The Montreal Canadiens exploded out of a five-game losing streak to beat division rivals Ottawa 6-2 Tuesday and give interim coach Randy Cunneyworth his first taste of success. Cunneyworth, who replaced the fired Jacques Martin, had lost his first four games in charge but watched Montreal's offense come alive Tuesday as it rebounded from Zack Smith's goal to score five in a row and grab the game by the throat. Lars Eller, Tomas Plekanec and Michael Cammalleri scored in the first period to make it 3-1 before Louis Leblanc and P.K. Subban found the net in the second to pad the lead further. Ottawa's Jason Spezza reduced the deficit to 5-2 in the second before Erik Cole scored the Canadiens' sixth in the third period. Goaltender Carey Price made 33 saves for the Canadiens (14-16-7). The win moved the last place Canadiens (14-16-7) within four points of Ottawa (17-15-5) in the Northeast. Milan Michalek, out since Dec. 13 with an injury, returned to the Senators line-up and had an assist. Michalek led the NHL with 19 goals before sustaining a concussion two weeks ago. Other results: Pittsburgh 4, Carolina 2; Calgary 2, Columbus 1 (SO); Tampa bay 5, Philadelphia 1; Florida 5, Toronto 3; Detroit 3, St Louis 2; Winnipeg 4, Colorado 1. Concussions sideline players A concussion epidemic continues to plague the National Hockey League with Los Angeles Kings forward Simon Gagne, Nashville Predators' Shea Weber and Toronto Maple Leafs' John-Michael Liles all placed on injured reserve. Weber, considered one of the NHL's top defencemen, took a hard hit from Mark Fistric of the Dallas Stars in a game Friday and did not play Monday against the Detroit Red Wings. Weber leads the Predators with 21 assists and also has eight goals. Concussions continue to be a source of concern for the NHL with many of the game's best players, including Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, sidelined with concussion-like symptoms.
