PHOENIX, April 3 (UPI) -- The Vancouver Canucks' push for their first division title hit a snag Wednesday night as they squandered a two-goal lead in the third period and settled for a 3-3 deadlock with the Phoenix Coyotes.
Defenseman Teppo Numminen scored the tying goal with 2:01 left in regulation as the Coyotes secured a point for just the seventh time in 37 games when trailing after two periods.
Shane Doan tried a centering pass from behind the net and teammate Ladislav Nagy kicked the puck to the top of the crease. Numminen banged it past goaltender Dan Cloutier for his sixth goal of the season and third in nine games.
Vancouver wasted a power play in overtime but still had a chance to win it when Todd Bertuzzi broke in alone on goalie Brian Boucher. But the 46-goal scorer missed the net with 48 seconds remaining.
Trevor Linden, defenseman Sami Salo and Markus Naslund scored for the Canucks, who moved three points ahead of second-place Colorado in the Northwest Division. Vancouver has just one game to play, one fewer than the Avalanche, who are seeking an unprecedented ninth consecutive division crown.
