Nicklas Lidstrom

DETROIT – The Red Wings will be without Nicklas Lidstrom for at least two more games because of a sore ankle, the result of being struck by a puck last Saturday.

Lidstrom hasn’t skated since the injury occurred in the second period against Colorado, though he did finish the game against Avalanche.

“Doctors said he's out for the weekend and will be re-evaluated on Monday,” Wings general manager Ken Holland told MLive.com.

The Wings’ captain, who has rarely missed games or practices throughout his 20 NHL seasons, won’t be available for home games against Minnesota on Friday and Chicago on Sunday. He sat out Tuesday’s 5-2 win at Columbus and was replaced in the lineup by veteran Doug Janik, who was called-up from Grand Rapids earlier that day.

Lidstrom was sidelined just one other time this season, missing the Jan. 25 game at Montreal when he came down with the flu. If Lidstrom is sidelined for the next two games, he will have missed 38 out of a possible 1,850 regular-season and Stanley Cup playoff games during his illustrious career.

With three defensemen nursing injuries, the Wings did receive some good news Thursday morning when Kyle Quincey was back at practice for the first time since he injured a groin during the first period of Saturday’s 4-3 loss to the Avalanche.

Jonathan Ericsson also suffered a fractured left wrist last Saturday when he was hit by a high-rising clearing attempt by Brad Stuart.

In Thursday’s practice at Joe Louis Arena, the Wings’ defensive corps paired Niklas Kronwall with Stuart, Janik with Ian White, and rookie Brendan Smith with Jakub Kindl.

But whether Quincey will play against the Wild will likely be a determined by the team’s medical staff after the morning skate or he could be a game-time decision.

“I felt good today so if it keeps getting better I'm optimistic I can play Friday,” Quincey said. “Today was a good day. If everything progresses I'll be in.”

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