GLENDALE -- I spoke to Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney on Monday afternoon shortly after the NHL explained to him why captain Shane Doan was suspended for three games for the hit he delivered to Ducks forward Dan Sexton on Sunday night at the Honda Center.

Here's Maloney's reaction:

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"We're disappointed," Maloney said. "I thought it was a harsh ruling given Shane has never been suspended. However, the league is taking a very firm stance on these type of hits so we must accept their decision and move forward."

Doan cannot appeal the suspension, which will keep him out of games vs. Los Angeles (Thursday) and Carolina (Saturday), and at Montreal (Oct. 25).

"Certainly the timing of the hit, occurring late after Sexton released the puck, was a concern and Shane acknowledged his mistake," Maloney said. "However, given the fact there was no penalty and no injury, we were hopeful a warning and a fine would be imposed. It hurts, but on the other hand it is what it is and we'll deal with it."

He added, "It's a very tough job (NHL disciplinarian) Colin Campbell has and he doesn't do it in a vacuum. He solicits opinions from people on his staff and others, and that's the way they saw it."

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Hanzal

Center Martin Hanzal, who suffered a lower-body injury in the second period of Sunday's game at Anaheim, will miss a few games. The team is placing him on the injured reserve list and will recall a forward from the American Hockey League on Tuesday to replace him.

On the plus side, Maloney said he is expecting forward Ray Whitney (upper-body injury) and defenseman Ed Jovanovski (upper-body injury) to be back in the lineup on Thursday vs. Los Angeles. Whitney has missed the past two games. Jovanovski skated in warm-ups before Sunday's game but was scratched at the last minute.

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The Coyotes are 1-2-1 after four games but Maloney, unlike some fans who have sent me some knee-jerk e-mails, isn't panicking.

"We need to find more offense and we will," Maloney said. "We'll be better. Our higher-end players haven't found a way to get the puck in the back of the net yet but that will come over time. We have a good group of players and I have complete confidence in them."

EDITOR'S NOTE: Reach Dave Vest at thedesertdogblog@phoenixcoyotes.com and follow him on twitter @davest4yotes.