Despite their recent six-game win streak, the Phoenix Coyotes were hit with a bit of bad news on Friday morning. Phoenix will be placing defenseman Ed Jovanovski on IR, after the veteran defenseman left Thursday's win over the Atlanta Thrashers with an apparent upper-body injury.
This isn't the first injury for Jovo this season, who has spent the last couple of months in and out of the lineup. He's missed 12 games for Phoenix this season, playing in just four of the Coyotes' last eight.
Jovanovski has notched just 14 points this season, with two of those coming since we rang in the New Year. His injuries this season have opened up time for youngster Oliver Ekman-Larsson, as well as another veteran in Sami Lepisto.
The Coyotes made another move on their blueline when they assigned David Schlemko to their AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage.
Schlemko was injured in a game last month against the San Jose Sharks, when he took an elbow to the head, courtesy of San Jose forward Scott Nichol. Nichol served a four-game suspension for the hit.
Schlemko was activated from injured reserve on Friday prior to being sent to San Antonio. This is seen more as a conditioning move, and Schlemko should be back in Phoenix before long.
The Coyotes will spend the remainder of the month away from Phoenix, with their first road test taking place against the Predators in Nashville on Saturday.