The injuries continue to mount for the Detroit Red Wings.
Defenseman Brendan Smith is out approximately four weeks with a sprained right medial collateral ligament. Forward Tyler Bertuzzi is out three to five weeks with a high left ankle sprain, general manager Ken Holland told the Free Press.
Bertuzzi was injured when he fell awkwardly after being hit by Montreal's Alexei Emelin on Saturday.
"I just went into a corner and got nudged and went into the boards a little awkwardly," Bertuzzi said. "It's part of the game. It wasn't a dirty hit. It's just the way I went in it went bad."
Tests revealed that nothing is broken, so he won't need surgery. Neither will Smith, who was injured after a collision with Montreal's Phillip Danault. Smith was not available for comment Monday.
The news on Bertuzzi came the same day the Wings activated Tomas Jurco off of long-term injured reserve. He gives them 13 forwards, so no call-up is needed. Holland said defenseman Niklas Kronwall will play Tuesday, when the Wings host the Dallas Stars, giving the Wings six healthy defensemen.
There might be a defenseman called up later in the week. The Wings are being very careful with Kronwall because he has a permanently bad knee, limiting his practices and keeping him out of back-to-back game situations.
"If we need somebody for practice on Wednesday, we'll bring up somebody for practice," coach Jeff Blashill said. "We're going to manage Kronwall; that takes priority."
Smith and Bertuzzi both were placed on injured reserve. The Wings already are without forwards Darren Helm (dislocated shoulder) and Andreas Athanasiou (sprained knee), goaltender Jimmy Howard (groin) and defenseman Alexey Marchenko (upper body).
