Multiple Predators players dealing with food poisoning

Chicken soup might be good for the soul, but a pregame batch may be to blame for a stomach bug circulating in the Nashville Predators' dressing room.

Ryan Johansen and Craig Smith were forced to leave Friday's loss to the Detroit Red Wings due to illness, and the club provided more details Saturday.

"Last night, we got into a situation where we suspect that we're dealing with some food poisoning in Detroit," Predators general manager David Poile told The Tennessean's Adam Vingan.

Amid the uncertainty of who might be available for Saturday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Predators recalled five players from their AHL affiliate in Milwaukee.

"We've got a lot of guys that are sick right now," Poile said. "Everything was fine yesterday, and it all happened just before and then during the game and after the game and it's continuing today."

Poile added that he heard Friday's pregame meal was responsible for the virus that caught the players off guard.

"I've never seen anything like that or anything close to it, but ... these things happen a lot for teams during the season," P.K. Subban said. "I'm happy to know that it's happening to us right away rather than dealing with it later in the season. Hopefully, this is the last time we have to deal with something like this. But these things happen. It's just a matter of how you respond."

"I didn't notice anything actually before the game," defenseman Roman Josi said. "I think some guys felt a little weird before the game, but nobody was really throwing up yet. ... First, it was just one guy, and we were like, 'Oh, one guy's probably just sick,' but then there was more and more. Obviously, a tough situation."

"I don't think some guys will be coming in," Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said. "Some have shown up. I think we're trying to get a handle on it this morning here and move forward from there. I don't think that there's an exact plan right now. We'll have an exact plan at some point on what we're going to do, but right now it's a little unclear."

After Saturday's game, the Predators don't play again until embarking on a five-game western road trip that begins Wednesday in Anaheim.