Red Wings' Athanasiou out with lower-body injury

Detroit Red Wings left wing Andreas Athanasiou is expected to be sidelined a couple of weeks with a lower-body injury, coach Jeff Blashill announced Tuesday. "He'll be out for a little bit. I don't have an exact answer (how long), but two weeks, three weeks," Blashill said of Athanasiou, who has been ruled of Tuesday night's game against the San Jose Sharks.

Athanasiou notched an assist in Detroit's 2-1 loss at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday. The 25-year-old has collected 19 points (five goals, 14 assists) and 17 penalty minutes in 36 games this season. His minus-35 rating resides as the worst in the NHL entering play on Tuesday.

Athanasiou is one season removed from recording career-high totals in goals (30), assists (24) and points (54). He has 149 points (78 goals, 71 assists) in 284 career games with the Red Wings since being selected by the club in the fourth round of the 2012 NHL Draft.

The Red Wings recalled forward Givani Smith from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League on Tuesday. Smith, 21, has recorded 13 points (four goals, nine assists) and 59 penalty minutes in 22 games with the Griffins this season. He was scoreless in five games with the Red Wings earlier this season.

--Field Level Media