Predators' Fiala out of playoffs after breaking leg

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Nashville general manager David Poile says Predators forward Kevin Fiala broke his left leg during Game 1 against St. Louis and is recovering from surgery to repair his femur.

Poile detailed Fiala's injury in a statement Thursday.

The general manager says Fiala had surgery at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis and will start rehabilitation when he returns to Nashville.

The 20-year-old Fiala was hit by Blues defenseman Robert Bortuzzo and went hard into the boards behind the St. Louis net at 1:46 of the second period Wednesday night. His injury led to a 17-minute delay while Fiala received medical attention. He was taken off the ice on a stretcher to the hospital.

Nashville won 4-3 for a 1-0 second-round series lead.

The 11th draft pick in 2014, Fiala scored two goals in the Predators' first-round sweep of Chicago.

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Nashville's Fiala leaves on stretcher with leg injury

Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Nashville forward Kevin Fiala was taken off the ice on a stretcher after he hurt his left leg during Game 1 of the Predators’ second-round series against St. Louis on Wednesday night.

Fiala was hit by Blues defenseman Robert Bortuzzo and went hard into the boards behind the St. Louis net at 1:46 of the second period. The injury led to a 17-minute delay while Fiala received medical attention.

”It was tough,” Predators defenseman P.K. Subban said. ”You never want to see a young kid go down like that and be taken off on a stretcher. I’ve experienced it before and it’s not fun, especially for your family and friend so we hope he’s OK.”

Fiala was taken to a hospital for further evaluation. The team says he is ”alert and in stable condition.”

The Predators responded with a Subban goal 36 seconds after play resumed. Nashville went on to win 4-3 to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

”Obviously responded very well with that goal, but it’s hard to see your teammate go down like that,” Predators center Colin Wilson said. ”I feel for him. Great teammate, great player. Going to have to rally around him.”

The 20-year-old Fiala was selected by Nashville with the 11th pick in the 2014 draft. He scored two goals in the Predators’ first-round sweep against the Blackhawks.

Predators coach Peter Laviolette told reporters after the game that the team would update Fiala’s status at a later time. He was happy with how the team handled the delay.

”Our player, their player, nobody likes to see that happen at all and both teams are dealing with that,” Laviolette said. ”Our guys were saying the right things. The leaders on the team were going up and down the bench and saying the right things and shortly after that we scored a goal.”

Fiala, Perry, Ryan named our 'Three Stars of the Night'

NEW YORK – UNB! Network NHL/hockey blog "The Neutral Zone has named Kevin Fiala, Corey Perry, and Bobby Ryan as their 'Three Stars of the Night' for all NHL playoff games taking place on April 17, 2017.

FIRST STAR - KEVIN FIALA, F, NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Fiala scored at 16:44 of overtime to power the Predators to their first 3-0 series lead in franchise history. Fiala (20 years, 269 days) became the youngest player in @PredsNHL history to score an overtime goal in the postseason.

SECOND STAR - COREY PERRY, F, ANAHEIM DUCKS

Perry scored at 1:30 of overtime to lift the Ducks to their first 3-0 series lead since 2015 first round series vs. Winnipeg (4-0 series win).

THIRD STAR - BOBBY RYAN, F, OTTAWA SENATORS

Ryan scored on a power-play at 5:43 overtime as the Senators took a 2-1 series lead against the Bruins. Ryan is now the 3rd in Senators playoff history to score a PPG in OT, joining Yashin (Gm 3 1998 CQF) and Havlat (Gm 5 2002 CQF).

Fiala Assigned to Milwaukee, Granberg Placed on IR

NASHVILLE, TN - Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Tuesday that the club has assigned forward Kevin Fiala to Milwaukee (AHL) and placed defenseman Petter Granberg on injured reserve.

Fiala has earned nine points (6g-3a) in 32 games for the Preds this season. He has recorded two multi-goal contests and fired a career-high eight shots on Dec. 29 vs. Chicago.

Granberg has played in 10 games for the Predators this season and recorded 10 penalty minutes. He skated a season-high 15:22 Saturday at Colorado and equaled a career high with three shots. The blueliner also registered two hits and one blocked shot.

The Preds are in Vancouver tonight to take on the Canucks at 9:00 p.m. CT in the second contest of a five-game road trip. It will be televised on FOX Sports Tennessee and can be heard on the Predators' flagship radio station, 102.5 The Game.

Full, half, MTN Dew 15-Game Mini Plan, Forsberg's Big Game 9 Pack and 7th Man Pick'em Pack season-ticket holders continue to receive the biggest savings and the most comprehensive benefits that Smashville has to offer. In addition to saving money off the individual ticket price and gaining access to certain games only available through plans, these plan holders receive 20 percent off at the Predators Team Store, 10 percent off at Bridgestone Arena concession stands and highest distinction in Smashville Rewards, the official rewards program of the Nashville Predators. Great interest-free payment plans are currently available for all Nashville Predators season-ticket packages, with full-season packages starting as low as $18 per game and half-season packages beginning at $30 per game.

- Nashville Predators PR