Chelios listed as day-to-day

Feb 24, 2008 - 5:46 PM EDMONTON, Alberta (Ticker) -- The injury-depleted Detroit Red Wings do not expect defenseman Chris Chelios to be sidelined for an extended period of time.

The 46-year-old Chelios missed Saturday's 4-1 loss in Vancouver with a chipped right fibula suffered the night before in Calgary and is listed as day-to-day.

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland on Sunday told the Detroit Free Press, however, that he hopes Chelios will be able to return this week.

The Red Wings, who are 1-7-1 in their last nine games, complete their swing through western Canada at Edmonton on Tuesday, then return home to host San Jose on Friday.

Chelios suffered his injury when he took a hit from Calgary's Adrian Aucoin to his right knee in the opening minutes of the game. He played two more shifts but did not return after the first period.

Chelios is one of four defensemen missing from the Red Wings' lineup. They also are missing Norris Trophy winner Nicklas Lidstrom (knee), Brian Rafalski (groin) and Niklas Kronwall (clavicle).

Lidstrom is expected to miss another two weeks with a sprained knee suffered at Colorado on Monday.

The Red Wings (89 points) still boast the NHL's best record. But their lead has been reduced to six points over the Dallas Stars. In the last nine games, the Stars have picked up 11 points on the Red Wings, going 7-2-0.

Detroit has recalled five players from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League in the past two weeks, including three defenseman.