Tyler Bertuzzi will be out 4-6 weeks for the Detroit Red Wings because of an upper-body injury.
The 27-year-old left wing sustained the injury blocking a shot by New Jersey Devils defenseman Ryan Graves at 4:15 of the second period of a 5-2 win at New Jersey on Saturday.
With Bertuzzi and forward Jakub Vrana (personal reasons) out against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday (7 pm ET; BSDET, BSW, ESPN+, SN NOW), forward Filip Zadina will make his season debut. Zadina had been scratched the first two games of the season.
“It’s an opportunity and I’ll try to do my best,” Zadina said Monday. “I’ll go and prove I am a good player.” Zadina had 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 74 games last season.
Bertuzzi has one assist and four shots on goal while averaging 13:38 in ice time in two games for Detroit (2-0-0).
Last season he was second on the Red Wings in goals (30) and points (62) in 68 games.
The Red Wings are also missing forwards Robby Fabbri (knee).
“Obviously, it’s a tough loss with Fabbri also out, two top-six guys, arguably two first-line guys,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “But that is why you have the depth. [General manager] Steve [Yzerman] had a very good offseason and he wanted to have some depth. I like our lineup despite who is out, and that is a credit to having some more depth than Detroit has had the luxury of in the past.”
Among the Red Wings’ offseason moves were the signings of forwards Andrew Copp (five-year contract), David Perron (two-year contract) and Dominik Kubalik (two-year contract). Copp has two assists in two games, Perron scored the game-winning goal against the Devils and Kubalik also scored against New Jersey.
The Red Wings (2-0-0) play their third game in four days to start the season. Lalonde, who was hired June 30 to replace Jeff Blashill, could become the fourth coach to win his first three games with Detroit, following Blashill (2015-16), Mike Babcock (2005-06) and Jimmy Skinner (1954-55). each of whom began 3-0-0.
NHL.com independent correspondent Dave Hogg contributed to this report
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