{coyotes} Part 2: Goalie Thomas Greiss has chance to prove No. 1 mettle

Thursday, 27 March 2014

{coyotes} Part 2: Goalie Thomas Greiss has chance to prove No. 1 mettle

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It's still unclear, though, if Greiss actually will be on the hook for all of the remaining games. Smith is still considered day to day by the team with a lower-body injury. His results from an MRI test taken Tuesday in Pittsburgh have been sent back to the team's doctors in Phoenix, and the Coyotes expect more clarity on a timeline for a return once Smith visits with their medical team Friday.

"Certainly from our training staff's point of view, where he's at today couldn't be more positive in the sense that when we all saw the injury and him leaving the game, certainly it looked dire," Maloney said. "But it's been encouraging how quickly he's responded to treatment the last few days."

But Smith's absence hasn't been the only lineup change. The Coyotes listed center Mike Ribeiro and defenseman Derek Morris as healthy scratches against the Penguins.

"It's a coach's decision who plays, but a couple veteran players sat out, and we weren't happy with their performance," Maloney said. "There's no time right now to worry about egos and contracts. This is about who's going to give us the best chance to win that night."

More tweaks could be on the way. Winger Lauri Korpikoski missed the previous two games after taking a puck to the face during Monday's morning skate, but Korpikoski skated Wednesday and Maloney anticipates he'll be available Thursday.

The Coyotes also recalled defenseman Connor Murphy on Wednesday, using the last of their four post-trade deadline call-ups. Maloney expects Murphy will play against the Devils.

"It'll be very competitive to get into the lineup, and that's always a good thing," Maloney said.

As difficult as it is for the Coyotes to stomach any injury to Smith at this juncture of the season, the team is on the brink of making this an extremely successful road trip.

They've already grabbed three out of a possible four points, and the Devils are currently a non-playoff team.

Once again, adversity seems to have galvanized this group.

"Nobody's sitting around throwing the towel in by any means," Maloney said. "… (But) obviously it goes without saying, the sooner we can get Mike back on the ice and in a Coyote uniform, the better it will be for all of us."

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