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Wednesday, Jan. 19 7:30pm ET
Canadiens' Theodore blanks Islanders | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
MONTREAL (AP) -- In a matchup of young goalies, Jose Theodore showed Roberto Luongo that he still has a lot to learn. Theodore made 23 saves Wednesday night to propel the Montreal Canadiens to a 3-0 shutout of the New York Islanders. The win extended Montreal's unbeaten string to four games and spoiled Luongo's hometown debut. The Islanders' 20-year-old rookie goalie made 21 saves in the loss. "I was looking forward to this for a little while," said Luongo, the highest-drafted goalie in NHL history, No. 4 overall. "It's an experience, and I'm happy I lived it -- but it's unfortunate we lost." Theodore, 23, faced few tough scoring chances, but also didn't make any mistakes. "He made three big saves in the third," Canadiens coach Alain Vigneault said. "If they make it 2-1 there, it's a different game." Theodore has been in goal for Montreal's four-game unbeaten streak, which began when he shut out Detroit on Jan. 11. "It's harder to keep your concentration when you don't face a lot of shots," Theodore said. "They did have a few good scoring chances in the third period, and I was ready." The Canadiens' first goal came barely three minutes in, when the Islanders allowed Dainius Zubrus to rush down the ice undisturbed and shovel a pass to Arron Asham in the slot. Asham faked Luongo to his right and tucked the puck through the sliding goalie's legs for his third goal. That stood until 15:18 of the second when Trent McCleary took advantage of a flubbed clearing attempt to score his first goal in three years and only his eighth in 190 NHL games. "Scoring's not my job," McCleary said. "I accept that role (as a checker), but it's nice to get out of the bottom of the scoresheet for a change." Shayne Corson added his third goal with 2:25 left. The cellar-dwelling Islanders entered the game tied with Montreal for fewest goals scored in the NHL at 96 and put little pressure on Theodore. "Roberto played well for us tonight, but we hung him out there by himself," Islanders defenseman Kenny Jonsson said. "He had no help at all from us -- we couldn't score for him." | ALSO SEE NHL Scoreboard NY Islanders Clubhouse Montreal Clubhouse RECAPS Boston 4 Atlanta 3
Montreal 3
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