GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Tobias Rieder scored his 11th goal in a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday. That is the most goals by a Coyotes rookie since Mikkel Boedker had 11 goals in 2008-09. Peter Mueller had 22 in 2007-08.
Rieder probably won't catch Mueller, and he certainly won't match the franchise rookie record set by Teemu Selanne, who netted 76 with Winnipeg in 1992-93 (that is also an NHL record). But Rieder is proving every night why coach Dave Tippett tabbed him as the first prospect likely to be called up this season (he was on Nov. 2).
"You can tell along the way he has been taught some good lessons without the puck," Tippett said. "When you get to the NHL, if you don't do those things well they get exploited.
"From a coach's standpoint, he comes in and he gives you confidence that you can put him in situations where he knows what to do, and not just situations of, 'go try to score a goal.' It's put him on in the last minute of a period to protect the lead or play against top players.
"Maybe a different player would make a lot more mistakes that would leave your team more vulnerable. He doesn't make those mistakes. He's a smart player."
Tippett also noted that Rieder is one of the team's top producers of scoring chances -- for himself and others. In advanced stats terms, Rieder drives possession, which is everything in today's game. Rieder is fourth among NHL rookies in shots at 151.
Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson avoided a serious injury when he was boarded by Chicago's Joakim Nordstrom in Thursday's game at Gila River Arena, but Nordstrom earned a two-game suspension for the penalty, the NHL's Player Safety Department announced on Friday.
Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Nordstrom will forfeit $6,630.82. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.
In the league's ruling, it noted that Nordstrom, who has no prior suspension or fine history, did not track Ekman-Larsson for any distance or stride into the hit. But it also noted that Ekman-Larsson's back was clearly facing Nordstrom when he put his hand into the back and shoved Ekman-Larsson into the boards with Ekman-Larsson in a vulnerable position.
Devils at Coyotes
When: Saturday, 6 p.m.
Where: Gila River Arena, Glendale
TV: FOX Sports Arizona
Season series: Devils lead, 1-0
Injuries: Arizona -- F Mikkel Boedker (splenectomy) and C Martin Hanzal (back surgery) are out for the season. D Oliver Ekman-Larsson (upper body) is day to day). New Jersey -- F Ryan Clowe (head) and D Bryce Salvador (lower body) are on injured reserve. F Patrik Elias (back) is day to day.
Quick facts: New Jersey is out of the Eastern Conference playoff race but has played decent hockey of late, going 5-3-2 in its last 10. ... The Devils sent 43-year-old Jaromir Jagr to Florida at the trade deadline for a second-round pick in June and either Florida or Minnesota's third-round pick in 2016. ... Goalie Cory Schneider is quietly having an excellent season. He is eighth in the NHL in goals against average (2.22) and fourth in save percentage (.927). ... F Adam Henrique leads the Devils with a mere 36 points. F Mike Cammalleri leads New Jersey in goals with 24.
When Ekman-Larsson left the ice after the play his right arm hung limply, and when he walked through the Coyotes locker room on Friday there were red marks across his right shoulder and shoulder blade. Tippett termed him "day to day" and said he has not ruled him out for Saturday's game against the Devils.
Coyotes defenseman Brandon Gormley has been a healthy scratch in four of the last five games, including Thursday's game against the Blackhawks.
Here's Tippett when asked what Gormley needs to do to get into the lineup on a more consistent basis:
"There's a number of things," Tippett said. "Play quicker on a consistent basis. That's just not just skating, it's moving the puck, it's thinking. There are a lot of areas of his game that in real fast-paced games, he's got learn to execute, think, move quicker.
"He's battled some injuries. When he did play a string of games it looked like he was coming on and then he had the bad ankle injury and he's never gotten back to full speed since then."
Tippett said assistant coach Jim Playfair, who coaches the defensemen, has been spending extra time with Gormley.
"If you put the work and do the things in practice at the speed you need to, that gives you the confidence that you can get in the game and do it."
-- With forward Lauri Korpikoski healthy again, the Coyotes re-assigned forward Brendan Shinnimin to Portland of the AHL. Shinnimin was an emergency call-up.
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