Smith out, LaBarbera starts Monday for Coyotes

Monday, 03.25.2013 / 3:14 PM

By Jerry Brown - NHL.com Correspondent / 2012-2013 At the Rink blog

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GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If the Phoenix Coyotes are going to snap a season-long five-game losing streak and beat the Detroit Red Wings on Monday, they will have to do it without their No. 1 goaltender.

Mike Smith was not on the ice for Monday's morning stake and hasn't been on the ice since being run by Vancouver's Alexander Edler in the second period of Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Canucks. Jason LaBarbera will make only his second start since Jan. 26, and he steps in at a big moment -- with the Coyotes fading in the Western Conference playoff race, having collected just one point in the last 12 days.

Defenseman Zbynek Michalek who has missed the last six games after taking a slap shot off his foot in a March 9 win over Dallas, took part in the morning skate for the first time since, but will not play tonight. The Coyotes will get winger David Moss back for the first time in three games and he will play for the struggling Matthew Lombardi. Any help for the Phoenix offense is helpful -- they have scored just three goals in the last five games and none in the first two periods over that same span.

After goalie Jimmy Howard stopped 66 of 68 shots in Detroit's impressive sweep of the Ducks in Anaheim, he will get a night off in favor of Jonas Gustavsson. Damien Brunner returns to the lineup after being scratched on Sunday.

COYOTES

Lauri Korpikoski -- Martin Hanzal – Radim Vrbata

Mikkel Boedker -- Antoine Vermette -- Shane Doan

Steve Sullivan – Boyd Gordon – David Moss

Raffi Torres – Kyle Chipchura – Rob Klinkhammer

Keith Yandle – Derek Morris

Oliver Ekman-Larsson – David Schlemko

Rostislav Klesla -- Michael Stone

Jason LaBarbera

Chad Johnson

Scratches: Paul Bissonnette, Matthew Lombardi

Injured: Zbynek Michalek (foot), Mike Smith (upper body)