Tkachuk Leaves Game-Coyotes Tie
Another late goal, another lost point for the Montreal Canadiens.
"It's like someone is testing our will, our character," goaltender Jeff Hackett said Monday night after Teppo Numminen's long shot with 1:53 left in the third period gave the Phoenix Coyotes a 2-2 tie.
"It's unbelievable. But we'll stick together. If we keep playing hard like this, we're going to get some wins."
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The Coyotes, first overall in the NHL, tied the game twice in the final 5:07 to stretch their latest unbeaten streak to five games and leave the struggling Canadiens winless in seven games.
"It's nice to get the tie even though they outplayed us in the first period," said Coyotes forward Rick Tocchet. "They were forechecking."
"They're a desperate hockey team and a lot of their star players were out, so you have to give them credit."
For the fourth time in six games, the Canadiens gave up goals late in the third period to lose or tie games they could have won.
"The hockey gods are not with us," said coach Alain Vigneault, whose team is falling out of the Eastern Conference playoff race. "I know people are aware we're not winning. "
"But I know management, the coaches and the players have their heads up high. We're
working our way out of this. We'd like some support, but if we don't get it, we'll still keep working at it. If we keep up like this, the hockey gods will reward us." 
Montreal's Craig Rivet had a falling out with Rick Tocchet during the first period. (AP)
Phoenix rookie Daniel Briere tied the score at 1-1 at 14:53 of the third period only to see Benoit Brunet put Montreal back in front at 17:13.
Numminen's shot from the point with Brad Isbister looking for a deflection in front sailed between Hackett's pads for the tie.
"It dropped three feet," said Hackett.
Worrisome for Phoenix was that scoring leader Keith Tkachuk left in the second period after aggravating a groin injury he originally picked up in Edmonton two weeks ago.
It was not immediately known how serious the injury was.
"I'll see how it feels (Tuesday)," Tkachuk said. "It's been like this for a while and it's just not getting any better. I can't play full-out right now and that's no good. I'm playing (badly)."
Saku Koivu scored in the second period for Montreal, which has only two wins in its last 16 games.
Koivu came off the bench to take Jonas Hoglund's pass, got around Gerald Diduck and beat Nikolai Khabibulin at 10:06 of the second period. It was Koivu's first goal in seven games.
Briere then scored on a rebound after Oleg Tverdovsky broke down the right side and rang a shot off the post.
Brunet was left alone in front to score his third goal in the last three games before Numminen tied it with his fifth of the season.
The Canadiens outshot the Coyotes 35-31 in a game in which both teams had a goal called back after video replay because they had a man in the crease.
The Canadiens were without three key players, as former NHL ironman Mark Recchi missed a second game with pneumonia, Vladimir Malakhov sat out with back spasms and Brian Savage missed with a sore groin.
Pheonix went 0-for-4 on the power play while the Canadiens were 0-for-5.
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