This is not the first time that Phoenix Coyotes goalie Mike Smith has been run over behind his own net when he went to play the puck, but this time seemed way more painful. Vancouver Canucks defenseman Alexander Edler went to forecheck Smith as he was playing the puck and made no effort to skate around Smith. Edler plowed into Smith at full speed, knocking him down to the ice and igniting a scrum between the two teams.
Edler was given a five-minute major for charging and Smith was able to finish the second period, but did not return for the third. To make matters worse, Edler recorded an assist on the game-winning goal that beat back up goalie Jason LaBarbera to give the Canucks the 2-1 victory. Edler has a hearing set for Friday with Brendan Shanahan.
At least we know that Smith wasn’t embellishing the contact like he did in the playoffs last year.
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