Dylan Larkin won't be in the Detroit Red Wings lineup Saturday night when they visit the Nashville Predators.
Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said the 19-year-old rookie forward is out with an upper body injury.
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Per Coach Blashill: Petr Mrazek will start tonight in Nashville. Dylan Larkin is out (upper body). Tomas Nosek in. #RedWings #DETvsNSH
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 26, 2015
Rookie Tomas Nosek will take his spot.
Larkin has been a shining star for the Red Wings in his first professional season. He has 13 goals and 11 assists for 24 points in 34 games. He's also an impressive plus-21.
This will be 23-year-old Nosek's NHL debut. The native of the Czech Republic was undrafted. The Red Wings signed him to a two-year contract in the summer of 2014. He notched 34 points in 55 games with the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins last season and has 7 points in 25 games with the Griffins this season.
The Red Wings are clinging to a playoff spot after losing to the New Jersey Devils before the holiday break. They beat the Predators, 5-4, in overtime on Dec. 5 at Joe Louis Arena. This is the second and final meeting this season between the two teams.
This is also the beginning of a three-game western road trip for Detroit. The Wings will visit the Minnesota Wild on Monday and the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday before returning home to host the Pittsburgh Penguins on New Year's Eve.