Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith will play Tuesday in Game 3 against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center, Darren Dreger of TSN's Hockey Insider reports. Smith took a nasty blow to the helmet behind his own net as Blackhawks rookie Andrew Shaw ran into him face first. Smith was able to finish out the game somehow, though the Coyotes eventually lost 4-3 in overtime.
Phoenix head coach Dave Tippett said that Smith was "100 percent" following the game, but fell back on a vaguer statement that left his goaltender's status in doubt. Smith did not practice Monday, but did take part in the team's morning skate before the game Tuesday.
"Whether it's an injury day or rest day, our prerogative is we don't have to tell everybody why a player practices or not practices," Tippett said. "Why would we do that?"
Shaw earned a three-game suspension for his hit on Smith. Brendan Shanahan explained his decision, saying that Shaw did "did not make a reasonable effort to avoid such contact."
For more on Smith and the Coyotes, head over to the SB Nation blog Five For Howling. For more on the Blackhawks, check out Second City Hockey.
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