Coyotes will have to make do without Klesla

NHL Senior Vice President of Player Safety Brendan
Shanahan is no friend of the Phoenix Coyotes.

Shanahan, who is in charge of doling out discipline for
the NHL, suspended defenseman Rostislav Klesla for a
boarding call on Matt Halischuck in Game 4 against
Nashville.

While the Coyotes are undoubtedly not pleased with the
ruling, they are prepared to move on without Klesla.

“It’s an opportunity for (David) Schlemko to come back
in,” Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said. “Obviously, we’re
disappointed with that, but our focus is on what we have
to do tonight to get a win. It’s unfortunate. We weren’t
expecting that, but there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Perhaps it’s the Coyotes’ fault for not expecting it, as
Shanahan has made a habit of making questionable rulings
when it comes to suspensions this postseason. He already
kicked Raffi Torres out of the playoffs with a 25-game
ban, so the idea of having to play short a man or two is
not something the team is unfamiliar with.

“Obviously, we’d love to have him in the lineup, but other
things have happened throughout the playoffs and we’ve
managed,” captain Shane Doan said of Klesla. “Nothing
would be like having him in there, but somehow we’ll
manage.”

That’s the spirit.

The Coyotes have a chance to close out the series Monday
night at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, and no matter who
gets to wear the red sweater with a coyote on the front,
the goal remains the same: win.

“It’s a good opportunity for myself and for our team,”
defenseman Schlemko said. “I think we all know we want to
get it done tonight. We had the same situation last round
and hopefully we could take a little from that and get the
job done [Monday night].”

Klesla scored one goal and had an assist in Game 1 for his
only points of the series.

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