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No Adrian Aucoin for the Coyotes in Game 5

Andrei Kostitsyn, Patric Hornqvist, Adrian Aucoin, Mike Smith

Phoenix Coyotes’ Adrian Aucoin (33) battles Nashville Predators’ Andrei Kostitsyn (46), of Russia, and Patric Hornqvist (27), of Sweden, for the puck as Coyotes goalie Mike Smith (41) watches in the second period during Game 2 in an NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference semifinal playoff series, Sunday, April 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. The Coyotes won 5-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

AP

The Phoenix Coyotes would likely love to have a veteran presence like Adrian Aucoin in the lineup for another elimination contest tonight in Game 5. Unfortunately for the Coyotes, the 38-year-old defenseman wasn’t out for warm-ups tonight, so he won’t be playing as Phoenix tries to chip away at the Los Angeles Kings’ 3-1 series lead.

Aucoin played 12 minutes in the Coyotes’ Game 4 win, although every shift came before the third period.

The veteran blueliner hasn’t had many brushes with high-level success in the NHL - this is the first time his team made it past the first round - so it must hurt that he’s only played one game in the Western Conference finals. It appears it will stay that way, though.