Breaking: Wings without a key player for tonight's game!

Forward Darren Helm will not play against the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight, but Detroit is hopeful he will be back in action on Sunday.

Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill confirmed that Helm is out with a lower body injury, which he sustained last weekend in Detroit’s 5-1 blowout of the Colorado Avalanche.

Helm has 8 goals and five assists for 13 points in 42 games with Detroit this season. The left-handed centreman has played all 485 of his NHL games with the Red Wings, and has 80 gals and 175 career points.

The Red Wings have had a hard time scoring all season, averaging 2.89 goals-per-game, which ranks them 26 out of 30 NHL teams.

The loss of another forward depletes a Detroit offence that has struggled to replace Thomas Vanek’s production since he was traded to the Florida Panthers. Detroit received a conditional third round draft pick in 2017 and defencemen Dylan McIlrath.

Blashill will look to his other forwards to step in for Helm, including goalless winger Riley Sheahan. The hopeful outlook is that Helm will be able to play in Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Wild.

Detroit is currently sitting second last in the Eastern Conference with 29 wins, 32 losses, and 11 overtime losses, good for 69 points.