Nashville Predators defenseman Nick Blankenburg speaks to the media following Colton Sissons' injury during The Nashville Predators [http://thn.com/nashville] announced Monday morning that they will be without two key members of their veteran forward group for that evening's road game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Per the team [https://x.com/PredsNHL/status/1906719426277154852], Colton Sissons is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury, while Jonathan Marchessault is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury. The update on Sissons is not surprising, considering the 31-year-old exited during the first period of Saturday's loss to the Vegas Golden Knights [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/game-day/nashville-predators-vs-vegas-golden-knights-live-game-thread] after sustaining what appeared to be a gruesome leg injury. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/predators-colton-sissons-exits-vs-golden-knights-with-apparent-lower-body-injury] Jonathan Marchessault, Nashville Predators [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/641a3a6e-8760-4288-b635-10e79d7d9a1a.jpeg] Jonathan Marchessault, Nashville Predators The cause and severity of Marchessault's injury remain unknown, and it is unclear whether he will play for the Predators in Tuesday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Marchessault has struggled offensively of late, recording just one assist in his last 10 outings. He has 19 goals, 49 points and 76 hits in 73 games this season. With Marchessault Sissons unavailable Monday in Philadelphia, it's likely we could see Jakub Vrana and Matthew Wood draw into the lineup for Nashville. Vrana has one goal in five games for the Predators since being claimed off waivers from the Washington Capitals on March 6 and hasn't appeared in a game since Nashville's March 20 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. Wood, the No. 15 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Predators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/nashville-predators-sign-2023-first-round-pick-matthew-wood-to-entry-level-contract] over the weekend after his junior collegiate season with the Minnesota Golden Gophers came to an end with a loss to UMass Amherst in the NCAA Tournament. The injuries to Sissons and Marchessault could cause Wood to make his NHL debut sooner than anticipated, unless the Predators decide to go with 11 forwards and seven defensemen Monday in Philadelphia.
