GLENDALE, Ariz., April 25 (UPI) -- Mike Smith made a pair of first-period goals stand up by stopping 34 shots Wednesday, lifting the Phoenix Coyotes to a 2-1 victory over San Jose.
A win by Detroit earlier in the evening officially ended the Coyotes' playoff hopes, but they still managed a triumph over a team that had a lot at stake.
San Jose missed a chance to move past Los Angeles into fourth place in the Western Conference standings, a position that carries with it home-ice advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.
The Sharks are tied with Los Angeles for the fourth spot, the Kings having also lost Wednesday to Detroit.
Los Angeles holds the tiebreak advantage against San Jose, but St. Louis is only a point behind both teams with two games to play.
Michael Stone and Keith Yandle both scored in the opening period for the Coyotes. The only goal against Smith came early in the second period from Brent Burns.
Thomas Greiss stopped 30-of-32 shots for the Sharks.
