Missed opportunities plague Coyotes' season

Had the chasm between the Coyotes and a playoff spot been any wider than where it ended up – two points – it probably wouldn't be worthwhile to reflect on the near losses that, although at the time were painful, sting even more in hindsight.

But even with all the gaffes in their play this season, the Coyotes were still a threat to grab the final wild card spot in the Western Conference. And they can look at these losses as at least part of the reason why they didn't:

- Any of the losses to the Buffalo Sabres.

The 30th-ranked Sabres endured another season of struggle, but they apparently knew how to solve the Coyotes. They beat the Coyotes twice.

The first came Dec.23 after the Coyotes blew a 1-0 lead with 5:59 to go. The Sabres won 2-1 in overtime on the infamous "butt goal" after the puck got lodged in goalie Mike Smith's pants before he carried it into the net.

The second was a 3-2 win by the Sabres at Jobing.com Arena Jan.30.

- A 4-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues March 2.

The Coyotes led 2-0 entering the third period where the Blues scored four straight for the comeback win.

"If you look at our team this year compared to the last few years, we've always been a very good team with the lead (and) close things out" coach Dave Tippett said. "For whatever reason this year, we let too many of those games slip away."

- A 3-2 loss to the Washington Capitals March 8.

Less than a week after that loss to the Blues, the Coyotes watched another late lead disappear on the road in Washington when the Capitals tallied three in the third.

"We had so many third-period leads that we lost and so many things that we could talk about right now," center Mike Ribeiro said. "It's a year that was up and down for us and to be consistent, it's hard to be as a team. It's something we need to work on and get ready for next season."

- A 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild March 29.

This is the game that started the seven-game losing streak that helped derail the Coyotes, who had a chance to move into seventh place with a win over the Wild.

The odds certainly seemed to be in their favor. Before this, the Wild had lost nine of its past 12 games and seemed to be on the brink of falling out of a contention. But a third-period rally against the Coyotes flipped their fate.

"That's one that you use as a springboard there," Tippett said. "Unfortunately, we didn't get that done."

- A 2-1 shootout loss to the Winnipeg Jets Apr. 1.

It became clear in the final week of the regular season how valuable a single point would have been to the Coyotes' cause. Securing that against the Jets, who hadn't been eliminated at that point but were longshots to make it, would have made their push easier.

"The Winnipeg game I thought we played well enough to win but couldn't generate the extra goal we needed," Tippett said.

- A 3-2 shootout loss to the Edmonton Oilers Apr. 4.

Another loss to another non-playoff team really hurt the Coyotes' chances. What's worse, the Coyotes gave up the tying goal with 41 seconds remaining in regulation.

"The Edmonton game slipped away from us," Tippett said. "Those are games that slipped away that you start adding that up, and that's why we're in the position we are."

- A 2-0 loss to the Nashville Predators Apr.10.

This loss didn't officially eliminate the Coyotes, but they no longer controlled their fate after it. Their offensive struggles in the waning weeks of the season were at their peak in this one as the Coyotes at one point went 17:11 without a shot.

"You look back and different scenarios play out," Tippett said. "If we would have made changes here, if we put young players in earlier, there's all those things. You go back, and that's part of the evaluation process of how we get better – the things we did in the year."

Out with a win

It looked like the Coyotes and Dallas Stars were destined for overtime before winger Dave Moss resolved a 1-1 tie with 2:31 left in Sunday's finale.

The win not only snapped the team's season-long seven-game losing streak, but it moved the Coyotes into ninth and only two points back of a playoff position – a cheap consolation prize, no doubt.

"It's nice to score and obviously get a win," Moss said. "I'm like everyone else. I'm frustrated, too, but I guess it's nice to score and get a win to end the season."

The goal ended a rough stretch for Moss, who had scored only once in his previous 24 games. On the brink of free agency, he obviously would have liked to show more offensively this season after finishing with eight goals and 14 assists.

"You want to contribute more, especially when your team's playing for a playoff spot like this," Moss said. "I know I felt like I could have done more, I probably should have done more, and have a long time to think about it."

Missed target

After the Olympic break, the Coyotes held a team meeting and identified 94-95 points as what they needed to reach the playoffs. It's no surprise then in failing to capture a berth they fell well short of that target (89).

"We thought that's what it's going to take it to make it to the playoffs," defenseman Zbynek Michalek said.

The Coyotes came out of the break with three straight losses, but Tippett was still optimistic at that point – particularly when he saw goalie Mike Smith making a surge and playing his best hockey of the season.

"I liked our attitude," Tippett said. "I liked where we were, Smith playing well. About a week or 10 days out of the Olympic break, I would have thought we were going to get in. I really thought we were starting to play the way we had to to get in. For whatever reason, the last few weeks it got derailed."

Tough schedule

It's not an excuse, but the Coyotes road schedule after the break didn't do their push any favors.

The Coyotes traveled to the Eastern Time Zone three times since the beginning of March.

Add in an already compact schedule because of the Olympics and the fact that players were coming off a lockout-shortened season, and fatigue was probably a legit factor.

"I think coaches did a great job letting us rest," Michalek said. "We didn't practice too much, but it's hard because I think the travel kills you the most. When you get home and you have to play the next day … it's been hard."

Award winners

The Coyotes handed out its annual team hardware before the game.

Center Antoine Vermette was honored as Team MVP Award and also won the Jukka Nieminen Memorial Trophy given to the team's hardest working player.

Defenseman Keith Yandle earned the Leading Scorer Award as he finished with 53 points.

Smith nabbed the Three-Star Award, and Moss was recognized as the Man of the Year for his dedication to the community.