NEW YORK (Reuters) — Erik Cole scored three goals and added an assist in leading the Carolina Hurricanes to an 8-2 pounding of the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Center on Tuesday.

Eric Staal added two goals and an assist for the streaking Hurricanes, who won their fifth straight game and 14th in their last 15 games.

Carolina now has 78 points, the most in the NHL, and will be boosted by veteran forward Doug Weight who was acquired from the St. Louis Blues on Monday.

Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette was happy with the win, but cautioned against his team getting overconfident as the final third of the season began.

“There just won’t be an easy games from here on out,” Laviolette told reporters after the game.

The Hurricanes chased struggling Montreal goaltender Jose Theodore from the net by scoring five goals on just 10 shots, with the keeper leaving after allowing Cole’s third goal of the game 5:23 into the second period, giving Carolina a 5-2 lead.

Theodore has been pulled three times in his past four starts and has allowed 18 goals on just 63 shots in those four games.

Cristobel Huet replaced Theodore, but he allowed three more goals in the third period on 10 shots as home fans booed the Canadiens lustily late in the game.

“He’s (Theodore) been a great goaltender in the past, I don’t think it’s gone,” Laviolette added.

Montreal is now 4-5 with general manager Bob Gainey behind the bench and has lost five of its last seven after returning home from a 2-4 road trip.

Gainey replaced the fired Claude Julien three weeks ago.