Center Tommy Novak missed eleven games for the Predators with an upper body injury but returned to the lineup last night in Nashville's 5-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Center Tommy Novak missed eleven games for the Predators with an upper body injury but returned to the lineup last night in Nashville's 5-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Last night Tommy Novak returned to the lineup for the Predators in their game against the Tampa Bay Lightning after previously missing eleven games due to an upper body injury. Novak was placed on IR on November 14 after missing practice the day before for what was at the time called a "maintenance day" by Andrew Brunette. Novak was expected to miss four to six weeks but returned to the lineup last night after 23 days.
The 26-year-old center was having a strong start to the season before his injury. He was the second leading scorer on the team with six goals and an important player on the power play having scored four goals on the man advantage in the first fourteen games. Novak's injury forced him to sit out and watch while the team was able to put together a six game win streak.
After morning skate on Thursday, Novak talked about watching the Predators during his absence.
"I feel like they made a lot of really good steps," Novak said of the team. "At the time I got hurt we were kind of on a skid, so they've just been playing really hard every night, a lot of consistency. It's been a relentless group, and I'm excited to hopefully join soon."
Novak did join the team last night against the Lightning, and while it felt good to be back in the lineup Novak knows a little more time will help him get back to 100%.
"I'm trying to get my legs back under myself, and get some shifts under me," he said after Nashville's 5-1 win over Tampa Bay in which Novak played just under thirteen minutes of ice time.
"I was a little bit tired coming back obviously, just haven't been playing for awhile, but great to get the win."
Novak played on a line with Luke Evangelista and Juuso Pärssinen in his return to the lineup but did not register any shots on goal in his first game back.
Head coach Andrew Brunette felt it was a good start back for Novak, and Brunette believes he will get better with more practices and games.
"I thought early he was on his game, and then he looked like a guy that hasn't played for awhile," Brunette said of Novak after the game.
While Novak may not have made it onto the scoresheet in his first game back, Brunette knows it is just a matter of time before the center gets back to adding to his stats.
"It'll be better every day, and it was good to get him back," Brunette said. "He adds a dimension to our team that we missed."
Novak and the Predators head out for back to back games this weekend against the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday and the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday before returning home to take on the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night.
Predators Wins Special Teams Battle, Saros Saves 32 in Preds' 5-1 Win Over Lightning
Predators Face Former Teammate Tanner Jeannot Tonight in His 200th Career NHL Game