Red Wings without LW Zetterberg

Oct 16, 2008 - 11:02 PM DETROIT (Ticker) -- The reigning Stanley Cup champions will be without the Conn Smythe Trophy winner for at least one game.

Left wing Henrik Zetterberg will miss the Detroit Red Wings' game against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday due to a strained groin.

Zetterberg, who also may sit out Saturday's contest against the New York Rangers, left practice early on Wednesday and did not take part in Thursday's morning skate.

"He said he shot the puck and felt that he jammed himself and he felt some tightness," Detroit coach Mike Babcock told the team's web site. "He left the ice, and this morning when he came in, he was sorer than yesterday. We thought it would be the opposite way. We always say with groins that it's day to day, but what I find with groins is that they're 10 days in the day-to-day process. So let's say 10 days."

In three games this season, the 28-year-old Zetterberg has recorded a goal and two assists. The Swede registered career highs of 43 tallies and 92 points last campaign and added 13 goals and 14 assists en route to capturing the Conn Smythe Trophy in the postseason.

A seventh-round pick in 1999, Zetterberg has notched 153 goals and 182 assists in 358 career games. He also has represented Sweden at the Winter Olympics in 2002 and 2006, when the nation won the gold medal.