Coyotes Top Penguins, Boosting Playoff Bid

Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin will miss two to three weeks while recovering from a foot injury.

Coach Dan Bylsma said Malkin, a former most valuable player, was hurt during his first shift in Sunday's 1-0 loss to St. Louis. Malkin played the rest of the game but did not practice Monday. The Penguins would not say which foot was injured.

Malkin is seventh in the league with 72 points despite missing 11 games for various reasons. Malkin had been playing some of his best hockey of the season before the injury, with four goals in three games.

Brandon Sutter will take Malkin's spot on the second line. Bylsma said Malkin does not require surgery and the team anticipates him being ready when the Stanley Cup playoffs start April 16.

COYOTES GOALIE 'DAY TO DAY' Phoenix Coyotes Coach Dave Tippett said goaltender Mike Smith is 'day to day' after injuring his right leg against the Rangers.

Smith was hurt in the third period of Monday night's 4-3 overtime loss. He underwent tests Tuesday and will be evaluated when the team returns to Phoenix on Friday.

Thomas Greiss started in goal Tuesday when the Coyotes faced the Metropolitan Division-leading Penguins in Pittsburgh.

Smith left the game with 7 minutes 43 seconds remaining in regulation after being bowled over by the Rangers' Derick Brassard.

Smith is one of the major reasons the Coyotes are battling for the final spot in the Western Conference playoffs. He is 27-21-10 with a 2.64 goals-against average and three shutouts.

SHARKS CLINCH PLAYOFF SPOT Despite it occurring in a loss, the San Jose Sharks were still happy to clinch a playoff spot Monday night.

Mike Cammalleri scored the only goal in a shootout and the Calgary Flames edged the visiting Sharks, 2-1.

The Sharks clinched a postseason berth by gaining a point.

'It was probably an inevitability, but there is satisfaction in clinching,' Sharks Coach Todd McLellan said.

'That was one of the goals that we set out to do and they've accomplished that. It would've been nice to get the 2 points, obviously we're in a heck of a race for other things, so that's a little bit disappointing, but we have to move on.'

The Sharks' lead atop the Pacific Division is 2 points over Anaheim, but the Ducks have two games in hand.

Karri Ramo had 33 saves for the Flames and stopped Patrick Marleau, Joe Pavelski and James Sheppard in the shootout.

Cammalleri entered the night tied with Jarome Iginla for the most goals since the trade deadline (9) and tied with Dallas' Tyler Seguin for the most points over that same period (15).

'We played the total team game,' Flames Coach Bob Hartley said. 'I know that Karri Ramo played well, brought us some big saves at the right time, but to pick one player of the game tonight, we could have a long list. I felt that it was a real solid team effort.'

Joe Colborne scored in regulation for Calgary. The Flames have won 10 of their past 13 on home ice.

'Let's play well at home, let's get a swagger in this building,' Hartley said. 'I think the fans are unbelievable, they've been behind us since the start of the season. The way we're playing right now is maybe a small way to say thank you for all our great support.'

It was also Calgary's league-leading 43rd one-goal game. That is two away from the club record of 45 set in 2005-6.

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