Canadiens Can’t Get Past Latest Loss

The Montreal Canadiens came to New Jersey and got robbed -- at least that’s what they are accusing referee Kerry Fraser of doing to them.

Fraser disallowed a first-period Montreal goal and allowed Joe Nieuwendyk’s game-winning, third-period goal to stand even though Canadien goaltender Jeff Hackett was knocked down by a New Jersey player in a 3-2 Devil victory on Tuesday night at East Rutherford, N.J.

Canadien coaches and officials screamed at Fraser as he walked off the ice after the game, and General Manager Andre Savard had to be physically restrained from going into the officials’ dressing room seconds after the game, according to security officials at the Continental Airlines Arena who asked not to be identified.

“First of all, we believe we got robbed,” Canadien Coach Michel Therrien said after emerging some 20 minutes after the game. “There is no doubt about that.”

Therrien was already miffed that Fraser disallowed an apparent first-period goal by Mike Ribeiro for incidental contact with Devil goaltender Martin Brodeur.

Replays did not show any contact.

Nieuwendyk’s second goal of the third period infuriated the road-weary Canadiens, who saw their winless streak reach seven games (0-4-1-2).

Nashville 2, St. Louis 1 -- Andy Delmore scored a power-play goal with 16 seconds left in overtime at Nashville, and the Predators ended an eight-game winless streak against the Blues.

Delmore, who leads NHL defensemen with 12 power-play goals, also scored Nashville’s other goal in the third period to tie the score.

Calgary 4, Colorado 2 -- Craig Conroy and Jarome Iginla had a goal and an assist each at Denver and the Flames remained unbeaten (4-0-1) in five games under new Coach Darryl Sutter.

Carolina 3, Atlanta 3 -- Dany Heatley scored two goals, but the host Thrashers squandered a pair of leads at Atlanta in a tie with the Hurricanes. Arturs Irbe stopped three breakaways as the Hurricanes fought back from deficits of 2-0 and 3-2.

Tampa Bay 1, Detroit 0 -- Nikolai Khabibulin made 30 saves for his second shutout of the season and 30th overall, and Brad Richards scored a goal early in the third period at Tampa, Fla.

New York Islanders 6, Pittsburgh 3 -- Dave Scatchard scored a career-high three goals as the Islanders won at Uniondale, N.Y.

Toronto 5, Boston 2 -- Alexander Mogilny scored the go-ahead goal with 6:06 left at Toronto and the Maple Leafs extended their home unbeaten streak to 12.

Philadelphia 3, Buffalo 2 -- Justin Williams scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period, leading the Flyers over the Sabres at Philadelphia.