ABSTRACT:

Canadiens 3, Islanders 2

MONTREAL – On the surprising day the Islanders gave up on Bryan Berard and goalie Tommy Salo, GM/coach, Mike Milbury believes he solidified the franchise’s goaltending situation for the next several years.

After shopping the 1996-97 Calder Trophy winner for weeks, Milbury yesterday finally dealt Berard to the Maple Leafs for exiled goalie Felix Potvin in a move that spells the end of Salo’s roller-coaster Islander career.

As for Salo, eve though the Isles hired his mentor, Stefan Lunner, as goaltending coach over the summer, the scouting staff didn’t feel Salo was ever going to become an elite goalie. Or at least as elite as Potvin, whom assistant Lorne Henning said in perhaps an overstatement “is among the top five goalies in the league.”