Canadiens' Max Pacioretty scores against Islanders goalie Martin Biron as teammate Radek Martinek looks on Thursday night. Phil Carpenter, The Gazette

Jaroslav Halak will be back in goal Thursday night for the Canadiens when they face the New York Islanders at the Bell Centre. Halak is coming off a

Canadiens' Mathieu Dandenault looks for a rebound from Islanders goalie Yann Danis Thursday night. Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

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Sergei Kostitsyn after having been run over by Chicago's Aaron Johnson.
John Mahoney, Gazette

The Gazette's Herb Zurkowsky reports, without bitterness, that the media outnumbered the players on the

Canadiens defenceman Mike Komisarek brings down Islanders' Andy Hilbert Thursday night at the Bell Centre. THE GAZETTE/ Pierre Obendrauf

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Canadiens' Alex Tanguay can't get a handle on a loose puck behind Islanders goaltender Joey MacDonald during first period at the Bell Centre Monday. THE GAZETTE/Dave Sidaway

Updated by Kevin

Canadiens' Alex Kovalev celebrates his second goal of the game, the game-winner in the third period, with teammates Tomas Plekanec (left) and Mike Komisarek.
Shannon Stapleton, Reuters

Audio:

Are the Canadiens that good? Or are the Islanders lousy?

The first question will be answered, to some degree, tomorrow night in Buffalo, where the Canadiens begin a home-and-home.

Prospects

Okay, the Islanders fired 44 shots at Cristobal Huet.

But he stopped 43 of them, and by the time Mike Comrie spoiled the shutout bid, this W was in