GIF: Mike Smith lands awkwardly after collision at the net
Phoenix Coyotes goalie Mike Smith was forced to leave Monday's game following a collision with New York Rangers center Derick Brassard.
Brassard was backing into Smith and fell down on him, causing Smith to fall back awkwardly on on his legs, causing him to writhe in pain. It's unclear what the injury is exactly, but it looks likely to be either one of his legs.
Dave Tippett on Mike Smith's lower-body injury: "He's being evaluated now... We'll see. It's early. We don't know anything about it yet."
— Phoenix Coyotes (@phoenixcoyotes) March 25, 2014
[Courtesy MSG]
Backup goalie Thomas Greiss was brought in to replace Smith, who left the game immediately.
Smith has a 27-21-10 record for the Coyotes this season and a .915 save percentage.
With Smith visibly shaken following the collision, it looks like he might miss a substantial amount of time, which could impact Phoenix's chances of making the playoffs.
The Coyotes currently hold on to the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with a three point advantage on the Dallas Stars.