Predators’ Roman Josi leaves game vs. Flames with lower-body injury

Nashville Predators’ defenseman Roman Josi left Tuesday’s game against the Calgary Flames with a lower-body injury and did not return.

The injury occurred sometime in the first period. After Josi didn’t return in the second period, the team announced ahead of the third that he would not come back.

The 34-year-old Josi has seven goals and 16 assists for 23 points in 29 games, averaging more than 25 minutes per game with the Predators this year. Now in his 14th NHL season, Josi has 188 goals and 521 assists for 709 points in 938 career regular-season games.

Josi has also played in 91 Stanley Cup Playoff games, scoring 12 goals and 33 assists for 45 points. The Predators’ captain was a big part of the club’s 2017 playoff run, scoring six goals and eight assists for 14 points, averaging 25:46 of ice time as the team reached their first Stanley Cup Final in franchise history.

The Predators have struggled through the first third of the 2024-25 regular season. Through 29 games, Nashville is 7-16-6 with 20 points, last in the entire league.

Josi’s 23 points leads the team in scoring, while forward Filip Forsberg has a team-leading nine goals, along with 10 assists to go with 19 points.

Steven Stamkos, who signed a four-year, $32 million contract with the club in the offseason, has seven goals and seven assists for 14 points in 29 games.

Goaltender Juuse Saros is 6-12-5 with a .908 save percentage and 2.72 goals against average in 24 appearances.

Nashville’s next game is Thursday on the road against the Dallas Stars.