Whoa, whoa, whoa! When did Spaling get hurt? Maybe he face planted like he did in this photo?

It’s game day in Smashville (well, in Chicago) and the Predators are in the Windy City to take on the 6-2-2 Blackhawks. Although the Preds have been playing like they should be lately, they are up for a challenge tonight that with decide what these guys are made of.

After a knockout, drag out with the Ducks Saturday night, the Preds are nursing their wounds and are trying to get themselves ready for Chicago. However, the Ducks did more damage than once thought. Ryan Thang was called up from the minors yesterday for Mike Fisher, who was blind-sided by Anaheim’s Francois Beauchemin. Fisher will be out for an unknown number of games due to an upper body injury, yet he has not been placed on IR. Also not hitting the ice tonight is Sergei Kostitsyn, who was injured in last Thursday night against the Lightning when he was knocked into the boards and landed awkwardly on his left leg. He, too has not been placed on IR, but Coach Trotz has announced SK74 will not be playing tonight.

The surprising twist tonight for the Predators is Nick Spaling being placed on the Injured Reserve list. Wait- what? Yes, you read that correctly; Nick Spaling fell prey to the Ducks Saturday night and was injured enough to surpass both Fisher and Kostitsyn and head straight for IR. Injured Reserve means he has to miss at least seven games, so he must have gotten clocked pretty hard during the game for Trotzie to agree for him to go on IR.

The Predators are to face the leader in the Central Division tonight, so hopefully the Ducks didn’t wound the team too much. Jordin Tootoo was also banged up pretty bad on Saturday, but it looks like he is ready to take on the Blackhawks. Rookie Craig Smith is just fine also, even after losing a tooth against the Ducks. We are thinking Smith will be the driving force behind tonight’s game.

The puck drops at 7:30PM in Chicago and you can watch the game with the official viewing party at Brewhouse South in Cool Springs! There will be prizes and $3.03 drink/food specials all night long. So if you live around the Cool Springs/Franklin area, come out to watch the game with your fellow Preds fans!

GO PREDS!