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Tuesday, January 18, 2000Coyotes 4, PREDATORS 4Walker ties up Coyotes late in gameNASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Scott Walker scored with 21 seconds left in regulation as the Nashville Predators rallied from a three-goal deficit and tied the Phoenix Coyotes, 4-4. Walker emerged from a wild scramble near the crease and put in a rebound of Drake Berehowsky's shot of the goal post for his fifth goal of the season and third in seven games. "I just happened to be Johnny-on-the-spot," said Walker, who recorded his 100th career point. "The puck fell on my stick and all I had to do was put it in." Nashville kept the momentum in overtime, but Sean Burke made four of his 24 saves over the final five minutes as the Coyotes picked up a point and took over sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division. The Coyotes built a 3-0 lead after the first period on goals by Shane Doan, Travis Green and Keith Tkachuk. They took a 4-2 lead into the third after Jeremy Roenick scored shorthanded with 11 seconds left in the second. "That team keeps on working," Roenick said. "We had some breakdowns, but there's no excuse for not getting the two points tonight." Vitali Yachmenev also scored in the third period for the Predators, who are 5-1-1 in their last seven games at the Gaylord Entertainment Center and 2-4-1 in their last seven overall. "Certainly this was a good tie against a very good team," said Nashville coach Barry Trotz, whose team plays its next three games in Calgary, Vancouver and Edmonton. "We were down by three goals and playing terribly." The Coyotes moved a point ahead of Dallas in the division but relinquished a point by showing the effects of playing on consecutive nights over the final 10 minutes. "We jumped out early, but at the end of the game, we jumped into plays when we shouldn't have when you have a two-goal lead with five minutes remaining," Francis said. After seemingly rebounding from Monday night's 2-0 loss in Colorado, Phoenix allowed the Predators to close within a goal on Yachmenev's fifth of the season with 5:26 left in the third period. Yachmenev put in a rebound of rookie Karlis Skrastins' shot from the low slot for his third goal in five games and fourth since December 30. Walker tied it shortly after goaltender Mike Dunham went to the bench for an extra attacker. Berehowsky took a shot from the point and Rob Valicevic got his stick on it before Walker scored around a crowd of eight players. The Predators had two great chances to win it in overtime, but Burke covered a rebound in the crease with 3:41 left, a split-second before Joel Bouchard got to it. Burke also made a save on Greg Johnson's shot from in front with four seconds to play. Nashville had a 3-on-1, but Sergei Krivokrasov slid a pass behind Johnson before the center could corral it and get off a shot. The Coyotes had built a 3-0 lead in the opening 18:27 on Doan's 17th goal, Green's 16th and Tkachuk's 19th and led 4-2 after Roenick scored his 22nd. Tkachuk has eight goals and three assists in five games against the Predators. "After the second period, we thought we could win the game," Walker said. "After being down 3-0, it's a great accomplishment. This team doesn't quit when they get down by three goals." Nashville got within 3-2 in a 34-second span of the second period when Randy Robitaille scored a power-play goal -- his ninth -- and Mark Mowers added his second of the season. Mowers played in the International Hockey League's All-Star Game on Monday night and was forced to wear a pair of Walker's skates when his luggage was lost on the way to Nashville. "It was a good feeling to get a goal in my first game back," he said. "I kind of took it easy last night because I thought I was going to get the call. "Walker said he would charge me a hundred bucks a game. I tried on about four other guys' skates and Scotty's fit the best." Walker took the credit for the goal. "I should have got my 101st point because Mowers was wearing my skates tonight," he said.
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