Coyotes’ win eliminates Kings from playoff contention

LOS ANGELES – The Coyotes aren’t going to the playoffs, but they made sure the Kings aren’t either with a 2-1 win Sunday at Staples Center that eliminated Los Angeles from contention.

Goalie Mike Smith posted 34 saves, and the Max Domi-Alexander Burmistrov-Anthony Duclair line was responsible for both goals with Duclair scoring his first since Dec. 29.

Burmistrov was the first to convert, capitalizing on the power play with 15 seconds left in the first period. His redirect off an Oliver Ekman-Larsson pass was stopped by Kings goalie Jonathan Quick, but Burmistrov was able to bury the rebound for his third goal in his last two games.

Arizona scored earlier on the same power play sequence when winger Brendan Perlini wired a wrist shot by Quick, but Los Angeles challenged the goal and the call was reversed once video determined defenseman Anthony DeAngelo was offside prior to the goal. The Coyotes went 1-for-1 on the power play.

In the second, the Coyotes added to their lead with Duclair’s fourth goal of the season and first since he rejoined the Coyotes in March after a stint in the minors to regain his scoring touch. Duclair’s initial shot didn’t make it to the net, but he pounced on the loose puck at 3:09. Quick finished with 13 saves.

Los Angeles cut its deficit in half with its lone power-play goal in six tries on a fortuitous sequence 4:21 into the third period, as defenseman Alec Martinez's dump-in bounced off winger Jordan Martinook and between defenseman Luke Schenn's leg before sliding into a mostly empty net, with Smith off to the side to play the puck. But that's as close as the Kings would get. Stuck at 81 points, they are mathematically unable to catch the Predators for the final wildcard spot in the Western Conference. Arizona Los Angeles Coyotes 2, Kings 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 — 2 1 First Period—1, Arizona, Burmistrov 4 (Goligoski, Ekman-larsson), 19:45 (pp). Penalties—Doan, ARI, (hooking), 11:31; Martinez, LA, (interference), 18:46. Second Period—2, Arizona, Duclair 4 (Ekman-larsson, Domi), 3:09. Penalties—Connauton, ARI, (slashing), 16:39. Third Period—3, Los Angeles, Martinez 9 (Kopitar, Ladue), 4:21 (pp). Penalties—Crouse, ARI, (tripping), 2:44; Holland, ARI, (delay of game), 7:59; Murphy, ARI, (tripping), 12:14; Schenn, ARI, (delay of game), 14:16. Shots on Goal—Arizona 10-3-2—15. Los Angeles 12-13-10—35. Power-play opportunities—Arizona 1 of 1; Los Angeles 1 of 6. Goalies—Arizona, Smith 19-25-8 (35 shots-34 saves). Los Angeles, Quick 6-5-1 (15-13). A—18,230 (18,118). T—2:36. Referees—Mike Leggo, Brad Watson. Linesmen—Lonnie Cameron, Tim Nowak.