Smith hopes relaxing will help stop slump

He’ll never ease the pressure he puts on himself to make each game a masterpiece, but Coyotes goalie Mike Smith can divert his attention.

“(I’m) just going to go into the next game a lot more relaxed and start enjoying it again,” he said.

The Coyotes start a three-game road trip tonight in Edmonton having lost four of their past five games. Smith has planted more responsibility on himself to pull the team out of that slide but, ultimately, that hasn’t helped as Smith is the first to admit he’s been suspect on a few recent goals-against.

“I’ve been pressing a bit and trying to maybe play the perfect game, and it’s kind of affected the way I’ve played a bit,” Smith said.

After allowing four goals in each of his past four games, Smith’s goals-against average has climbed to 3.07 and his save percentage is at .910. He’s tried to have more pucks hit him, but that extra effort isn’t the remedy Smith is seeking.

“I can’t play like that,” he said. “I’m a freelancer and just go out there and enjoy the game and just have that mentality, ‘Come on, beat me with a shot.’ Right now, it’s almost like I’m trying to go get it. Having that urge to do that obviously can turn and go the other way.”

With Smith playing only two games last week and likely to get another day of rest soon — the Coyotes play three games in four nights — fatigue shouldn’t be a factor.

Ice chips

Winger Lauri Korpikoski (upperbody injury) and defenseman Zbynek Michalek (lower-body injury) accompanied the team to Edmonton although it’s unlikely either will play against the Oilers.

Korpikoski practiced Monday, while Michalek skated for 30 minutes before practice. Both are on injured reserve and neither has been in the lineup since mid-November.

Tippett is optimistic Korpikoski will makeareturn at somepoint during the trip. He’s unsure about Michalek.

» Defenseman Rusty Klesla was re-assigned to Portland of the American Hockey League on Monday.

Klesla was put on waivers last week, and once he cleared he was assigned to the minors to work on his defensive play. But the Coyotes recalled him Friday so Klesla could attend to a personal issue. When: 7:30 p.m. Where: Rexall Place, Edmonton. TV/radio: FSAZPlus/KMVP-AM (860). Oilers update: The Oilers are still in the basement of the Pacific Division standings, but they’ve won five of their past seven games. Their most recent came Sunday with a 3-2 shootout win over the Dallas Stars. G Ilya Bryzgalov, who signed a one-year contract with the Oilers last month, left that game with an upper-body injury after a collision in his crease, and the extent of his injury is still unclear. If he can’t go, Devan Dubnyk has allowed one goal or less in four of his past five appearances. W Jordan Eberle leads the team with 23 points. He’s tied with W David Perron for the team lead in goals (nine). Go to coyotes .azcentral.com for the Hat Trick, a video Q&A with a Coyotes player. This week’s guest is Paul Bissonnette. Also find live game updates, weekly chats and the latest news from the team.

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