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Shane Doan of the Phoenix Coyotes celebrates with teammates after Keith Yandle scored a first period goal against the Detroit Red Wings in Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarter-finals.Christian Petersen

If the Phoenix Coyotes are going to keep their impressive series against the Detroit Red Wings going, they'll have to do it without captain Shane Doan.

At least for Game 4.

Coyotes coach Dave Tippett announced Tuesday morning that Doan would miss the game with an unspecified injury. It's believed he suffered a shoulder injury when he crashed into the boards in the second period of Game 3 on Sunday, a game he left after only 6:53 of ice time.

"It's a day-to-day scenario," Tippett said of the injury. "We just feel like with two days before the next game, it's best for him that we wait a couple days."

Taking Doan's spot in the lineup will be checker Vernon Fiddler, who missed Game 3 with an upper-body injury of his own. Tippett will shuffle his lines, bumping Lee Stempniak up onto a unit with Wojtek Wolski and Matt Lombardi.

Tippett said Doan was disappointed not to be able to help his team given he has waited eight years between playoff appearances with a franchise that hasn't had a lot of on-ice success.

"Early on, he was upset," he said. "But his mood yesterday was very good. It's a scenario where he knows he's not going to be out long term and he's doing whatever he can to make sure he gets back. His spirits are good, he seems fine, so he'll get a rest tonight and hopefully he can jump back in and play Friday (in Game 5)."

Doan, 33, finished the regular season with 18 goals and 55 points, totals well off the 31 goals and 73 points he had a year earlier. He has also scored only two goals since Jan. 31 -- a span of 29 games -- but remains a key part of a team short on stars and offensive punch.

"It's tough -- he's our leader on and off the ice," defenceman Ed Jovanovski said. "It gives opportunity for a lot of guys to step up and take the minutes that he takes up there. We played a lot of the last game there without him and found ways to get it done and tonight will be no different."

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