How Predators can win without Shea Weber

When the Predators play Chicago in a critical Game 3 of their first-round playoff series Sunday, they’ll be doing so without arguably their best player.

The lower-body injury that defenseman Shea Weber suffered in the Predators’ Game 2 win over the Blackhawks probably will keep him out of both Games 3 and 4 at least, with the team scheduled to update his condition when it returns to Nashville on Wednesday.

The Predators have found it difficult to win without Weber in the lineup over the past two years, going 1-4-2 in the seven games he’s missed during that stretch.

That’s one way of estimating the value of Weber, who this year produced 45 or more points for the fifth time in his career, finished second on the team in ice time and finished among the league’s top 25 defensemen in both blocked shots (147) and hits (166).

“He’s a hard guy to replace, a guy any team would miss,” Predators goalie Pekka Rinne said. “I think you try to fill the hole as a team, like we did (Friday) night. But hopefully it’s not a long-term injury and he’ll be back soon.”

In the meantime, just how will the Predators go about winning Game 3, which has — more than two thirds of the time in NHL history — produced the winner of the eventual series when teams are tied 1-1?

Here are five keys for the Predators to win without Weber:

Adjust the power play

The Predators won’t have the benefit of Weber’s cannon-like slapshot on the power play, which means more opportunity will be granted to right-handed shooters Ryan Ellis and Cody Franson.

Ellis has been on the second-team power-play unit since returning from injury in March. But Franson hasn’t seen a lot of power-play time since arriving in Nashville, despite ranking near the top of the league in power-play points for a defenseman at the time he was traded from Toronto. Franson must take advantage of the extra power-play time to use his tricky wrist shot and his good vision from the point.

Utilize Jones more

Second-year defenseman Seth Jones probably will move up alongside Roman Josi in Weber’s absence, meaning Jones will see increased ice time and also inherit more five-on-five responsibilities.

Assuming Jones goes head-to-head more often with Chicago’s talented top six forwards, he’ll have to prove he can handle players such as Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa on a greater basis. On the offensive side of the rink, Jones should be a good complement for Josi, as both players can really skate.

Stay out of the box

Weber led the Predators in short-handed ice time during the regular season, averaging 2:27 in that category. He’d piled up 4:24 of penalty-killing time in Game 1 and another 2:10 in Game 2 before getting hurt midway through the game.

Weber’s ability to out-muscle opposing forwards on the boards and in front of the Nashville net, his long reach and his shot-blocking ability were three reasons he excelled on the penalty kill. Without him in the lineup, the Predators need to steer clear of the penalty box, because they’ll be at an even bigger disadvantage than usual without him in the lineup.

Keep the offense rolling

The more goals the Predators score, the less likely they are to rely on a Weber-less defense to contain Chicago’s high-powered offense.

Nashville struggled down the regular-season stretch offensively, producing just eight goals in the Predators’ last four games. But they’ve come alive offensively in the playoffs (with a little help from Chicago goalie Corey Crawford), scoring nine times in the first two games.

Forwards Colin Wilson and Craig Smith, who’d combined for just one goal in the final 10 regular-season games, have combined for six points in the first two games.

Fill leadership void

The Predators will not only be without Weber, their team captain, but also possibly alternate captain Mike Fisher. Fisher did not participate in Saturday’s optional skate but did make the trip to Chicago. He’s listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

That means other veterans might have to help steady the team in the cauldron that is United Center, especially because a handful of Predators players will be participating in their first road game. Predators coach Peter Laviolette mentioned alternate captain James Neal and forward Paul Gaustad, who filled an alternate captain role in Game 2, as natural leaders.

Reach John Glennon at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @glennonsports.

SERIES SCHEDULE

Game 1: Blackhawks 4-3 (2OT)

Game 2: Predators 6-2

Sunday: at Chicago, 2 p.m., WSMV-4

Tuesday: at Chicago, 8:30 p.m., Fox TN

April 23: at Nashville, TBA

April 25: at Chicago, TBA, if necessary

April 27: at Nashville, TBA, if necessary