Tommy Novak Placed On IR with Upper Body Injury, Preds Recall Spencer Stastney from Milwaukee

The Nashville Predators forward will miss 4-6 weeks with an upper body injury according to the team.

It has been a challenging first fourteen games for the Nashville Predators, and over the next four to six weeks the Predators will be without one of their leading offensive weapons. Today the team announced that forward Tommy Novak was placed on injured reserve with an upper body injury. 

Novak was not on the ice at practice yesterday but the word from the team was that Novak and defenseman Dante Fabbro were off for maintenance days. 

Novak is tied for second place with Ryan O'Reilly in team points and tied for second in goals with Filip Forsberg. Novak has centered one of Nashville's most productive lines with Kiefer Sherwood and Luke Evangelista. Yesterday Cody Glass practiced with Sherwood and Evangelista, so it is likely that head coach Andrew Brunette will go with that line combination tonight against the Anaheim Ducks. 

Today Nashville also recalled defenseman Spencer Stastney. Stastney played eight games at the end of last season and recorded two assists. the 23-year-old Illinois native has played ten games this season with the Milwaukee Admirals and scored one goal and four points. 

The Predators will take on the Anaheim Ducks tonight at Bridgestone Arena at 7:00 pm CT.