Coyotes 2, Sharks 1: Defensemen Michael Stone and Keith Yandle scored first-period goals and host Phoenix held on for just its second win in six games (2-2-2).
Captain Shane Doan ended a seven-game point drought with two assists and Mike Smith made 33 saves for the Coyotes, who were eliminated from playoff contention when Detroit defeated Los Angeles earlier Wednesday.
Brent Burns scored and Thomas Greiss turned aside 30 shots in a rare start for San Jose, which failed to overtake the Kings for fourth place in the Western Conference and home-ice advantage in the first round of the postseason.
The Coyotes got on the board at 11:56 of the first period, when Stone beat Greiss to the stick side with a blast from the top of the right faceoff circle for his fifth goal.
Phoenix doubled the lead during a power play with 2:08 remaining in the opening session. With Sharks defenseman Matt Tennyson in the penalty box for hooking, Yandle unleashed a one-timer from the right point that deflected off San Jose blue-liner Brad Stuart and past Greiss.
The Sharks took advantage of a turnover and halved the deficit 3:31 into the second period. Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson flipped a clearing attempt from along the right-wing boards directly to Burns, who plucked the puck out of mid-air and fired it past Smith from the top of the right circle.
GAME NOTEBOOK: With a playoff spot finally clinched, San Jose was able to give G Antti Niemi a well-deserved rest. Niemi had started 24 consecutive games. ... Greiss was making his fifth start of the campaign and first since losing at Calgary on March 6. ... Yandle's goal was his 10th of the season, one behind Montreal's P.K. Subban for the league lead among defensemen. ... Phoenix scored a total of seven goals while going 2-2-1 against San Jose this season. ... Sharks D Jason Demers missed his third straight game with a lower-body injury.
San Jose | Phoenix | |
Brent Burns 1 | Points | Shane Doan 2 |
Brent Burns 1 | Goals | Michael Stone 1 |
Brent Burns 0 | Assists | Shane Doan 2 |
N/A | Power Play Goals | Keith Yandle 1 |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | N/A |
Thomas Greiss .938 | Save Percentage | Mike Smith .971 |
Thomas Greiss 30 | Saves | Mike Smith 33 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
San Jose | 34 | 1 | 0-2 | 3-4 | 8 | 26 |
Phoenix | 32 | 2 | 1-4 | 2-2 | 4 | 26 |