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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
MONTREAL (AP) -- The Montreal Canadiens are getting reacquainted
with winning.
|  | | Curtis Joseph continues his anti-Calgary magic, redirecting a shot by Jason Wiemer out of harm's way. |
Brian Savage had his sixth career hat trick, combining with linemates Martin Rucinsky and Trevor Linden to account for all of
Montreal's offense, as the Canadiens extended their home winning streak to four games by beating the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2 Saturday night.
"We're unbeaten at home and that's the way it should be," Rucinsky said. "This is our building and our fans, and we want to please them. Obviously they're behind us and we want to keep it that way."
Montreal's record is above .500 (4-3-1) for the first time since
Nov. 9, 1998, when it opened the season 6-5-2.
The Canadiens have missed the playoffs two straight years, the first time the team has had such a drought since 1922.
"The net was like a golf hole the past few games and it's nice to break out of it at home," said Savage, who had two assists. "Finally, we're starting to win."
He completed his first hat trick since Oct. 14, 1999, at Philadelphia, by scoring his fifth goal of the season into an empty net with 55 seconds left on a pass from Rucinsky, who had a goal and four assists.
"I played with Trevor, but Savy didn't play with us at all last year," Rucinsky said. "It seems that as the season goes on we're getting more comfortable with each other. We're able to find each other on the ice and we click together."
Canadiens goalie Jose Theodore stopped 17 shots to give him wins in both starts this season.
Martin Gelinas scored his third goal 4:56 into the first and Shane Willis scored his second on the power play at 8:54 of the second for the Hurricanes. Center Josef Vasicek assisted on both goals.
With the game tied 2-2, Linden, who assisted on Rucinsky's goal in the first and Savage's first two goals, came out from behind Carolina's net and shot a rebound into traffic through Hurricanes goalie Arturs Irbe's legs at 19:48 of the second.
Savage added his second goal on a blistering slap shot past Irbe from just inside Carolina's blue line 5:36 into the third after he received a pass from Rucinsky, which was redirected off Linden's stick.
"Those are three quality players," Gelinas said. "I had a chance to play with Trevor (in Vancouver) for many years. He's a strong, talented player. I don't think he's been playing to his potential since he's been in Montreal, but now he's playing well -- he's playing with some great players."
Game notes
Carolina recalled defensemen Mike Rucinski and Greg Kuznik
from Cincinnati of the IHL. Rucinski, who had three assists in six
games for the Stingers this season, made his first NHL start since
the 1998-99 season, while Kuznik made his NHL debut. ... Canadiens
forward Jim Campbell returned to the lineup after missing
Thursday's 3-3 tie in Philadelphia due to a slight concussion from
two nights earlier.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Carolina Clubhouse
Montreal Clubhouse
RECAPS
Toronto 2
Calgary 1
Montreal 5
Carolina 2
Atlanta 6
Ottawa 6
Anaheim 4
Philadelphia 3
NY Islanders 4
Washington 4
Detroit 5
Buffalo 4
New Jersey 7
Tampa Bay 2
Pittsburgh 5
Columbus 2
Dallas 4
Los Angeles 3
San Jose 5
Nashville 3
St. Louis 1
Chicago 0
Phoenix 3
Vancouver 2
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