Predators’ Shea Weber done for series

After a disastrous two games from Corey Crawford and a bad game 5 from Scott Darling, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville will have to keep his goalies on a short leash as they try to eliminate the Predators.

If the Nashville Predators are to complete a comeback and defeat the Chicago Blackhawks in the rivals’ opening-round series, they’ll have to do so without their captain.

Shea Weber will miss the remainder of the Western Conference quarterfinal due to a lower-body injury, the club announced Friday.

The defenceman suffered the injury in Game 2 of the series and has not played since. He registered one assist and two penalty minutes in the series.

“Obviously [Weber] is a world-class player and any team would miss him,” Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne told reporters after the injury, “but I think overall we have as good of a [defence] corps as any team in the league.”

Contrary to an erroneous broadcast report made during Nashville’s Game 5 victory Thursday, the Predators claim Weber did not suffer an ACL injury.

Down three games to two, the Predators face the Blackhawks in Game 6 of the series Saturday at the United Center in Chicago at 8 p.m. ET.

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