(Nashville) Nashville Predators center Ryan Johansen will miss the remainder of the regular season after undergoing surgery on his lower right leg.
The Predators announced Thursday that Johansen will miss “approximately 12 weeks of activity” after going under the knife Wednesday afternoon.
The Preds will need to make the playoffs if Johansen is to return to play this season. The Tennessee roster will end its regular season on April 14 by hosting the Colorado Avalanche, and they entered Thursday night’s game against the Sharks in San Jose seven points from the second and final playoff bye in the West Association.
Johansen left the playing surface late in the second period of the game that ended 5-4 in the shootout for the Preds against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night, after defenseman Quinn Hughes’ skate blade hit the back of his right ankle. Johansen left the amphitheater on crutches without applying pressure to his right foot, despite wearing a protective boot.
The six-foot-three colossus ranks fifth in Predators scoring with 28 points in 55 games. That’s a significant drop from his 63 points in 2021-22, his third-best NHL career.