2011–12 Phoenix Coyotes season

The 2011–12 Phoenix Coyotes season was the franchise's 33rd season in the National Hockey League (NHL), their 40th overall and the 16th in Phoenix, Arizona. This would be the only season that the Coyotes won at least 1 playoff series before going defunct following the 2023-24 season.

Off-season

On May 10, 2011, the Glendale City Council voted (by a 5–2 count) to keep the Coyotes in Arizona for the 2011–12 season on an interim basis while it tried to find a new owner to keep the team in Glendale. Before this vote, there was widespread speculation that the team would be re-locating back to Winnipeg as the Jets before the start of the 2011–12 NHL season.Glendale Votes to Keep Coyotes for 2011–12 Potential owner Matthew Hulsizer ended his bid to purchase the Coyotes on June 27, leaving no current potential buyers of the team, once again leaving the Coyotes' future in question.Hulsizer Walks Away from Bid to Purchase Coyotes

Pending free agent goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers prior to the start of free agency.

The Coyotes ended their minor-league affiliation with the San Antonio Rampage and signed an affiliation with the Portland Pirates.

Regular season The Coyotes finished with their third straight 90-point season, with 97 points. On December 1, 2011, the Coyotes made their return to Winnipeg, for the first time since relocating from the city following the 1995–96 season. They faced off against the new Winnipeg Jets, in a 1–0 loss, where Bryan Little scored the only goal of the game.Boxscore - Phoenix Coyotes vs. Winnipeg Jets - December 1, 2011 On April 7, 2012, the Coyotes defeated the Minnesota Wild with a score of 4–1 to win the Pacific Division title—their first and only division title as an NHL team.

Playoffs

As Pacific Division champions, the Coyotes were the third seed in the Western Conference. They faced the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round, and defeated them in six games for the franchise's first playoff series win since 1987, when as the Winnipeg Jets, they defeated the Calgary Flames in the first round. The Coyotes defeated the fourth-seeded Nashville Predators in five games to advance to the first Western Conference Final in franchise history. The eighth-seeded and eventual Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings knocked the Coyotes out of the playoffs in five games. This was the only season where the Coyotes advanced beyond the round of 16 teams, won two playoff series, and reached the Conference Finals before eventually suspending operations in 2024.

Standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season

2011 Pre-season game log: 3–4–0 (Home: 1–1–0; Road: 2–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record 1 September 20 Phoenix Coyotes 7–4 Anaheim Ducks Visentin 12,544 1–0–0 2 September 21 Los Angeles Kings (SS) 3–2 Phoenix Coyotes (SS) Labarbera 5,047 1–1–0 3 September 21 Phoenix Coyotes (SS) 2–1 Los Angeles Kings (SS) SO Domingue 10,641 2–1–0 4 September 24 Phoenix Coyotes 0–1 San Jose Sharks Labarbera 16,221 2–2–0 5 September 27 Phoenix Coyotes 2–3 Edmonton Oilers Smith 16,218 2–3–0 6 September 29 Phoenix Coyotes 2–4 Calgary Flames Labarbera 19,289 2–4–0 7 October 1 San Jose Sharks 1–3 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 6,203 3–4–0 (SS) = Split-squad games.

