The Arizona Coyotes will be without goaltender Mike Smith for eight to 10 weeks after surgery on Tuesday for a core muscle injury.
"We expect him back, 100% healthy, hopefully before the end of the season," Coyotes general manager Don Maloney said. "It had been lingering for a little while and it got to the point where he couldn't play anymore."
Smith, a Vezina Trophy finalist in 2011-12 when the Coyotes reached the Western Conference finals, has a 10-9-1 record with a 3.06 goals-against average and .901 save percentage in 22 games this season.
His primary replacement will be Anders Lindback, but the Coyotes might pursue another goalie in a deal.