Early on in the 4-1 statement win for the Nashville Predators over the New York Rangers on Thursday, Cody Glass had to exit the game with a lower body injury.
Glass was featured on an interesting second line combination that put Colton Sissons away from his normal center position and on the wing, with Gustav Nyquist on the other wing. A line experiment we didn’t get to see come to fruition. At least not for now.
Cody Glass (lower body) will not return to tonight’s game. #Preds
— Nashville Predators PR (@PredsPR) October 20, 2023
Alex Daugherty of Penalty Box Radio shared a clip from early in the game that appears to show when Glass suffered the injury, and suggesting maybe it’s something minor to the ankle area.
Think I've found where Cody Glass may have been injured.
— Alex Daugherty (@AlexDaugherty1) October 20, 2023
15:39 in the 1st, his left skate goes awkwardly into the boards as he's fighting for the puck. He definitely looks like he's in pain immediately after. He finishes the shift, starts the PP shift, then leaves. pic.twitter.com/tcPUsKGMJF
Nashville Predators Hoping this is a Minor Injury for Glass
First off, huge respect for Glass to finish the shift in what was probably excruciating pain to even skate up the ice in pursuit of the play. This gives you the hope that it’s a minor tweak that will heal itself with rest.
Glass’ exit from the game forced the Predators to skate with 11 forwards at an early point in the game when it was still scoreless. Not an ideal way to open a game losing your second line center.
Fortunately the Predators kept their foot on the gas behind Cole Smith‘s offensive eruption for two goals, a power play goal from Ryan O’Reilly and an absolute blast of a slapshot from Filip Forsberg.
The Predators raced ahead for a 4-0 lead and was able to play a more disciplined defensive game in holding the Rangers off from there. If the game had been close or tied down the stretch, skating with 11 forwards and missing a key center would’ve been difficult to overcome.
This injury doesn’t appear to be anything long-term for Glass, but again we’re not sure as of now and should get updates throughout the day on Friday. It could come down to pain management and a gametime decision on if Glass can effectively skate or not.
If Glass were to be held out of Saturday’s game against the San Jose Sharks, it would certainly be leaning on the precautionary side being this early into the season and the Predators having other options at center to go with for the time being.
With Glass out, the Predators’ four centers would be Ryan O’Reilly, Thomas Novak, Colton Sissons and Michael McCarron. Not what you want to lean on long-term, but it can get you by for a game or two if Glass needs some extra time to get to 100 percent.
Glass has yet to register a point in 2023-24 with nine shots on goal in just over 13 minutes of average ice time.
Also worth noting that Philip Tomasino was a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Rangers and would have to be inserted back into the lineup if Glass were to miss a few games.