Regular season

2011–12 Game Log October: 5–3–2 (Home: 3–2–1; Road: 2–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 1 October 8 Phoenix Coyotes 3–6 San Jose Sharks Smith 17,562 0–1–0 0 2 October 10 Phoenix Coyotes 1–2 Dallas Stars SO Smith 6,306 0–1–1 1 3 October 13 Phoenix Coyotes 5–2 Nashville Predators LaBarbera 17,113 1–1–1 3 4 October 15 Winnipeg Jets 1–4 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 17,132 2–1–1 5 5 October 18 Chicago Blackhawks 5–2 Phoenix Coyotes LaBarbera 11,051 2–2–1 5 6 October 20 Los Angeles Kings 2–0 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 7,128 2–3–1 5 7 October 23 Phoenix Coyotes 5–4 Anaheim Ducks Smith 13,240 3–3–1 7 8 October 25 Dallas Stars 3–2 Phoenix Coyotes SO Smith 6,948 3–3–2 8 9 October 27 New Jersey Devils 3–5 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 7,434 4–3–2 10 10 October 29 Los Angeles Kings 2–3 Phoenix Coyotes OT Smith 10,379 5–3–2 12 November: 8–4–1 (Home: 3–2–1; Road: 5–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 11 November 2 Phoenix Coyotes 4–1 Colorado Avalanche Smith 12,141 6–3–2 14 12 November 3 Nashville Predators 3–0 Phoenix Coyotes LaBarbera 6,738 6–4–2 14 13 November 5 Edmonton Oilers 2–4 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 13,381 7–4–2 16 14 November 10 Montreal Canadiens 3–2 Phoenix Coyotes OT Smith 14,138 7–4–3 17 15 November 12 Phoenix Coyotes 3–0 San Jose Sharks Smith 17,562 8–4–3 19 16 November 15 Phoenix Coyotes 3–2 Toronto Maple Leafs SO Smith 19,522 9–4–3 21 17 November 17 Phoenix Coyotes 1–2 Philadelphia Flyers Smith 19,610 9–5–3 21 18 November 19 Phoenix Coyotes 4–2 Buffalo Sabres Smith 18,690 10–5–3 23 19 November 21 Phoenix Coyotes 3–4 Washington Capitals LaBarbera 18,506 10–6–3 23 20 November 23 Anaheim Ducks 2–4 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 9,124 11–6–3 25 21 November 25 Vancouver Canucks 5–0 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 14,569 11–7–3 25 22 November 26 Dallas Stars 0–3 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 10,036 12–7–3 27 23 November 29 Phoenix Coyotes 4–1 Chicago Blackhawks Smith 21,183 13–7–3 29 December: 6–9–1 (Home: 1–4–1; Road: 5–5–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 24 December 1 Phoenix Coyotes 0–1 Winnipeg Jets Smith 15,004 13–8–3 29 25 December 3 Philadelphia Flyers 4–2 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 14,913 13–9–3 29 26 December 5 Phoenix Coyotes 4–3 Chicago Blackhawks SO Smith 21,079 14–9–3 31 27 December 6 Phoenix Coyotes 3–2 Nashville Predators LaBarbera 15,638 15–9–3 33 28 December 8 Phoenix Coyotes 2–5 Detroit Red Wings Smith 20,066 15–10–3 33 29 December 10 Minnesota Wild 4–1 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 10,976 15–11–3 33 30 December 14 Phoenix Coyotes 1–4 Anaheim Ducks Smith 13,428 15–12–3 33 31 December 15 Edmonton Oilers 2–4 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 9,397 16–12–3 35 32 December 17 New York Rangers 3–2 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 12,172 16–13–3 35 33 December 20 Phoenix Coyotes 2–1 Florida Panthers Smith 17,711 17–13–3 37 34 December 21 Phoenix Coyotes 4–3 Carolina Hurricanes LaBarbera 15,848 18–13–3 39 35 December 23 St. Louis Blues 3–2 Phoenix Coyotes LaBarbera 12,650 18–14–3 39 36 December 26 Phoenix Coyotes 3–4 Los Angeles Kings LaBarbera 18,118 18–15–3 39 37 December 28 Boston Bruins 2–1 Phoenix Coyotes OT LaBarbera 17,459 18–15–4 40 38 December 29 Phoenix Coyotes 2–3 Colorado Avalanche LaBarbera 17,389 18–16–4 40 39 December 31 Phoenix Coyotes 4–2 Minnesota Wild McElhinney 19,297 19–16–4 42 January: 3–5–4 (Home: 3–2–1; Road: 0–3–3) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 40 January 3 Phoenix Coyotes 1–4 St. Louis Blues Smith 18,112 19–17–4 42 41 January 5 Phoenix Coyotes 0–1 Los Angeles Kings OT Smith 18,118 19–17–5 43 42 January 7 New York Islanders 1–5 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 13,350 20–17–5 45 43 January 10 Phoenix Coyotes 1–2 New York Rangers SO Smith 18,200 20–17–6 46 44 January 12 Phoenix Coyotes 2–3 Detroit Red Wings SO Smith 20,066 20–17–7 47 45 January 13 Phoenix Coyotes 3–4 Columbus Blue Jackets LaBarbera 14,119 20–18–7 47 46 January 16 Colorado Avalanche 1–6 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 12,757 21–18–7 49 47 January 18 Phoenix Coyotes 2–6 Anaheim Ducks Smith 12,281 21–19–7 49 48 January 19 Detroit Red Wings 3–2 Phoenix Coyotes SO Smith 15,067 21–19–8 50 49 January 21 Tampa Bay Lightning 4–3 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 12,714 21–20–8 50 50 January 24 Ottawa Senators 2–3 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 8,061 22–20–8 52 51 January 31 Anaheim Ducks 4–1 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 10,579 22–21–8 52 February: 11–0–1 (Home: 7–0–0; Road: 4–0–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 52 February 4 San Jose Sharks 3–5 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 12,979 23–21–8 54 53 February 6 Detroit Red Wings 1–3 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 12,687 24–21–8 56 54 February 7 Phoenix Coyotes 4–1 Dallas Stars Smith 11,162 25–21–8 58 55 February 9 Calgary Flames 1–2 Phoenix Coyotes OT Smith 10,048 26–21–8 60 56 February 11 Chicago Blackhawks 0–3 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 17,353 27–21–8 62 57 February 13 Phoenix Coyotes 1–2 Vancouver Canucks SO LaBarbera 18,890 27–21–9 63 58 February 16 Phoenix Coyotes 1–0 Los Angeles Kings Smith 18,118 28–21–9 65 59 February 18 Dallas Stars 1–2 Phoenix Coyotes OT Smith 16,604 29–21–9 67 60 February 21 Los Angeles Kings 4–5 Phoenix Coyotes SO Smith 10,842 30–21–9 69 61 February 23 Phoenix Coyotes 4–3 Calgary Flames SO Smith 19,289 31–21–9 71 62 February 25 Phoenix Coyotes 3–1 Edmonton Oilers Smith 16,839 32–21–9 73 63 February 28 Vancouver Canucks 1–2 Phoenix Coyotes SO Smith 16,691 33–21–9 75 March: 6–6–4 (Home: 4–3–2; Road: 2–3–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 64 March 1 Calgary Flames 4–2 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 10,989 33–22–9 75 65 March 3 Columbus Blue Jackets 5–2 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 13,579 33–23–9 75 66 March 5 Phoenix Coyotes 1–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Smith 18,540 33–24–9 75 67 March 6 Phoenix Coyotes 2–3 Columbus Blue Jackets LaBarbera 10,915 33–25–9 75 68 March 8 Minnesota Wild 3–2 Phoenix Coyotes SO LaBarbera 11,716 33–25–10 76 69 March 10 San Jose Sharks 0–3 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 14,994 34–25–10 78 70 March 12 Nashville Predators 5–4 Phoenix Coyotes SO Smith 11,518 34–25–11 79 71 March 14 Phoenix Coyotes 5–4 Vancouver Canucks Smith 18,890 35–25–11 81 72 March 15 Phoenix Coyotes 1–4 Calgary Flames Smith 19,289 35–26–11 81 73 March 18 Phoenix Coyotes 3–2 Edmonton Oilers SO Smith 16,839 36–26–11 83 74 March 20 Phoenix Coyotes 3–4 Dallas Stars SO Smith 17,012 36–26–12 84 75 March 22 Colorado Avalanche 2–3 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 14,938 37–26–12 86 76 March 24 Phoenix Coyotes 3–4 San Jose Sharks SO Smith 17,562 37–26–13 87 77 March 25 St. Louis Blues 4–0 Phoenix Coyotes LaBarbera 12,585 37–27–13 87 78 March 29 San Jose Sharks 0–2 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 14,446 38–27–13 89 79 March 31 Anaheim Ducks 0–4 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 15,856 39–27–13 91 April: 3–0–0 (Home: 1–0–0; Road: 2–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 80 April 3 Columbus Blue Jackets 0–2 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 13,263 40–27–13 93 81 April 6 Phoenix Coyotes 4–1 St. Louis Blues Smith 19,150 41–27–13 95 82 April 7 Phoenix Coyotes 4–1 Minnesota Wild Smith 18,864 42–27–13 97Legend:

