NHL: Montreal 5, Toronto 1

MONTREAL, March 23 (UPI) -- Christopher Higgins and Mathieu Dandenault scored 12 seconds apart in the first period Thursday night, starting Montreal on its way to a 5-1 win over Toronto.

Montreal stayed one point behind Atlanta in the chase for the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot.

Higgins scored on a wrist shot at the 4:35 mark and, after Montreal won the ensuing face-off, Dandenault put a slap shot past Toronto goalie Mikael Tellqvist.

Sheldon Souray and Alexei Kovalev added first-period goals for the Canadiens.

Toronto's only goal came on the power play from Jeff O'Neil in the second.