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NASHVILLE — The Nashville Predators placed Matt Duchene on injured reserve Saturday with a lower-body injury.

The ailment is expected to sideline the veteran centre for three-to-five weeks.

Duchene becomes the fourth Nashville player placed on IR since Tuesday, when defenceman Ryan Ellis and forward Luke Kunin were ruled out. Goalie Juuse Saros went on injured reserve Thursday.

The Predators went into Saturday's game with Florida having lost two straight and ranked sixth in the Central Division.

Duchene has eight points in 23 games this season along with a minus-11 rating. He is under contract with Nashville for US$8 million a year through the 2025-26 season.

The Predators also called up forward Mathieu Olivier and defenceman Alexandre Carrier from the taxi squad. They reassigned Michael McCarron to the taxi squad and moved forward Tanner Jeannot to AHL Chicago from the taxi squad.

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The Associated Press