Hornqvist status update
4.20.10 / 2:30 p.m. ET

Nashville coach Barry Trotz said after his team’s morning skate that the status of the leading goal scorer, winger Patric Hornqvist, would be a game-time decision for Game 3 tonight.

On Monday, all Hornqvist would tell reporters was, “its upper body, that’s all I want to say. It’s day by day.”

The second-year player who skated for Sweden’s Olympic team was not in the team’s dressing room after the skate.

Hornqvist, whose 30 goals were nine more than any of his teammates during the regular season, did not take part in the skate.

Hornqvist sat out Game 2 after playing in Game 1. However, he missed much of the third period with what the team said was an equipment issue. He also did not play in the final game of the regular season with an upper-body injury.

The Predators aren’t the highest scoring of teams – they ranked 18^th in the NHL in goals-per-game during the regular season – so Hornqvist’s absence is especially glaring for them.

Nonetheless, Trotz hinted that he might make other lineup changes. One possibility is defenseman Denis Grebeshkov, a trade-deadline acquisition from Edmonton who has been medically cleared to play but has yet to be in the lineup in the series.

“I might tweak our lineup a little bit,” Trotz said.

If Grebeshkov is in the lineup, one possibility is that rookie Cody Franson could come out. Franson played only 5:58 in Game 1 and 8:56 in Game 2 – with nearly half of it coming on the power play, which has yet to connect for the Preds.

-- John Manasso

Selke props for Toews
4.20.10 / 2:30 p.m. ET

Chicago coach Joel Quenneville was asked his thoughts about Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews failing to earn enough votes to be one of the three finalists for the Selke Trophy (best defensive forward), which were announced earlier in the day.

“I didn’t see the list but I think Johnny, he’s new as far as being considered around the League,” Quenneville said. “I don’t think he got much consideration for that over the last few years. But watching him play in the Olympics and having an appreciating for him watching him play day-in-and-day out, he can play both sides of the puck.

“He can kill penalties. His strength in the faceoff circle is something we really appreciate. We really think he’s progressed in his -- we’ll call it a well-rounded player and a well-rounded career. I’m sure Johnny will keep progressing to the point in his career where he’ll be considered in that role. I still think he likes both sides equally well.”

-- John Manasso

Author: NHL.com Staff