Red Wings to Face Coyotes in Western Conference Quarterfinals

The Detroit Red Wings’ 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday afternoon moved them into fifth place in the Western Conference standings and locked them into a first-round matchup with the Phoenix Coyotes.

The Coyotes finished fourth in the conference and will be making their first playoff appearance since 2002, when they were eliminated in the first round by the San Jose Sharks.

The Los Angeles Kings had briefly taken over fifth place in the conference after a 2-1 overtime win over the Colorado Avalanche. They drop to sixth place to face the Vancouver Canucks.

The Blackhawks, failing to earn two points, remain in second place and will host the Nashville Predators. The San Jose Sharks are the conference’s top team and will host Colorado.

The Red Wings and Coyotes have met in the playoffs once before, with the Wings winning the 1998 Western Conference Quarterfinals four game to two.