Islanders, Canadiens Meet in Key Eastern Conference Clash MONTREAL (Interstat) — Two teams jockeying for playoff position will meet when the New York Islanders visit the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night at Bell Centre. Both clubs enter with identical 32-win records, though the Canadiens (32-25-0) hold a slight edge in points with one fewer regulation loss than the Islanders (32-26-0). The matchup is the only scheduled meeting between the teams this season, adding stakes to the inter-divisional contest. The Islanders arrive after a long break, last playing a 3-1 road win over the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 5. Bo Horvat led the way with a goal and an assist, while goaltender Ilya Sorokin stopped 23 of 24 shots. New York’s form has been inconsistent, however, with a 4-5-1 record in its last 10 games, including a shutout loss to Buffalo and an overtime win over Pittsburgh. Montreal comes in riding momentum from a decisive 5-1 victory in Winnipeg on Feb. 4. Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher each recorded a goal and two assists in that win, and Samuel Montembeault made 36 saves. The Canadiens are 6-3-1 in their last 10, showcasing an explosive offense that has produced four or more goals in five of those games, including a seven-goal outburst against Colorado. A key battle will be in net, where Sorokin’s steady presence for New York contrasts with Montreal’s high-scoring attack. The Islanders will also need to contain Montreal’s top line, which has found chemistry recently. This game opens a critical two-game road trip for the Islanders before returning home. Montreal begins a three-game homestand, facing Washington next. With the playoff race tightening, both teams view this as a crucial opportunity to secure points. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.