Phoenix 4, Minnesota 1
When: 8:00 PM ET, Saturday, April 7, 2012
Where: Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Referees:
Chris Lee, Frederic L'Ecuyer
Linesmen:
Matt MacPherson, Jean Morin
Attendance:
18864
By SportsDirect Inc.
COYOTES 4, WILD 1: Taylor Pyatt scored twice as Phoenix secured the franchise's first division title since joining the NHL as the Winnipeg Jets in 1979.
Mikkel Boedker and Radim Vrbata also tallied, defenseman Michal Rozsival added two assists and Mike Smith made 23 saves for the Coyotes, who finished the season with five straight wins and will take on the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference quarterfinals.
Boedker opened the scoring for the Pacific Division champions just over 5 1/2 minutes into the contest with his second goal in as many matches following an 11-game drought. Pyatt doubled the lead with six minutes left in the first period, burying a loose puck in the slot for his first tally in 18 games.
Dany Heatley got Minnesota on the board with 6:07 remaining in the second, but Pyatt answered 31 seconds later to complete his first two-goal performance of the season. After being denied on a stuff attempt at the right post, Pyatt flipped his own rebound past Niklas Backstrom for a 3-1 lead.
Vrbata added insurance 79 seconds into the third with a blast from the outer edge of the right faceoff circle.
Backstrom stopped 24 shots for the Wild, who had gone beyond regulation in each of their previous five games (4-0-1).
GAME NOTEBOOK: Vrbata's career-high 35th goal was his fifth in as many contests following a 12-game drought. ... Pyatt's last two-goal effort came on Jan. 6, 2011 at Colorado. ... Heatley scored three times over his last four games to finish with 24, his lowest total since netting 13 during his 2003-04 season that was limited to 31 contests due to injuries from a car accident that claimed the life of Atlanta teammate Dan Snyder. ... Chay Genoway, who notched an assist, became the 10th player to make his NHL debut with Minnesota this season. ... The road team won all four games in the season series. ... Smith, who recorded his second assist of the campaign, allowed a total of two goals over his last five contests.
Top Game Performances
| Phoenix |
|
Minnesota |
|
Taylor Pyatt 2 |
Points |
Dany Heatley 1 |
|
Taylor Pyatt 2 |
Goals |
Dany Heatley 1 |
|
Michal Rozsival 2 |
Assists |
Chay Genoway 1 |
|
N/A |
Power Play Goals |
N/A |
|
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
|
Mike Smith .958 |
Save Percentage |
Niklas Backstrom .857 |
|
Mike Smith 23 |
Saves |
Niklas Backstrom 24 |
Team Stats Summary
| Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
| Phoenix
|
28 |
4 |
0-5 |
5-5 |
12 |
28 |
| Minnesota
|
24 |
1 |
0-5 |
5-5 |
12 |
20 |
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