Tough news out of Nashville today as the Predators reported that Jeremy Lauzon is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
This comes as a major blow to Lauzon’s “unintentional” pursuit of the NHL record for most hits in a season. Lauzon stands at 327 hits this season, which already makes him a the record holder for the Predators franchise. This is also good enough for 10th place on the NHL list.
However, it seems not all hope is lost as. Predators General Manager Barry Trotz appeared on local radio host Jared Stillman’s show before tonight’s game against San Jose. Trotz explained that Lauzon blocked a few shots towards the end of the last game (against Seattle) and that the team is allowing him a chance to rest and recover. He added that if the playoffs were starting, he’d be able to play.
This news makes it seem like Lauzon will be able to return to action sooner rather than later. So, while Lauzon will definitely miss tonight’s game against San Jose, it seems as though he could return at any time. Of course, the week-to-week designation indicates he will likely get a another game or so off.
Based on this information, is it possible that Lauzon can miss a few games and return in time to have a chance at breaking the record? Here’s a look at how many hits Lauzon would need each night based on how many games he misses:
1 game missed: 4.3 HPG
2 games missed: 4.7 HPG
3 games missed: 5.1 HPG
4 games missed 5.6 HPG
5 games missed 6.2 HPG
6 games missed 7 HPG
7 games missed 8 HPG
While the chances of breaking the record certainly drop the longer he stays out, it’s worth noting that Lauzon’s HPG rate on the season sits at 4.8, so missing one or two games doesn’t necessarily make the biggest impact. However, Lauzon’s most recent games have been a bit above that average. So, if you’ve been following this story as closely as I have, it’s not time to throw in the towel on the dream!
-featured image via Danny Murphy-Icon Sportswire-
