GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Phoenix Coyotes were on their heels after building a two-goal lead, spending most of the second period in their own zone. After losing a two-goal lead four days earlier, the last thing they wanted was to do it again, particularly this late in the season and against a team theyve struggled against. Instead of folding, the Coyotes fought back, earning a crucial win before they head off on a four-game road trip. Radim Vrbata scored two goals and the Coyotes bounced back from a shaky second period to beat Montreal 5-2 Thursday night, their first win over the Canadiens since 1998. "We talked about coming out like we did in the first and I think we did a pretty good job in the third," said Coyotes defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who had a goal and an assist. "It wasnt great, but we got two points." With the Canadiens coming off a six-round shootout the night before, the Coyotes want to jump on them early and did just that. Vrbata scored 2:08 in, Lauri Korpikoski had his first goal in 19 games and Ekman-Larsson also scored for his 100th career point to put Phoenix up 3-1. The Canadiens picked up the pressure and the Coyotes spent most of the second period chasing, getting off one shot while serving a string of penalties. Alex Galchenyuk scored midway through the period on a two-man advantage, cutting the Coyotes lead to 3-2. But after blowing a two-goal lead against St. Louis on Sunday, Phoenix stiffened. Vrbata made it a two-goal lead in the third period and Keith Yandle scored less than 2 minutes later to put it out of reach, giving Phoenix its first winning streak since Jan. 16-18. Mike Ribeiro and Kyle Chipchura added a pair of assists for the Coyotes, who hadnt beaten Montreal since Dec. 9, 1998, in Arizona (0-9-2). "These are desperate points for us before we go on the road," Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said. "We needed this one badly." The Canadiens came out flat after beating the NHL-leading Anaheim Ducks in the extended shootout the night before, allowing the Coyotes to dictate play. Montreal dominated the second period, leading to a series of penalties by the Coyotes, but couldnt sustain it in the third when Phoenix picked up the pressure. Andrei Markov had a goal and an assist, and P.K. Subban had a pair of assists for the Canadiens. "We started the game like a team who played last night and travelled and came here at 3 oclock in the morning," Montreal coach Michel Therrien. "Before we got going, we were in trouble, so we had to play catch up hockey and its never the solution to win hockey games." Phoenix made one big move at the trade deadline, picking forward Martin Erat, who played on the second line with Chipchura -- in place of injured centre Martin Hanzal-- and Vrbata. Montreal also added a big reinforcement, picking up high-scoring forward Thomas Vanek in a deal that sent a prospect and a draft pick to the New York Islanders. Erat had the impact on his new team first, helping the Coyotes score on his first shift when Vrbata redirected a shot by David Schlemko and sent it bouncing past Peter Budaj. Markov tied it later in the period on a slap shot from the left circle that bounced off the post and out of the net so quickly the officials didnt count it until after reviewing it about a minute later. Korpikoski put Phoenix back on top late in the period on another redirect, this one on a shot by Michael Stone for his first goal since Jan. 11. Ekman-Larsson put the Coyotes up 3-1 with 8.5 seconds left, beating Budaj on a wrister after a pass by Ribeiro from behind the goal. "I think sometimes its travel, but thats not an excuse," Budaj said of Montreals slow start. "Its not an excuse; youve got to be ready and I dont think we were ready right off the hop." The Canadiens fought back in the second period, spent most of the period in Phoenixs end, leading to a series of penalties, including a long 5-on-3 that led to Galchenyuks on a redirect. But, after going more than 21 minutes without a shot, the Coyotes took control back, getting goals by Vrbata and a redirect by Doan to remain ninth in the Western Conference standings. Notes: Hanzal missed his second straight game with an upper-body injury. ... Montreal concludes its four-game Western road swing in San Jose on Saturday. ... A slashing call against Ribeiro early in the second period was the Coyotes first penalty in nearly 90 minutes. ... Montreal had a goal by Brendan Gallagher waved off in the second period when David Desharnais was called for being in the crease. Willy Caballero Jersey .com) - The Carolina Hurricanes placed defenseman John-Michael Liles on injured reserve Tuesday. Gary Cahill Jersey .Mihajlovic was sent off minutes from the end of Thursdays 2-0 win over Brescia and has