Offered a sliver of playoff hope with a result from another game earlier Wednesday night, the Arizona Coyotes needed a win to stay alive for at least a couple of more days.
They didn't get it, losing 4-2 to the Los Angeles Kings in the last home game of the season at Gila River Arena.
The St. Louis Blues clinched the fourth and last playoff spot from the West Division with their overtime loss, which earned them a standings point and assured that the Coyotes, with two games left, cannot catch them.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Jakob Chychrun scored goals for the Coyotes, Chychrun tying the game at 2 late in the first period with his 18th goal of the season, the most among NHL defensemen.