UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Al Montoya made 35 saves in his first NHL start in nearly two years, and Matt Moulson scored twice against his brother-in-law, Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick, in the New York Islanders' 3-0 victory Saturday night.
Frans Nielsen also scored for New York, which has won six of the 10 games it has played in February.
Montoya was sharp, making 28 saves in the final two periods, for his second career shutout in his first start in the NHL since April 9, 2009, while with Phoenix.
Los Angeles lost in regulation for the first time in nine games (5-1-3) during its 10-game road trip, which concludes Wednesday at Anaheim.
Nielsen opened the scoring with a short-handed goal 5:01 into the first period. Michael Grabner intercepted Jack Johnson's pass attempt to Drew Doughty and sped up the right-wing boards before feeding Nielsen for the quick snap shot in the high slot that beat Quick — who was screened by Johnson on the play.
Grabner, who won the NHL's fastest man competition during the All-Star weekend, used his speed to create a power play for the Islanders when he forced Alec Martinez to take a holding penalty in order to prevent a breakaway 1:33 later.
Moulson snapped a shot over Quick's glove 6:54 into the second period to increase the Islanders' lead to 2-0. The wives of Moulson and Quick are sisters, and Moulson got some more family bragging rights with 6:20 remaining when he made it 3-0 with a shot over Quick's stick.
John Tavares recorded an assists on both of Moulson's goals, giving him 51 points this season. He finished his rookie year with 54 points.
Montoya, a former sixth overall pick in the 2004 draft by the Rangers, benefited from strong defensive zone play from Travis Hamonic.
Hamonic was matched up against former Islanders forward Ryan Smyth and Anze Kopitar for much of the game.
Quick stopped 20 of 23 shots.
Notes: The Islanders lost 5-1 at Los Angeles on Nov. 13, Scott Gordon's last game as New York's coach before being replaced by Jack Capuano. ... Smyth was booed each time he touched the puck. The Islanders acquired Smyth in a trade in 2007, and was instrumental in the organization reaching the playoffs that spring, as he recorded 15 points in 18 regular-season games. However, he eschewed re-signing with the organization that summer, deciding to accept a five-year, $31.25 offer with Colorado. ... The attendance was announced as 13,119. It was tied for the fourth-largest crowd at the Coliseum this season.
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