The Predators aren’t getting much good fortune on the injury front. Just a day after losing a pair of core players to injury and Ryan Johansen to the CPRA list, Nashville is now without one of their goaltenders. The team announced (Twitter link) that Juuse Saros is day-to-day with an upper-body injury that was sustained in yesterday’s game in a collision with Nino Niederreiter, one that netted the winger a fine. Saros earned the starting role last season but has struggled this year, posting a .895 SV%, the lowest of his career. Veteran Pekka Rinne has been the better goalie statistically this year and will hold down the fort while Saros is out while Kasimir Kaskisuo will likely be recalled from the taxi squad on Thursday.
Other injury news from around the NHL:
- The Devils expect to have an update on Nico Hischier’s status over the next few days, notes Sean Farrell of the Bergen Record. The center has missed the last two games after getting hit in the face with a puck on Saturday, extending his tough luck to start the season. While he was named captain, he has hardly played, missing time due to a leg injury sustained in offseason training as well as a stint on the CPRA list. As a result, Hischier has played in just five games so far, collecting two goals and an assist.
- Kings center Jaret Anderson-Dolan has resumed skating as he tries to work his way back from an upper-body injury, relays Zach Dooley of LA Kings Insider. However, head coach Todd McLellan indicated that it’s unlikely that the 21-year-old will be available for the rest of their homestand, spanning the next three games. Anderson-Dolan was off to a strong start to his year before being injured against Arizona, collecting five points over his first six games.
- Panthers defenseman Markus Nutivaara and winger Anthony Duclair will accompany the team on their five-game road trip, reports Jameson Olive of Florida’s team website (Twitter link), suggesting the veterans are nearing a return. Nutivaara has missed the last nine games with an upper-body injury while Duclair missed his first game Monday due to a lower-body issue but it appears he won’t be out for long.