Rested Canadiens Defeat Islanders : NHL playoffs: Less than two days after New York’s upset of the Penguins, Montreal ends the celebration with its ninth playoff victory in a row.

The Canadiens sent the New York Islanders a stern message Sunday: Beating the Pittsburgh Penguins is nice, but it counts for nothing now.

The Canadiens, barely giving New York time to celebrate its victory over the two-time champions, defeated the listless Islanders, 4-1, in the opener of the Wales Conference finals.

It was Montreal’s ninth consecutive playoff victory, matching a club record set in 1978.

“When you think of nine in a row you think of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who just walk through teams,” Montreal center Kirk Muller said. “We’ve had to work hard for every win, and I guess that’s why it doesn’t feel like it.”

Pittsburgh and Chicago set the NHL record last year, each with 11 victories in a row. The Penguins extended their streak to 14 by winning their first three postseason games this spring.

Montreal, backed by John LeClair’s first two goals of the playoffs, will meet the Islanders in Game 2 of the best-of-seven series Tuesday night at the Forum.

The Islanders had only 38 hours’ rest after their Game 7 overtime victory over the Penguins in the Patrick Division final. The Canadiens were fresh from a week’s rest since sweeping Buffalo in the Adams final.

“We didn’t let ourselves get fooled by the fact that we weren’t playing Pittsburgh,” said LeClair, who was shut out in his first 10 playoff games.

“It was a little important to score,” he added. “I went 10 games without a goal, and it was starting to get to me.”

Gilbert Dionne scored during the first period, and LeClair and Brian Bellows had second-period goals for Montreal. LeClair got another during the third before New York’s Ray Ferraro, with his 13th of the playoffs, ended Patrick Roy’s shutout bid with 1:07 to play.

Islander goaltender Glenn Healy, the hero of the Pittsburgh upset, was replaced by Mark Fitzpatrick to start the third period although he didn’t play poorly in giving up three goals on 21 shots.