NHL: Montreal 6, Toronto 2

TORONTO, April 4 (UPI) -- A goal and three assists for Alexei Kovalev Saturday led the Montreal Canadiens to a 6-2 rout of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Montreal improved to 5

Kovalev's 24th goal of the season (power play) and gave Montreal a 1-0 lead at 6:11 of the first period. He assisted on goals by Alex Tanguay in the second, and Maxim Lapierre (power play) and Josh Gorges power play) in the third.

Roman Hamrlik had two assists, while Jaroslav Halak, playing for the flu-ridden Carey Price, made 34 saves on 36 shots for the Canadiens, who remained a point behind Pittsburgh (93-92) in the battle for the sixth playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.

Toronto got one goal apiece from John Mitchell and Boyd Devereaux. Martin Gerber was beaten six times on 33 shots for the Maple Leafs, who are out of the playoff picture.