Red Wings’ Patrick Kane to miss at least two games

A top player is going to be absent for the next few days.

When speaking to the media on Monday, Detroit Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan announced that forward Patrick Kane is going to be out for the next two games due to an upper-body injury and is considered day-to-day.

According to McLellan, Kane tweaked something during Saturday’s 4-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Whatever’s ailing Kane, it wasn’t enough to slow down the Buffalo native against his former team. He played a hair under 18 minutes, scoring a goal and an assist in the victory.

With McLellan’s prognosis, Kane will not be in action for the Wings’ matchup with the New York Islanders on Tuesday night, nor the following night when Detroit hosts the Utah Mammoth. His status for this weekend’s home-and-home against the Washington Capitals is still in question.

This isn’t the first time Kane has been on the shelf this season. Another upper-body injury led to the three-time Stanley Cup champion missing nine games.

Yet, even though he has been absent for stretches this season, Kane remains one of the Red Wings’ most effective offensive weapons. In 24 games, he has scored six goals and 17 assists for 23 points, placing him fourth on the team in scoring behind Alex DeBrincat, Lucas Raymond and captain Dylan Larkin. Kane had posted 10 points in the previous eight games prior to his injury.

With Kane out of the lineup, there will be some shaking up in Detroit’s forward group. Forward John Leonard was called up from the team’s American Hockey League affiliate. McLellan stated that he will be filling in Kane’s spot on the second line beside DeBrincat and Andrew Copp. Leonard has been on fire this season in the minors, scoring 19 goals and 29 points in 20 games. Along with leading the AHL in goals, and sitting third in points, the 27-year-old has helped the Griffins get off to an incredible 22-1-0-1 record, the best start in league history.

The Red Wings (18-12-3) currently sit tied for first in the Atlantic Division with the Tampa Bay Lightning.