The Red Wings could be without Daniel Cleary for a month after he fractured his ankle during the team's 4-1 win over Minnesota on Sunday night.
He was injured in the third period when a shot by teammate Brad Stuart hit his left ankle.
Unaware of the extent of the injury, Cleary returned to the ice during a later power play.
"I was hoping [it was] a bad bruise," he told reporters.
"I didn't know what was going on," Cleary said. "Sometimes in the boot, it can stay. It was sore, but -- I knew after the game, something was wrong."
Cleary Out A Month With Fractured Foot