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Phoenix puts Korpikoski (upper body) on IR

Matt Greene, Lauri Korpikoski

Lauri Korpikoski #28 of the Phoenix Coyotes moves the puck in front of Matt Greene #2 of the Los Angeles Kings in the first period in Game Three of the Western Conference Final during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center on May 17, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (May 16, 2012 - Source: Harry How/Getty Images North America)

The Phoenix Coyotes put forward Lauri Korpikoski on injured reserve Friday, calling up Tim Kennedy from AHL Portland in his place.

Korpikoski, 27, missed Thursday night’s 7-4 loss to Los Angeles with an upper-body injury. The Finnish forward -- who signed a four-year, $10 million extension in July -- is an important role player for the ‘Yotes, having notched two points in 10 games this year while averaging over 15 minutes per game.

The 6-foot-1, 205 pound winger has shown some major physicality this season as well. He sits second among all Phoenix skaters with 33 hits, 11th most in the NHL and ninth among all forwards (just eight back of teammate Martin Hanzal, who sits second with 41 hits).

It remains to be seen how much time Korpikoski will miss. The Coyotes play Saturday against Edmonton, Tuesday against Los Angeles and Thursday against Nashville, so the amount of games lost to injury will depend if his IR stint begins today, or if he was placed on there retroactively.