NHL: Montreal 7, Carolina 2

MONTREAL, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Tomas Plekanec sparked a potent Montreal offense Saturday, scoring a goal and assisting on three others in the Canadiens' 7-2 rout of Carolina.

Brian Gionta, Mike Cammaleri and Andrei Kostitsyn each contributed a goal and assist in the blowout, Montreal's third straight win and fourth in its last five games.

Maxim Lapierre, Benoit Pouliot and Mathieu Darche added scores and Carey Price stopped 28 shots to earn the victory -- the Canadiens' first regulation-time home win over the Hurricanes since 2003.

Carolina got goals from Anton Babchuk and Tom Kostopoulos in the defeat.

Goalie Cam Ward was chased from the nets after yielding four goals on 22 shots.