NHL: Montreal 5, Los Angeles 2

LOS ANGELES, March 8 (UPI) -- Guillaume Latendresse had a goal and an assist Saturday to help Montreal beat the Los Angeles Kings 5-2.

After a scoreless first period, Latendresse scored his 15th goal this season in a three-goal second. His assist came at 18:07 of the third when Tom Kostopoulos' fifth (empty net) capped the scoring.

Patrice Brisebois, Saku Koivu and Andrei Kostitsyn also scored. Roman Hamrlik had two assists and Tomas Plekanec one.

Jaroslav Halak stopped 35 of 37 shots for the Canadiens, who have won five of their last six games.

Los Angeles got one goal apiece from Anze Kopitar and Rob Blake. Kopitar also had one assist.

Erik Ersberg was beaten four times on 22 shots for the Kings, who have won just twice in their last 10 games and are out of the Western Conference playoff chase.

Montreal made its first trip to Los Angeles since March 6, 2004, and Plekanec extended his point streak to five straight games.