been punished for using a disrespectful expression toward the fourth official and throwing the contents of a bottle of water at him, thus assuming an intimidating attitude. http://www.chelseafcproshop.com/Kids-Eden-Hazard-Jersey/ .com) - Marc Gasol and the Grizzlies withstood 18 Dallas 3-pointers, as Memphis took control in the third quarter and fended off a Mavericks rally en route to a 114-105 win in a Southwest Division showdown. Willy Caballero Chelsea Jersey . They named Mark Washington as their defensive co-ordinator on Thursday and appear to be closing in on an offensive co-ordinator. David Luiz Chelsea Jersey . Smiths former Atlanta teammates were glad to hang on for an ugly win. DENVER -- Though the Nashville Predators couldnt keep Colorado off the scoreboard, they did keep the Avalanche out of the record book. Colin Wilson had two goals and two assists, Viktor Stalberg added a goal and an assist, and Nashville beat the Avalanche 6-4 on Wednesday night. Craig Smith and Paul Gaustad also scored for the Predators, who stopped Colorados six-game winning streak. Matt Duchene had a goal and two assists for Colorado (12-2-0), which fell one win short of NHL history. The Avalanche were attempting to set a franchise record and match the 2007-08 Ottawa Senators for the best 14-game start in league history. "When you have a taste of winning -- to use a bad analogy -- its like a drug. You crave it more and more," Duchene said. "It feels terrible and weve felt this twice this year and it feels awful. It feels that much worse. When youre used to losing, its just another game, but when youre used to winning it hurts that much more." After finishing with the worst record in the Western Conference last season, the Avalanche are near the top this season. "As much as I wish to be 81-1, its a little tough," Colorado coach Patrick Roy said. "Theyre a good team; its a nice way for us to learn." It took a career game from Wilson, who has worked his way back from a shoulder injury in March that ended his 2013 season. He had four points March 8, the game before he was hurt. "Obviously, it was great getting some numbers, getting the puck in the net, just to remember I can do it," Wilson said. "It was a while ago that I got injured, so it was good to get back at it." The Predators appeared to take control when Gaustad and Wilson scored early in the second to give them a 4-2 lead. Paul Stastny got one back with a power-play goal with 6:27 left in the period, and Duchene tied it 4:23 into the third. Wilson answered with his second goal of the night when he beat Semyon Varlamov at 7:34. "I felt the pressure on my back and I was going to slip it five-hole but decided to move it really quick to my backhand," Wilson said. Varlamov finishedd with 22 saves while allowing a season high in goals.dddddddddddd "Its always tough to give up five goals," he said. "It was not my greatest game this year." The Avalanche pulled Varlamov for an extra skater with more than a minute left, and Gabriel Bourque scored into the empty net. Nashville goalie Carter Hutton made 11 of his 27 saves in the third to preserve the win. The teams, now in the same division, found a reason to ramp up the rivalry when Colorado forward Jamie McGinn left his skates to check Nashville rookie defenceman Seth Jones into the boards. Jones stayed on the ice for a moment before skating to the bench under his own power. He went to the locker room but returned late in the period. "My face kind of went into the boards, bit my teeth a little bit but my head was fine," Jones said. "I was (worried) but I kind of knew right away when it happened. I went directly to my teeth and I didnt have a headache." McGinn was given a charging minor and the Predators capitalized with Smiths third goal to give Nashville a 2-1 lead. "You could see Seth was putting the brakes on, hes got his back turned, hes exactly what we talk about being a vulnerable player," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "McGinn takes the two or three hard steps and then I thought he left his feet. "I just thought he hunted him out and he was a vulnerable player, and thats what were trying to take out of the game." Stalberg opened the scoring with his first goal of the season at 13:12 of the first, and P.A. Parenteau tied it with his fifth 2:11 later. Ryan OReilly scored early in the second for Colorado. NOTES: Ryan Ellis and David Legwand had two assists each for Nashville. ... McGinn returned to the lineup after missing three games with a knee injury. ... Nashville C Matt Hendricks missed his second game with an upper-body injury while C Mike Fisher missed his first game with a lower-body injury. Both players are day to day. ... Avalanche LW Alex Tanguay will miss two weeks with a knee injury sustained in Saturdays win over Montreal. ' ' '