Predators’ Ryan O’Reilly out day-to-day with upper-body injury

Some concerning news for one of the key veterans in Smashville.

On Thursday, the Nasvhille Predators announced that forward Ryan O’Reilly is out day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

O’Reilly suffered the injury on Tuesday night in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, taking a stick near his eye. Nashville ended up losing by a final score of 3-2. The Clinton, Ont. native scored his 22nd goal of the season in defeat, posting three shots on goal while registering a minus-one rating in 18:36 of ice time.

In a statement by the Predators, they said O’Reilly is expected to be okay after the scary incident.

“For those who are concerned about Ryan O’Reilly,” the statement read we expect that he is going to be OK. He is flying home with the team from Columbus tonight and will be evaluated by our medical team in Nashville. We expect to have an update on his playing status sometime Thursday.”

O’Reilly has been a key part of the Predators’ resurgence this season. After an abysmal 2024-25 campaign, which saw the team finish seventh in the Central Division, Nashville is back contending for a Wild Card spot in the hectic Western Conference. The 35-year-old has scored 22 goals and 37 assists for 59 points in 61 games, leading the team in assists and overall scoring.

Barring this current ailment is more severe than it looks, O’Reilly has a chance to surpass his best performance with the Preds from two seasons ago, when he notched 69 points in 82 games. The veteran center’s best run came during the 2018-19 season with the St. Louis Blues, notching 77 points on his way to helping the team win the Stanley Cup, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy in the process.

The Predators (27-26-8) are fifth in the Central Division, five points back of a Wild Card spot.