First line snaps losing streak.

The Montreal Canadiens have finally managed to win a second game in a row since a long time, finally snapping the long home drought at the Bell centre to 6 straight losses.

All thanks to the Habs newly tweaked first line. Final score: Montreal Canadiens 4 - Toronto Maple Leafs 1.

Saku Koivu, Christopher Higgins and the newcomer from the Hamilton Bulldogs, Sergei Kostitsyn, worked together for a second game in a row and created enough turmoil around the Leafs net to put the Habs ahead, and eventually by 4-0 during the third period when Alex Kovalev scored his team leading 14th goal of the season.

Yesterday, Koivu has given the fans 2 goals to finally break out of a long slump, Christopher Higgins continued on his steady contribution, getting a helper on both Koivu goals. A mention to the young Sergei Kostitsyn with his first NHL point at his second game in his NHL career.

The coming of Sergei Kostitsyn maybe woke up his older brother this week, Andrei raked in a goal and an assist at the Leafs expense yesterday. Rookie goaltender Carey Price lost his first career shutout late in the third, when he missed a screened shot from Boyd Devereaux that went in his net.

So now the addition in the Habs lineup of what seemed to be the most talented prospects made the wheel turn in the good direction for two straight games. Will it last? Next up are the Florida Panthers coming at the Bell centre in Montreal before the Canadiens go on the road for 6 straight games to end 2007.

(Picture: Saku Koivu, Christopher Higgins, Sergei Kostitsyn, Canadian Press.)