2 
5Phoenix clinches the number 4 spot in the Western Conference with their win over Nashville in front of over 17,000 at Jobing.com Arena tonight.
Shea Weber ripped a slapshot past Ilya Bryzgalov 12 seconds into the game to give the Predators a 1-0 lead. Just under 2 minutes later, Lauri Korpikoski would tie it at 1 for Phoenix.
The only goal of the 2nd period came off the stick of Wojtek Wolski to give the Coyotes a 2-1 lead heading into the 3rd.
The Predators would tie it in this back-and-forth game 5:53 into the 3rd on a power-play goal from Steve Sullivan. But almost 5 minutes later, Taylor Pyatt gave the Coyotes a 3-2 lead and they wouldn't look back.
Shane Doan made it 4-2 and Petteri Nokelainen added an empty-net goal with 19 seconds to go to end it 5-2.
Pekka Rinne stopped for 25 shots for Nashville and Bryzgalov made 23 saves for Phoenix.
The Coyotes will go into the playoffs 4th in the Western Conference with home-ice advantage in Round 1. They have 104 points and 2 games remaining.
The Predators were 5th in the West before this loss, as they move down to 6th tied with Detroit for 5th with 98 points but they have played 1 more game than the Red Wings. Nashville has 1 game left and the Red Wings have 2 to go.
Los Angeles is a point behind both Detroit and Nashville with 3 games still remaining.
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Maple Leafs 1 Rangers 5
New York stays in the playoff hunt in the East with this huge bounce-back game. They now have 84 points, a point back of Boston for 8th and 2 behind Philadelphia for 7th, with 2 games to go. The Flyers also have 2 games left, and wouldn't you know it's a home-and-home versus the Rangers starting Friday. Fasten your seat belts.
Blue Jackets 3 Red Wings 4
Detroit has moved up to 5th in the West with 98 points, tied with the Predators but they hold a game-in-hand on Nashville. Detroit has 2 games left. Columbus is 14th in the West with 78 points.
Blues 5 Blackhawks 6
A pretty unbelievable game at the United Center tonight. St Louis jumped out to a 1-0 lead before allowing 6-straight goals to Chicago. Starting late in the 2nd, the Blues began attempting the comeback. It almost was complete, but the Blackhawks would barely hold off the Blues, 6-5. Chicago takes over top spot in the West with 109 points, tied with with San Jose, but they have 2 more wins than the Sharks. Both Chicago and San Jose have 2 games left. St Louis is 10th in the West with 87 points.
Avalanche 4 Oilers 5 (OT)
Edmonton is on its way to a last-place season, but they have been playing a little better as of late. They are now 8-3 in their last 11 home games, but remain last in the league with 60 points. Colorado, the newest and last member of the playoffs in the West, move to 94 points, 3 back of L.A. for 7th but they have 2 games left while the Kings have 3 to go.
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Thursday's Schedule:
Sabres @ Bruins, 7:00, Versus
Canadiens @ Hurricanes, 7:30 (Versus in BUF and BOS)
Islanders @ Penguins, 7:30, NHL Network
Senators @ Lightning, 7:30
Devils @ Panthers, 7:30
Ducks @ Stars, 8:30, KDOC
Wild @ Flames, 9:30
Coyotes @ Kings, 10:30, FS West
Canucks @ Sharks, 10:30
