4 Ryan Ellis D

Ellis picked up two assists during Friday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Coyotes in Game 4 of their Stanley Cup Qualifier.

He was a big factor in the game even getting to OT, as Ellis recorded the primary assist on the Nashville goals that tied things up at 2-2 and 3-3, but he couldn't find a third helper before the team was bounced from the playoffs. The 29-year-old blueliner only played 49 regular-season games this season but still managed 38 points (eight goals, 30 assists), potentially setting him up for a big 2020-21 campaign if he can stay healthy.

Ellis scored a goal on five shots and added a pair of blocks Sunday in a 4-3 loss to the Coyotes in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Qualifiers.

Ellis found the net with a one-timer from the point in the opening minute of the third period, pulling the Predators to within 4-2. It was one of his five shots in the game, which topped all defensemen. Ellis was his typical workhorse self, logging just over 26 minutes of ice time, including nearly 10 minutes of special teams duty. The 29-year-old had 38 points in 49 regular-season games and is a steady fantasy contributor in most categories.

Ellis has eight goals, 38 points and a plus-16 rating in 49 games this season.

Despite missing 20 games in the middle of the season, Ellis is right in the neighborhood of the career-high 41 points he scored last year. The 29-year-old blueliner has now scored at least 30 points in five straight seasons. If the NHL decides to resume the 2019-20 campaign, Ellis will have a good chance at setting a new career best in points.

Ellis scored a power-play goal in Saturday's 1-0 win over the Stars.

His second-period snapshot from along the boards was the only shot to beat Ben Bishop on the afternoon, but it was all the offense Juuse Saros would need. Ellis has been making up for lost time since returning from a concussion in late February, scoring two goals and nine points in his last eight games.

Ellis delivered two assists in a 3-2 loss to the Avalanche on Saturday.

Ellis is on a four-game, eight-point scoring streak that includes seven assists. He has 36 points in 44 games this season and he should best his career mark of 41 set last year (82 games). The growth in Ellis' game seems real.

Ellis produced three assists and four shots on goal in Thursday's 4-3 overtime win over the Flames.

Ellis had a hand in both of Mikael Granlund's goals as well as a primary assist on a Roman Josi strike in the third period. Since his return from a concussion, Ellis has a goal and five helpers in four games. The 29-year-old is up to 34 points, 103 shots, 78 blocked shots and a plus-16 rating in 43 contests. He's still got time to match last year's career-high 41-point output.

Ellis scored a power-play goal and assisted on another in a 3-2 win over Ottawa on Tuesday.

Ellis' seventh goal of the year tied the game 5:17 into the second period, and just over four minutes later he assisted on Viktor Arvidsson's go-ahead goal with the man advantage. Ellis has three points and seven shots on goal in his last two games and now has 31 points in 42 contests on the year. It's the fifth straight season in which he's topped the 30-point plateau.

Ellis will join the lineup for Friday's game against the Blackhawks, Paul Skrbina of The Tennessean reports.

Ellis' activation off injured reserve was already a pretty clear indicator that he would be dressing Friday, but now any doubt can be put to rest. Ellis will aim to scrape off some of the rust Friday against the Blackhawks after more than a month on the sidelines and he still has a shot at surpassing his career-high 41 points posted a season ago with a strong second half.

Ellis (concussion) has been activated off injured reserve ahead of Friday's game against the Blackhawks, Adam Vingan of The Athletic reports.

Based on comments made Thursday by coach John Hynes stating Ellis could return to action Friday, his activation essentially works as confirmation that the blueliner will be in the lineup. Ellis tallied 28 points over the first 39 contests of the campaign and will aim to knock the month-plus of sideline rust off Friday in Chicago.

According to coach John Hynes, Ellis (concussion) could return to action Friday against the Blackhawks, Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site reports.

Ellis skated on Nashville's top pairing and second power-play unit during Thursday's practice, which was the first sign that he might be an option against Chicago. Another update on the 29-year-old blueliner's status should surface following Friday's morning skate.

