Max Pacioretty notched a hat trick and Scott Gomez scored his first goal in more than a year as the Montreal Canadiens fended off the host New York Islanders 4-2 Thursday night.

Pacioretty's 20th goal of the season opened the scoring 1:23 into the game, and his 21st came midway through the second session. David Desharnais centered a pass from the side boards right to Pacioretty, who whistled a shot from between the circles that beat Evgeni Nabokov down low.

With the Canadiens on a power play midway through the third period, Gomez waited for a loose puck near the side boards, then one-timed it past Nabokov for his first tally in 53 games dating back to Feb. 5, 2011.

All-Star Carey Price handled things at the other end, turning aside 31 shots to improve to 4-1-2 lifetime against New York.

Goals from Matt Moulson and captain Mark Streit 48 seconds apart made it a one-goal game with 1:53 remaining, but Pacioretty iced things with an empty-netter with one second left.

Nabokov made 28 saves for the Islanders, who lost in regulation for just the second time in 11 games.