Predators’ Roman Josi day-to-day with upper-body injury

Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi continues to be evaluated but is expected to be out of the lineup on a day-to-day basis after suffering an upper-body injury, per Predators team reporter Brooks Bratten.

Facing the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Tuesday, Josi exited late in the second period and did not return, ultimately wrapping up the night with 15:39 in ice time in which he finished with one shot. Through 53 appearances with the Predators this season, Josi has scored nine times and added 29 assists for 38 points coupled with 18 penalty minutes and a minus-26 rating.

Skating in his 14th season in Nashville, the 34-year-old Swiss-born blue-liner has totaled 962 career contests in which he has registered 190 goals and 534 assists for 724 points. During the 2019-20 campaign, Josi was presented with the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s Defenseman of the Year after he approached near point-per-game production counting 16 goals and 49 assists coming in 69 games. Two years later, Josi set a new career high in notching 96 points in a single season. Josi has also added 45 points counting 12 goals and 33 assists through 91 appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Earlier this month, Josi became the Predators’ all-time leader in games played, surpassing former Nashville forward David Legwand. Originally chosen 38th overall by the Predators in the 2008 NHL Draft, Josi also stands as the franchise’s all-time leader in both assists (534) and points (724).

Per PuckPedia, Josi is in the fifth year of an eight-year contract that carries a $9.059-million annual average value.

Following Tuesday’s loss to the Panthers, the Predators have now lost two straight to sit 20-30-7 on the season and 17 points back of the Calgary Flames for the final wildcard seed in the Western Conference.