillier said. "We felt like we could have [had] a couple more points in the last few games. It's hockey. It happens. Tonight, I thought we did the right [things]. I mean, we showed character, especially after their goal, and we had a great first period to get a couple goals. And like I said, I felt like everyone was on top of the puck, and everyone was dialed in."

Nick Suzuki scored, and Sam Montembeault made 36 saves for Montreal (17-23-3), which has lost two of three.
"Could we have started better? For sure," Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. "If you're asking me if I was as disappointed as the first period of the Seattle game (a 4-0 loss on Monday)? No."
Cizikas gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead at 2:25 of the first period when he redirected Noah Dobson's shot from the right point.
Beauvillier made it 2-0 at 6:03, scoring on a rebound in front.
"The start was really good," Islanders coach Lane Lambert said. "I thought we came out and established territory. I thought really all night long we tried to generate shots and get shots to the net and create quite a few opportunities. I did like our response when they scored. We kept pushing forward. So full marks to our guys for the win."

Suzuki cut it to 2-1 at 9:56 of the third period with a lunging backhand in front after he got the puck around Scott Mayfield in the slot.
New York outshot Montreal 38-23 and held a 75-46 advantage in total attempts.
"It really was an emphasis tonight," Islanders captain Anders Lee said. "Our puck management was an emphasis. Things that keep us in control of more of the game, when we can get the puck deep and use our forecheck -- it's one of the things we do really well -- and create offense from that. And because of that, we were able to get some [offensive] zone time and bring the puck to the net."

Canadiens center Jake Evans left the game with a lower-body injury at the end of the first period.
"Hopefully it's not serious," St. Louis said. "I'm not sure yet the diagnosis."
NOTES:Sorokin has allowed seven goals on 149 shots (.953 save percentage) in his past six home starts. … Defenseman Alexander Romanov was playing his first game against the Canadiens since he was traded to the Islanders on July 7. He had two shots, three hits and one block in 19:27 of ice time.