Steven Stamkos Injury Update: Predators Forward 'Trending Toward' Playing Saturday

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos, who left Tuesday's game against the Winnipeg Jets with an apparent injury in the second period and did not practice with the team on Thursday due to "maintenance," was on the ice for morning skate ahead of Saturday's game against the Washington Capitals.

Stamkos said after skate that he had a small issue during Saturday's game against the Calgary game that resurfaced during Tuesday's game and that his reasons for leaving the game early were more precautionary than anything. He skated in line rushes Saturday morning with his usual linemates, Jonathan Marchessault and Filip Forsberg, practiced with the first power play unit and said he feels good to go for Saturday's game.

Predators head coach Andrew Brunette was slightly less bullish on Stamkos' return, calling him a "game time decision," but said that the forward was "trending toward" playing Saturday against Washington.

Marchessault, who also took a maintenance day Thursday, was also on the ice for Saturday's morning skate. Players who were absent included Luke Evangelista (out four weeks with a lower-body injury) and Jeremy Lauzon, Adam Wilsby and Cole Smith (all on IR).

The Predators also recalled forward Kieffer Bellows from the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals Saturday morning, a move Brunette said was "just in case" Stamkos wasn't ready to go. Bellows has appeared in 31 games for Milwaukee this season, tallying 12 goals, 10 assists and 36 penalty minutes. He leads the team in goals, is second in points (22) and tied for third in assists.

Predators forward Zachary L'Heureux, who served a three-game suspension for slew-footing Minnesota Wild captain Jared Spurgeon, is also eligible to return to Nashville's lineup Saturday. He rushed with the third line at morning skate alongside Fedor Svechkov and Tommy Novak, and he practiced with the second power play unit.

The puck drops for this season's second and final meeting between the Predators and Capitals Saturday at 7 p.m. CT at Bridgestone Arena.

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