The Minnesota Wild had a chance to play the role of spoiler on Saturday night, but struggled out of the gate and ended up being left in the dust by the visiting Phoenix Coyotes 4-1 in Saturday's regular season finale.
Minnesota could muster only four shots on goal in the opening period, and could not mount a viable comeback after Phoenix raced out to a quick 2-0 advantage. Phoenix winger Taylor Pyatt scored a pair of goals to up his tally to nine for the season, while Radim Vrbata tacked on his 35th goal of the year roughly a minute into the third period to effectively put the game away.
The loss signaled the end to a frustrating 2011-12 campaign for the Wild, who finished 35-36-11 and 13 points out of the playoff hunt. Minnesota has now posted consecutive seasons of 81, 86, and 84 points, and remains unable to break through into the Western Conference's top eight.
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