The Arizona Coyotes announced that goaltender Mike Smith will miss at least two months after having surgery in Philadelphia this week.
The team is calling it a “core injury,” but has not identified a specific issue. According to reports, the injury is similar to one that Smith had while with the Stars in 2004 and that this surgery was able to repair the problem and clean up the earlier surgery. The estimated rehab is 8-10 weeks.
Update: Mike Smith had a core muscle injury. He underwent successful surgery today. Estimated 8-10 weeks recovery. pic.twitter.com/IdMbIvqWhn
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) December 15, 2015
Head Coach Dave Tippett, speaking with KTAR 620’s “Bickley and Marotta” show, said that Smith had been fighting through the injury for a few months. Tippett went on to add that the injury flared up in practice and was something that Smith could no longer play through.
Arizona signed Anders Lindback in the offseason on a one year deal to back up Smith. Lindback is 4-5-1 in 12 games this season. The hope is that Lindback can have a similar performance as Devan Dubnyk last season, who filled in for Smith during injury, and played so well that the Coyotes was able to trade him to the Wild. Dubnyk was able to continue his success for Minnesota receiving a six-year, $26 million contract extension from the Wild in the offseason.
The Coyotes have recalled Louis Domingue from the Springfield Falcons to back up Lindback. Domingue received some playing time last season for Arizona, earning his first career win vs his hometown Montreal Canadians. He has a career NHL record of 1-2-1 in seven games.
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