Injury Updates: Green, Daley, Letang, Kings

It has been a rough year for Red Wings defenseman Mike Green.  He missed the first three weeks of the season with a virus that was attacking his liver while also missing 13 games due to a lower-body injury.  Unfortunately for Green, the virus is back which will cause him to miss the next seven-to-ten days, the team announced.  Despite missing 22 games already, Green still leads Detroit in scoring from a defenseman with 26 points in 43 contests.

The Red Wings won’t need to make a corresponding roster move to take Green’s place, however, as veteran blueliner Trevor Daley will suit up tonight against Colorado after missing the last two games with an upper-body injury.  He has also had issues staying healthy this season and has only suited up in 38 of their 65 contests.

Other injury notes from around the league:

• Penguins defenseman Kris Letang skated with teammates for the first time since suffering an upper-body injury just over a week ago, reports Jonathan Bombulie of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. However, there remains no firm timetable for his return.  Pittsburgh could certainly use their number one blueliner as they remain in a dogfight for a playoff spot in the tight Eastern Conference.  Fortunately for them, they got one defender back tonight as Brian Dumoulin returned after missing the past three games with a concussion.
• The Kings are expected to have defenseman Alec Martinez available tonight against Montreal, notes Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider. He has been out for nearly three weeks due to an upper-body injury.  Meanwhile, winger Austin Wagner is still listed as day-to-day but he’s unlikely to suit up on their current homestand which wraps up on Thursday night.