NHL: Toronto 5, Montreal 2

MONTREAL, March 21 (UPI) -- The Toronto Maple Leafs, led by Alexei Ponikarovsky's two goals and two assists Saturday, recorded a 5-2 win over the slumping Montreal Canadiens.

Ponikarovsky scored his 20th and 21st goals in the second period, one on the power play, and assisted on first period goals by Nikolai Kulemin and Mikhail Grabovski.

Jason Blake scored his 25th goal of the season on the power play at 4:21 of the third. Grabovski added three assists and Martin Gerber made 26 saves on 28 shots for the Maple Leafs, who have won three of their last four games.

Montreal got two goals from Maxim Lapierre in the second period. Jaroslav Halak was beaten five times on 37 shots for the Canadiens, who have lost five in a row and seven of nine overall.

The losing streak has dropped Montreal down to the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference playoff chase. With 81 points, they hold a one-point lead over Florida, which lost 3-1 to Columbus Saturday.