MONTREAL - Alex Kovalev had his second straight two-goal game as Montreal scored five unanswered goals during the second period to beat New York.

Kovalev keyed the outburst with a pair of power-play goals.

The Canadiens moved into a tie with Tampa Bay, which lost, for seventh place in the Eastern Conference with 86 points.

First period - 1, NYR, Nylander 24 (Shanahan, Rozsival), 11:55 (pp). 2, NYR, Mara 5, 19:15. Penalties - Latendresse, Mon (hooking), 2:44; Koivu, Mon (slashing), 10:34; Komisarek, Mon (hooking), 11:14

Second period - 3, Mon, Kovalev 17 (Koivu), 2:17 (pp). 4, Mon, Begin 5 (Bonk), 2:49. 5, Mon, Ryder 26 (Koivu, Streit), 4:36. 6, Mon, Plekanec 20 (Kostitsyn, Komisarek), 9:47. 7, Mon, Kovalev 18 (Koivu, Markov), 14:09 (pp). Penalties - Orr, NYR (holding), :34; Bonk, Mon (cross-checking), 11:21; Prucha, NYR (hooking), 12:48; Souray, Mon (holding), 15:45; Shanahan, NYR (roughing), 17:44; Avery, NYR (roughing), 17:44; Komisarek, Mon (roughing), 17:44; Markov, Mon (roughing), 17:44; Mara, NYR (hooking), 17:59; Cullen, NYR (slashing), 18:35; Ryder, Mon (hooking), 19:51.

Third period - 8, NYR, Pock 3 (Shanahan, Straka), 6:23. 9, NYR, Malik 2 (Cullen), 7:38. 10, Mon, Streit 9 (Koivu, Markov), 13:03. Penalties - Rozsival, NYR (slashing), 14:06; Begin, Mon (slashing), 14:06.

Shots - NYR 12-9-11 - 32. Mon 8-12-5 - 25. Power plays - NYR 1 of 6; Mon 2 of 5. Goalies - NYR, Lundqvist (15 shots-11 saves), Valiquette 1-2-0 (9:47 second, 10-8). Mon, Halak 8-4-0 (32-28). A - 21,273 (21,273). T - 2:39. Referees - Stephane Auger, Paul Devorski. Linesmen - Pierre Champoux, Michel Cormier.