'Yotes Notes: Burmistrov OK After Hard Hit vs. Bruins

Coyotes center Alexander Burmistrov was removed from the ice via a stretcher on Tuesday night after being checked by Boston Bruins defenseman Colin Miller at TD Garden.

Burmistrov lay motionless on the playing surface for several minutes and then gave two thumbs up to concerned teammates and cheering fans as he was being wheeled off the ice. He was quickly taken to a Boston hospital for further evaluation where he was treated and released. He rejoined the Coyotes after the game and flew with them to Buffalo for the next game on their three-game road trip.

"He was in a vulnerable position, but it's a hockey hit," Head Coach Dave Tippett said. "Burmistrov's head is down, and it's a hard hit. It's a hit that happens in hockey. You never like to see anybody get hurt, but I don't think it was an intentional hit to hurt somebody."

Miller delivered his check in the middle of the ice near Arizona's blue line at 3:45 of the second period. Officials gave Miller a five-minute penalty for charging and a game misconduct penalty. Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun, who wrestled Miller to the ice after the hit, received a two-minute roughing penalty.
"Whenever someone gets hit like that on your team, you react accordingly," Chychrun said. "It's tough to see, especially since I'm the one who passed him the puck."

Burmistrov has produced one goal and eight assists in 19 games for the Coyotes, who claimed him off waivers in January.
• Boston won, 4-1, to stretch its winning streak over the Coyotes to 10 games. Arizona's last defeat of the Bruins occurred on Oct. 9, 2010 in Prague, Czech Republic.
"Just too many puck mistakes by key players," Tippett said. "(Alex) Goligoski, (Oliver) Ekman-Larsson, you can't have that. I understand where we're at and everything, but there's a pride that you have to play with and there wasn't enough of that tonight."
Tippett said some roster moves are likely to come soon after the NHL trade deadline passes at 1 p.m. Arizona time on Wednesday.
"We'll see how tomorrow goes," Tippett said. "We've got some young players here that are going to have to go and play in the minors ... We'll get our lineup figured out after tomorrow."
• Forward Radim Vrbata assisted on Peter Holland's power-play goal at 3:27 of the second period to extend his point streak to 10 games. The longest point streak in the history of the Coyotes is 11 games set by Jeremy Roenick in 1999 and Shane Doan in 2008.
• Goalie Mike Smith stopped only 10 of 14 shots in the first two periods and did not play in the third period.
"I'm in a little funk right now and I need to find a way to get out of it," said Smith, who missed the past two games because of illness. "I'll get to work in practice and start playing like I'm capable of playing."
Smith was asked if watching Burmistrov get carried off the ice affected his performance.
"When the signal gets made and the paramedics come on the ice, it's always hard to deal with, but that's no excuse, for sure," Smith said.

Louis Domingue relieved Smith in the third period and stopped all 11 shots he faced.
• Forward Teemu Pulkkinen joined the team in Boston and took part in the morning skate and warm-up. Tippett opted not to play him in Tuesday's game to allow him more time to adjust to being with his new team. Arizona acquired the 25-year-old via a trade with Minnesota on Monday.