As soon as Coyotes coach Dave Tippett dismissed practice Wednesday, goalie Anders Lindback skated for the exit instead of remaining on the ice to take shots from teammates like he usually does.
Now that Lindback has assumed No. 1 duties with Mike Smith sidelined an estimated eight to 10 weeks after having surgery on a core muscle injury, his workload in between games will shrink but that’s the only change in preparation Lindback is anticipating.
“You gotta have the same mind-set and compete every day and try to get better,” he said.
The Coyotes will officially embark on life without Smith for the foreseeable future Thursday when their six-game homestand resumes against the Blue Jackets, and although the team is gauging what other options might exist between the pipes until Smith returns, Lindback will have an opportunity to prove he is the solution.