Sarah McLellan

azcentral sports





Coyotes goalie Mike Smith will remain sidelined for the next week with an apparent right knee injury, but he could start skating in the coming days.

Smith was looked at Friday by the team's orthopedic surgeon Dr. Gary Waslewski, and the plan is for Smith to be reevaluated in a week.

"But the hope is at some point this week he'll try to get back on the ice," coach Dave Tippett said.

Smith has been out since he was injured in Monday's 4-3 shootout loss to the New York Rangers. Center Derick Brassard fell awkwardly on Smith, who immediately grabbed at his right leg and had to be helped off the ice.

Considering Smith twisted in pain on the ice and wasn't putting any pressure on his right leg as he left, many feared the worst. But Tippett said Smith is progressing, and he's optimistic Smith will play before the regular season ends.

"Put it this way, it was not as serious as it could have been," Tippett said.

In the meantime, Smith will work out off the ice. He was in the gym Friday and was spotted at the Ice Den in Scottsdale on Saturday where the team holds its morning skates walking with a wrap on his right knee.

"Those are the positive things that are going in the right direction," Tippett said.

Golden moment

This wasn't the first time Glendale native Josh Sweeney was on the ice at Jobing.com Arena.

He once played a high school game on the sheet during the 2004-05 lockout.

But Saturday's experience undoubtedly topped that as Sweeney was at center ice for a ceremonial puck drop to recognize his gold-medal performance at the Paralympics with the USA's sled hockey team.

"It's an amazing accomplishment," said Sweeney, a retired Marine Corps sergeant who became a bilateral amputee after stepping on an explosive device while serving in Afghanistan in 2009. "I'm still just shocked and almost in awe that it happened. I never thought it'd be something that would happen to me."

Sweeney's been with the national team for three seasons after starting with roller hockey in junior high and then progressing to ice hockey in high school. He scored the lone goal in the United States' 1-0 win over Russia in the Paralympic final.

"After the game, I looked up at the scoreboard and I was like, 'That's it,' " Sweeney said. "'I was the only one to score. That's pretty cool.'"

Secondary scoring

Center Kyle Chipchura racked up two goals and a pair of assists during the team's recent three-game road trip. The surge enabled him to establish a career-high in points with 17.

"When we seem to go on stretches where we're playing well, it seems we get contributions from a lot of different people and that's kind of the way our team is built," Chipchura said. "If we can get more of that, it'll definitely help through the stretch and hopefully the playoffs."

Injury update

Winger Dave Moss missed Saturday's game with a lower-body injury. He left Thursday's game in New Jersey in the second period following a collision along the boards in the first.

Moss was walking around the Ice Den Saturday with his left ankle wrapped.

— Defenseman David Schlemko, who hasn't played since March 6 with a lower-body injury after blocking a shot, is nearing a return to the ice.

"Whether it's tomorrow or the next couple of days, he should be back on the ice starting the process of getting back going," Tippett said.

Wednesday night's game

Coyotes at Kings

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Staples Center.

TV/radio: NBCSN/KMVP-AM (860).

Kings update: The Kings have a comfortable lead on the third spot in the Pacific Division despite a loss Monday to the Minnesota Wild. Before then, the Kings were in the midst of a six-game winning streak. That loss to the Wild was only the second time this season the Kings were defeated when they led after two periods. The Coyotes were the first team to rally in the third against the Kings when the teams last played March 17. Center Anze Kopitar continues to pace the Kings with 63 points. Center Jeff Carter has a team-high 26 goals.

REMAINING REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE

Wednesday, April 2 at 7:30 p.m.

Coyotes at Kings

TV: NBC Sports Network

Friday, April 4 at 7 p.m.

Oilers at Coyotes

TV: FSAZ

Tuesday, April 8 at 4 p.m.

Coyotes at Blue Jackets

TV: FSAZ Plus

Thursday, April 10 at 5 p.m.

Coyotes at Predators

TV: FSAZ

Saturday, April 12 at 6 p.m.

Sharks at Coyotes

TV: Channel 3

Sunday, April 13 at 6 p.m.

Stars at Coyotes

TV: FSAZ