NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis played in Sunday night's Game 6 loss to the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins after battling an undisclosed injury.
Ellis had exited the Predators' 6-0 loss in Game 5 on Thursday night with 16:02 remaining in the second period. He skated by himself Sunday morning and did not participate in Nashville's optional skate before coming out for warm-ups before Game 6, in which he took line rushes alongside his regular defensive partner, Roman Josi.
Ellis ended up playing more than 24 minutes and blocked three shots and dished out two hits in the 2-0 loss to Pittsburgh.
He had been an important piece of a top-four defensive unit that propelled Nashville to the franchise's first Stanley Cup Final run. He finished the playoffs ranked second among defensemen with five goals, trailing only Josi, who scored six times in the postseason.
Ellis' two playoff power-play goals tied for the team lead, with Josi and forward Colin Wilson.