Chip Cirillo

ccirillo@tennessean.com

Capitals rookie Patrick Wey suffered a head injury in a fight with Predators enforcer Rich Clune.

Predators rookie Seth Jones (concussion-like symptoms) has been cleared to play Friday at Anaheim.

Predators enforcer Rich Clune has taken some criticism in the media and from Washington fans for his fight against inexperienced rookie defenseman Patrick Wey during Sunday's 4-3 shootout win over the Capitals.

Clune landed a series of punches to Wey's face before dropping him to the ice with an uppercut in the first period at Bridgestone Arena.

Clune (5-foot-10, 188 pounds) has been in 32 fights in 113 NHL games, and Wey (6-2, 200) fought in his first scrap. Wey's only previous pro fight was in the 2008-09 U.S. Hockey League season.

Wey missed the rest of the Predators game with a head injury.

"I reached out to the kid on Washington just to express the fact that I hope he's OK and it wasn't my intention to hurt him," said Clune, who sent a text message. "He was the one kind of engaging me, and I had no idea who he was. I don't even look at the other team's roster before the game. I just see the names they write on the board. The kid said he was OK."

Wey isn't listed on the Capitals' injury report for players who are out of the lineup. He checked Clune into the center-ice boards in between the benches before the fight.

"He stepped up on me," Clune said. "I didn't have the puck. He finished his check and kind of whacked my head off the boards. He was yelling at me and kind of signaled me. I took a half-step to get away and around him. He was pretty vocal and wanted me to turn around. We looked each other in the eye and agreed that we were going to fight, and went at it."

PHOTOS:Predators beat Capitals 4-3 in shootout

Capitals enforcer Tom Wilson (6-4, 194) tried to fight Clune several times afterward, but Clune said he declined because the Predators had the lead in the game.

"I can understand the Washington organization and the Washington fans being mad, but there's not much more I can say other than we'll see each other at another date," Clune said. "Patrick is going to bounce back."

Injury updates: Defenseman Seth Jones (concussion-like symptoms) practiced and should be able to play Friday at Anaheim.

"He's been cleared, so unless there's anything (unusual) he should be fine," coach Barry Trotz said.

PREVIOUSLY:Predators "very cautious" with Seth Jones' injury

Center Paul Gaustad (upper body) skated on his own and might be able to practice with the team on Wednesday.

Winger Nick Spaling (lower body), who was scratched against Washington, practiced and will be available for a three-game road trip that starts Friday.

Forward Patrick Eaves (lower body) didn't practice and is questionable for the Anaheim game.

Rare shootout win: The Predators improved to 2-8 in shootouts with Sunday's win over Washington. They ranked 27th in the NHL entering Tuesday's games.

Craig Smith scored the winning goal, and backup goalie Carter Hutton stopped all three Capitals in the shootout.

"It's nice to win one of those," left wing Eric Nystom said. "We haven't fared that well in shootouts this year and we played against a really skilled team, and came out with a shootout win so that's a bonus. Carter played extremely well in that game and made some great saves in the shootout, especially on that last one and got us the win."

Nashville is 1-4 at home and 1-4 on the road in shootouts.

Needed day off: After playing three games in four days, the Predators were off Monday.

"For me personally, it was a good day," Trotz said. "I had been coming in every day for about six weeks straight. For us guys, we just finished eight games in 12 nights and we had some travel involved there. I know the guys need a mental break sometimes just from being at the rink or thinking about a game."

Reach Chip Cirillo at 615-664-2194 and on Twitter @ChipCirillo.