Ellis (upper body) practiced with his teammates Tuesday.

Ellis has been skating on his own for a week now, and he's now made his next step in recovery. The 29-year-old will travel with the team but isn't expected to play on the team during its four-game road trip, which wraps up Feb. 10 against the Canucks. There's a top-four role waiting for Ellis when he returns, as he's stacked up 28 points through 39 games prior to injury.

Ellis (upper body) skated for the first time Tuesday but has yet to rejoin the team for practice. Coach John Hynes told reporters, "He skated a little bit on his own yesterday, so he's progressing. Slowly, but he is progressing. I think yesterday might have been the first time he skated," Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.

Considering Ellis has only just gotten back on the ice and isn't cleared to practice yet, fantasy owners can probably consider him week-to-week. The blueliner has already missed the Predators' previous nine games and remains without a clear timeline to return. Yannick Weber and Dante Fabbro should benefit the most in terms of ice time with Ellis on the shelf.

Ellis (upper body) didn't skate with the team Sunday, Adam Vingan of The Athletic reports.

There's still no clear timeline on Ellis' recovery, but he'll likely need at least another week since he's not on the ice yet. For the time being, Yannick Weber is expected to work on the top pairing with Roman Josi.

Coach John Hynes said there's still no definitive timeline on Ellis (upper body), Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site reports.

Ellis has been out since taking a hard hit to the head from Corey Perry -- who was suspended five games for the collision -- on Jan. 1. He won't start skating until after the All-Star break at the earliest. Matt Irwin and Yannick Weber will stay in the lineup until Ellis can return.

The Predators placed Ellis (upper body) on injured reserve Friday.

Ellis was on the receiving end of a vicious elbow to the head from Dallas' Corey Perry during Wednesday's Winter Classic and will be sidelined for a minimum of three games as a result. Nashville recalled Alexandre Carrier in a corresponding move to fill in on the back end until Ellis is ready to return.

Ellis exited Wednesday's Winter Classic against the Stars with an upper-body injury, Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site reports.

Ellis took an elbow to the head from Corey Perry, who was handed a game misconduct for the hit. The NBC broadcast reported that Ellis won't return. The 28-year-old is having a career year with 28 points through 38 games. He'll aim to get healthy for Saturday's clash against the Kings.

Ellis tallied two assists, including one with the man advantage, in a 5-4 loss to Ottawa.

Rarely a threat to light the lamp himself, Ellis has been an assist machine this season. The top-pairing, power-play quarterback defenseman has found the helper column 22 times across 34 games this season. While they came in a loss, Ellis' two points Thursday give him three straight multi-point games. He also finished with a game-high five blocked shots.

Ellis had two assists with three shots and added two blocks and two hits in Tuesday's 8-3 win over the Islanders.

Ellis drew the primary assist on each of Nashville's final two goals as the Predators erased a 3-1 deficit with seven unanswered. In his last two games, Ellis has a goal and three assists with a plus-5 rating. The 28-year-old is enjoying a typically strong season, having amassed five goals and 20 assists with a plus-13 rating in 33 games.

Ellis scored an empty-net goal and added an assist in Monday's 5-2 win over the Rangers.

He also racked up five blocked shots, two shots on goal, two PIM, a hit and a plus-3 rating on the night. It's his first multi-point performance since Oct. 19, but Ellis hasn't been slacking over the last eight weeks -- the veteran defenseman has a solid five goals and 23 points through 32 games, putting him on pace for a career-best campaign.

Ellis scored a goal on three shots in a 4-3 overtime loss to Vegas on Wednesday.

Ellis converted a feed in the slot to tie the game at 2-2 midway through the second period. The 28-year-old has cooled off after racking up 14 points in October, but he still has 19 points in 24 games overall this season. Ellis is on his way to a second straight season of 40-plus points from the blue line.