Already playing without P.K. Subban on their blue line, the Nashville Predators might have lost another key defenseman on Friday night when Roman Josi had to leave their 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins early in the first period with an upper-body injury.
Josi did not return to the game, and there is no guarantee that he will be available on Saturday when the team takes on the Colorado Avalanche.
The injury happened in the first period when Josi was rocked by a hit from Bruins forward Anton Blidh. It was a play that resulted in Blidh getting a five-minute major for interference.
Have a look.
After the game, Predators coach Peter Laviolette was critical of the play, calling it “late and dirty,” via the Tennessean.
Josi has not missed a game this season for the Predators and even though his offense has dropped a bit (he is on pace for about 41 points after recording more than 60 a year ago) he is still one of their top-two defenders and a key cog on the team. They especially cannot afford to lose him now with Subban already out of the lineup.