It wasn’t quite as emotional as when Ranger hero Eddie Giacomin made his first visit back to the Garden in 1975.

In fact, former Islanders captain Trevor Linden didn’t seem emotional at all about making his initial return to the Coliseum last night since being dealt to the Canadiens in May for the No. 10 pick in the draft (Branislav Mezei).

“I wasn’t here that long,” Linden said before last night before the Eastern Conference’s two worst teams faced each other. “But it’s good to see people from the organization and the training staff.”

Having come to the Isles from Vancouver in Feb. ’98, Linden, a center, was part of the Islanders’ salary-dump this summer, which also included getting rid of Ziggy Palffy and Bryan Smolinski. Never mind that the trio happened to be the club’s top three point-scorers last season.

As of now, though, the Isles don’t appear to have regretted their decision to dish Linden out of Long Island. Especially since Linden was without a goal in his first 12 games of the season, until he finally scored Wednesday night against the Devils.

“It was a tough first month,” said Linden, who had 18 goals and 29 assists in 82 games for the Islanders last season.

Still, Linden said he has fallen for his new city, which is a little more happening than Uniondale. He said he lives in the desirable Old Montreal section of town.

“It’s a good city and a real hockey atmosphere,” he said.

As for being traded from the Islanders, Linden said, “I don’t look at it as being lucky I enjoyed living this part of the world and I really enjoyed my time here.”

But he has quickly grown comfortable at the luxurious Molson Centre, a major upgrade from the crumbling Coliseum.

“The amenities are nice,” he said.

Linden, one of five Canadiens to have played for the Islanders (Jeff Hackett, Barry Richter, Scott Lachance and Vladimir Malakhov), has confidence in his former team eventually getting its act together.

“There’s some exciting things going on here,” he said.

With a goal against the Rangers Wednesday – his third – center Mats Lindgren was back on the first line last night. Lindgren and Chris Ferraro have been practically alternating on the first-line, as coach Butch Goring can’t make up his mind whom he wants there.

“It’s a little up and down,” said Lindgren, who missed training camp in a contract dispute. “I would like to stay there for sure. It’s something you have to work at and play well enough to stay at that line.”

Goring raved about the play of 6-9 defenseman Zdeno Chara, who scored the game-tying goal and had 17 hits against the Rangers.

“He had an unbelievable game,” Goring gushed. “He was a horse out there. He’s really played well [this season]. He’s made great advancement.”

Goring predicted that RW Mark Lawrence would score his first goal of the season last night.

“He’s been as frustrated as anyone,” Goring said.

Isles beat Habs 4-2 Oct. 18, their lone road win this season.