MONTREAL _ It was a magical homecoming for Anthony Beauvillier, scoring a goal in his first game in the Bell Centre.
The Islanders didn't need any parlor tricks to pull out a 3-0 win over the Canadiens, however. That was old-fashioned hard work and desperation, the sort that has driven the Islanders into a playoff position and now kept them there for another few days.
Beauvillier's goal got the Islanders in front early, Anders Lee's goal in the second gave them a cushion and Thomas Greiss made 24 saves as the Canadiens tried everything to get on the board _ the home side had two goals waved off within a 56-second span in the third period.
John Tavares finished the game off by hitting an empty-net goal with 58.8 seconds to go to give the Islanders consecutive road victories for the first time this season.
Armed with a two-goal lead entering the third, the Islanders tried to keep their game as simple as possible. They dodged a problem at 6:50 when Shea Weber's point shot was tipped in by either Paul Byron or Tomas Plekanec, but referee Wes McCauley immediately waved off the goal due to a high stick.
Video review confirmed the call, as both Canadiens forwards' sticks were above the crossbar.
Just 56 seconds later the refs denied another apparent Canadiens goal when Artturi Lehkonen quite clearly punched a rebound over the line with his glove. Francis Charron, the other referee, quickly waved that one off and no review was necessary.
The Islanders were on their heels at the start of the second period, understandable given how well they controlled the majority of the first. Greiss, who was aggressive on the Canadiens' long-range shooters all night, came out to snare a blast from Jeff Petry five minutes in after a ragged shift by the Islanders in the defensive zone.
Soon after that stop, the Islanders pounced on a rare chance in that early part of the second to extend their lead. Josh Bailey received a pass from Lee at the Canadiens' blue line, drew three or four Canadiens' attention and lifted a perfect, gentle saucer pass behind everyone for Lee streaking to the net.
Lee made a quick move and chipped a shot over Carey Price for Lee's 23rd of the season and a 2-0 lead at 5:58, with Bailey's 30th assist tying a career high and 42nd point setting a personal best.
Beauvillier drove much of what the Islanders did over the rest of the second. The 19-year-old surely knew that Thursday would be a special night, with so many friends and family on hand to see him play in the city just an hour from his hometown of Sorel-Tracy.
He popped into the high slot for two shots that Price turned aside a few minutes after Lee's goal and mixed it up with Alex Galchenyuk after a whistle.
Beauvillier's goal will be one he'll remember for a long time. He flashed off the left boards to receive Brock Nelson's pass and snapped a shot short side past Price, certainly one of the Canadiens that Beauvillier watched and idolized growing up nearby.
That goal 5:28 into the game gave the Islanders a deserved lead that they held to the first-period horn, marking the first time in the last 13 games the Isles hadn't allowed a goal in the opening 20 minutes. Greiss made two key stops on Weber during a Canadiens' power play, but those were the only real threats from the home side as the Isles outshot the Canadiens 13-8 in the first.
