Coyotes
with an upper-body injury in 2013 after getting charged behind the net.
“Injuries happen,” Tippett said. “You never like to see them happen, but they happen. It’s how your team responds around it that can dictate outcomes.”
While the team waits for more clarity on Smith’s status, backup Louis Domingue finds himself in the same position he was last season — manning the net while Smith is on the mend.
“It’s a situation I’ve been in before, so I gotta use that experience in my favor to try to help the team get some points on the road,” said Domingue, who is scheduled to start against the Canadiens. “It’s a big task for me (and) important road trip for the whole team.”
Actually, it was Domingue’s play in 2015-16 while Smith recovered that solidified his spot as the team's No. 2; he went 7-0-3 in his first 10 starts, racked up 15 wins – most by a rookie goalie in franchise history since the team moved to Arizona – and finished with a.912 save percentage.
“He knows he can come in and do the job in this league,” Tippett said. “Last year he jumped in and played really well … and expect the same from him this year.”
The 24-year-old was likely to start either Thursday or Friday to begin with since it’s a back-to-back, and Tippett plans to evaluate the position as the team moves forward. Arizona recalled goaltender Justin Peters from its American Hockey League affiliate, and Peters was able to get to Montreal in time for Wednesday’s practice. Performance will determine ice time, Tippett said.
Domingue had a rough start to his season Tuesday, getting scored on off a turnover only 12 seconds after he replaced Smith. Another goal came 41 seconds later. But he’s poised to make his first start of the season in a meaningful
Defenseman Michael Stone (knee) is still on track to possibly debut on this road trip, Tippett said.
The Coyotes shifted winger Jamie McGinn (upper-body injury) to injured reserve retroactive to Oct. 5. McGinn didn’t accompany the team on the road; he’s doing “all right,” Tippett said, and the team may know in the next couple of days whether McGinn will join the trip.