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Max Pacioretty scored a goal in each period of Thursday night's game against the New York Islanders, leading the Montreal Canadiens to a 4-2 victory. Evgeni Nabokov wasn't nearly as sharp as he was Tuesday night when he turned back 45 shots in a shutout of the Philadelphia Flyers. He was tested 32 times Thursday.
The Islanders could not find the net until there were under three minutes to go in regulation. Matt Moulson and Mark Streit scored twice in a span of 48 second to give New York a sliver of hope down 3-2 with 1:53 left to play. Pacioretty capped the hat trick one second before the final buzzer sounded off an assist from Tomas Plekanec, however.
With the win, the Habs moved one game ahead of the Isles in the Eastern Conference standings. Montreal is still nine games out of a playoff spot, however.
For more on the Islanders, head over to the SB Nation blog Lighthouse Hockey.