GLENDALE, Ariz., March 30 (UPI) -- Radim Vrbata scored both goals and Mike Smith recorded his sixth shutout of the season Thursday, bringing the Phoenix Coyotes a 2-0 victory over San Jose.
With each game involving Pacific Division teams causing a shakeup in the playoff race, the Coyotes moved into a tie with Dallas for the division lead at 89 points. The Stars, however, have a game in hand on the Coyotes and also have the tiebreak edge with 35 non-shootout victories to 32 for Phoenix.
San Jose, which would have taken the division lead with a win, is tied with Los Angeles for the eighth and final post-season position. The Sharks and Kings both have 88 points, but Los Angeles has a game in hand on San Jose and has one more non-shootout win.
Vrbata broke the scoreless tie 3:49 into the second period on the power play and then beat Antti Niemi with a wrist shot midway through the third. Vrbata has 32 goals for the season.
Smith made 37 saves while Niemi stopped 32-of-34 shots.
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- NHL: St. Louis 4, Phoenix 0
- NHL: San Jose 4, Phoenix 3 (SO)
- NHL: Chicago 4, St. Louis 3 (SO)
- NHL: Minnesota 3, Florida 2 (OT)
- NHL: Washington 3, Boston 2 (SO)
- NHL: Philadelphia 7, Toronto 1
- NHL: New York Islanders 5, Pittsburgh 3
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