For a team that still needs to cement its playoff status, beating the Toronto Maple Leafs is pretty important for the Nashville Predators.
That task is tougher than it may seem at first blush, as they’ll need to do so without captain Shea Weber, who’s out with a lower-body injury.
It’s unclear how serious this is (beyond the vague day-by-day label). The assumption is that Weber got injured sometime during Nashville’s shootout win against the Montreal Canadiens.
Barret Jackman steps in with Weber out.
Shea Weber will miss tonight's game with a lower-body injury and is day to day. Barret Jackman returns to the lineup. #NSHvsTOR
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) February 23, 2016
Even in victory, things have rarely been easy for the Predators, so at least they’re used to fighting for their points.