Sharks Clinch 2nd Seed With 3-1 Win Over Coyotes
SAN JOSE (CBS / AP) ― Joe Pavelski scored his 20th goal of the season and Antti Niemi made 35 saves as the San Jose Sharks wrapped up the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs with a 3-1 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday night.
Ian White and Logan Couture also scored for the Sharks, who snapped a two-game losing streak to head into the postseason on a winning note. By beating out Detroit for second place, San Jose is assured of home-ice advantage for at least the first two rounds. The Sharks will not know their first-round opponent until after Chicago's season finale against Detroit on Sunday.
The Coyotes missed out on a chance to finish fourth in the conference and having home ice for the first round. Depending on Sunday's results, Phoenix could meet the Sharks again in the first round, having lost nine of 10 games to their Pacific Division rivals.
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