Stars' Benn doubtful for Tuesday with wrist injury

FRISCO, Texas -- The news on Dallas Stars center Jamie Benn was mixed after practice on Monday. On one hand, the organization was happy that Benn, who had to leave the ice late in a 2-0 loss at Phoenix on Saturday following a hard shoulder hit from the Coyotes' Martin Hanzal, did not have a concussion.

Jamie Benn

Center - DAL

GOALS: 6 | ASST: 10 | PTS: 16
SOG: 51 | +/-: -7

However, the 23-year-old center has a wrist injury unrelated to the Hanzal hit that kept him out of practice and also might prohibit him from playing in Tuesday's game against the Nashville Predators, the start of a four-game homestand for Dallas.

"I feel good, had a little spa day today," Benn joked. "The wrist is a little sore today, so [I] took the day off. [I'll] skate tomorrow morning and see how it feels."

Dallas coach Glen Gulutzan termed Benn doubtful for Tuesday's game, but also expressed relief that his wrist was not broken. Benn has 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) through 19 games for the Stars, tying him with Loui Eriksson as the club's second-leading scorer.

"Well, it's a relief that it wasn't broken, and certainly that's a relief [that he doesn't have a concussion], but what's going to keep him out is his wrist," Gulutzan said. "So his hand's swollen up. We'll have to play that day-to-day, but it doesn't look like [he'll play] Tuesday."

The Stars' center was also fine with the hit he received from Hanzal.

"No injuries from that. It was a clean hit. I didn't see him. I just kind of got my bell rung there," Benn said. "I'm moving on and focusing on tomorrow's game."

Dallas general manager Joe Nieuwendyk said he spoke with Brendan Shanahan, the Senior Vice President of Player Safety and Hockey Operations for the National Hockey League regarding the Hanzal hit. Now, the focus shifts to the Predators on Tuesday.

"Yeah, I did speak with him [Shanahan] and they don't have a problem with the hit. So I guess we'll live with their decision and we move on," Nieuwendyk said. "There's a possibility he may not even miss any games. He's going to skate tomorrow morning and he says he feels good.

"This is like a couple lingering things that have been bugging him. So if anything, those are probably more inhibiting than the hit the other night. If he's good in the morning and he has good mobility, he'll probably play tomorrow."