Cole scores 3 goals in first 5:41 for Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens' Erik Cole celebrates with Rene Bourque after scoring against the Ottawa Senators during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal on Friday, March 23, 2012. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Graham Hughes)

March 23, 2012

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MONTREAL—Erik Cole scored three goals in the first 5:41 and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Ottawa Senators 5-1 on Friday night.

Cole has 30 goals this season. Patteri Nokelainen also scored in the first period, and Lars Eller added one in the third for Montreal, 4-0-2 against Ottawa.

Jason Spezza, playing his 600th NHL game, scored for Ottawa to reach 30 goals for the fourth time in his career and the first time since 2008-09.

Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson, returning after missing 12 games because of a finger cut, was pulled at the 4:56 mark of the first in favor of Ben Bishop, but was back in to start the second period.

The Senators, 1-3-2 in their last six games, are seventh in the Eastern Conference, two points ahead of Washington and Buffalo

Cole scored on the first shot on Anderson, who had a routine shot go off his glove and into the net only 29 seconds in. Cole then scored off P.K. Subban's rebound to chase Anderson.

Cole completed the hat track at 5:41 against Bishop.

Notes: Montreal defenseman Yannick Weber left after the first period because of a lower-body injury. ... Bishop had made the last seven straight starts for Ottawa. ... Spezza has 608 career points.