Preds' defender Mattias Ekholm injured after awkward crash into the boards against Bolts

The Nashville Predators, who are off to a 5-8-0 start through the team's first 13 games, will be without the services of one of their top defenders for the next few weeks, Preds head coach John Hynes announced Thursday.

During an interview with Nashville-based radio show 102.5 The Game, Hynes revealed that Mattias Ekholm will be sidelined for the foreseeable future with an undisclosed injury.

Ekholm was injured during the first period of the Preds' matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning after crashing into the boards awkwardly. He did return for the second period, but left the game once again in the last half of the second period.

Tough break for the Predators, who have lost 5 of their last 6, as Ekholm has been one of the team's most reliable defenders since becoming a mainstay in the lineup during the 2013-14 season.

Ekholm was drafted by the Preds in the 4th round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, 102nd-overall, and has tallied 45 goals and 199 points in 550 career NHL games.

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