Playoffs Key: Win Loss

2012 Stanley Cup PlayoffsWestern Conference Quarter-finals: vs. (6) Chicago Blackhawks – Coyotes win series 4–2 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 12 Chicago Blackhawks 2–3 Phoenix Coyotes OT Smith 17,138 1–0 2 April 14 Chicago Blackhawks 4–3 Phoenix Coyotes OT Smith 17,539 1–1 3 April 17 Phoenix Coyotes 3–2 Chicago Blackhawks OT Smith 21,627 2–1 4 April 19 Phoenix Coyotes 3–2 Chicago Blackhawks OT Smith 22,111 3–1 5 April 21 Chicago Blackhawks 2–1 Phoenix Coyotes OT Smith 17,746 3–2 6 April 23 Phoenix Coyotes 4–0 Chicago Blackhawks Smith 21,636 4–2 Western Conference Semi-finals: vs. (4) Nashville Predators – Coyotes win series 4–1 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 27 Nashville Predators 3–4 Phoenix Coyotes OT Smith 17,187 1–0 2 April 29 Nashville Predators 3–5 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 17,217 2–0 3 May 2 Phoenix Coyotes 0–2 Nashville Predators Smith 17,113 2–1 4 May 4 Phoenix Coyotes 1–0 Nashville Predators Smith 17,113 3–1 5 May 7 Nashville Predators 1–2 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 17,182 4–1 Western Conference Finals: vs. (8) Los Angeles Kings – Kings win series 4–1 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 May 13 Los Angeles Kings 4–2 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 17,134 0–1 2 May 15 Los Angeles Kings 4–0 Phoenix Coyotes Smith 17,149 0–2 3 May 17 Phoenix Coyotes 1–2 Los Angeles Kings Smith 18,367 0–3 4 May 20 Phoenix Coyotes 2–0 Los Angeles Kings Smith 18,402 1–3 5 May 22 Los Angeles Kings 4–3 Phoenix Coyotes OT Smith 17,148 1–4

Player statistics

Skaters