Music: {allcanada} PREDATORS' WEBER LISTED DAY-TO-DAY WITH UPPER-BODY INJURY

Thursday, January 30, 2014

{allcanada} PREDATORS' WEBER LISTED DAY-TO-DAY WITH UPPER-BODY INJURY

Mattel delivers play every day - Shop online at Mattel Shop!

NASHVILLE -- Predators captain Shea Weber is day to day with an upper body injury and did not skate Thursday in Nashville's first practice since the defenceman was hurt.

Weber left Tuesday night's 4-3 win at Winnipeg 3:28 into the third period and did not return. The Predators took Wednesday off, and Weber was not seen in the locker room after practice Thursday.

The defenceman is the Predators' second-leading scorer with 36 points, and he also is alternate captain for the Canadian Olympic hockey team for the Sochi Olympics. The two-time Norris Trophy finalist and 2010 Olympic gold medallist has missed only three games this season after taking a puck to the face Nov. 28.

If Weber can't play against the New Jersey Devils on Friday night or Saturday night in Minnesota, that leaves the Predators with very little experience on defence.

"It's a big deal if he doesn't play," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "It's a huge hole we have to fill."

Michael Del Zotto is the most experienced defenceman currently on the roster, and Nashville just traded for him Jan. 22 in a deal sending Kevin Klein to the Rangers. Del Zotto is closing in on 300 career NHL games, and Roman Josi is the next closest defenceman with 145 games in the league. Ryan Ellis has 117 NHL games, and then there's rookie Seth Jones.

"It's a young group," Trotz said.

The Predators currently have 56 points and trail the Vancouver Canucks by seven points for the final wild card slot in the Western Conference. Nashville has four games left before the Olympic break.

"It's definitely tough when you lose a guy like him," Jones said of Weber. "Anyone it's tough, but especially him. He's our leader. He kind of makes us go ... Without him, it'll definitely be tough. But other guys on the D corps and the team will definitely step up."

Video: Wrecking Ball - Miley Cyrus