Predators' Ryan Ellis day-to-day after puck to knee

OTTAWA, Ontario — Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis is officially listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury after blocking a shot with his right knee in the third period of Nashville's 4-3 shootout win against Ottawa on Saturday.

Ellis will be evaluated upon the team's return to Nashville. The Predators have the day off Sunday.

With 7:43 remaining in regulation, a Senators shot struck Ellis on the inside of his right knee, and he immediately fell to the ice. He was tended to by trainers and had to be assisted to the locker room.

If Ellis is out for any length of time, the Predators are carrying two extra defensemen: Victor Bartley and Anthony Bitetto.



Hutton's first start: Goaltender Carter Hutton made his first start of the season, stopping 38 of 41 shots and two of three shootout attempts.

Hutton hadn't played in two weeks, not since he relieved starter Pekka Rinne in the Predators' final preseason game Oct. 3.

"I thought I played well," Hutton said. "I thought they had a lot of chances, a lot of shots. Early on, they got a lot of pucks on net. I thought a couple pucks were coming off me a little bit, but you know, a little rust, I haven't played in awhile. For me, I think just getting in there battling, getting out there, handling pucks, and once I settled in, I thought I was pretty solid. I thought the team, we stuck with it. Obviously, you don't want to give one up late there. ... We stuck with it."

Road trip evaluation: Before the Predators left Nashville last week, coach Peter Laviolette was asked what he could learn about his team on its first road trip of the season.

"I always say ask me that when we get back," he said at the time.

Against the Devils on Tuesday, the Predators were sluggish at times and admittedly didn't play particularly well despite winning 3-1. Two nights later against the Islanders, they were upbeat despite suffering their first loss as their aggressive offense finally appeared with a season-high 47 shots. The Predators' even-strength offense sputtered and they allowed 41 shots Saturday against the Senators, but they were resilient in a 4-3 shootout win.

Technically, the Predators weren't back from the trip yet, but inside the Canadian Tire Centre, Laviolette provided an evaluation.

"It's early in the season here," Laviolette said. "We've got a real good group of guys in there. They play hard for each other. I think that's evident in the third period tonight with a good road win. You're walking home with four out of six points, and you like the way the team played in the loss, you just didn't like the result. It's good. We're going back in a good spot. We've got to win some home games now."

Reach Adam Vingan on Twitter @AdamVingan.