DETROIT -- Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom will sit out Tuesdays' game in Columbus.
He is day to day after injuring his right ankle in Saturday's loss to the Colorado Avalanche.
Lidstrom joins a growing list of wounded Red Wings defensemen that includes Jonathon Ericsson (broken wrist) and newly acquired Kyle Quincey (sore groin).
"I took a puck to the ankle last game, and it was very swollen yesterday (Sunday)," Lidstrom said Monday. "It's better today, but still not good enough to skate on it."
X-rays were taken of the ankle right after Saturday's game and again on Monday morning as a precaution. Both times the X-rays showed that the ankle is not broken.
Lidstrom made the trip to Columbus but was ruled out Tuesday morning. The Wings brought up veteran defenseman Doug Janik from Grand Rapids to take his place in the lineup.
On Monday, the Wings recalled highly touted prospect Brendan Smith from Grand Rapids in what was originally believed to be a move to replace the hobbled Lidstrom.
Smith, however, was recalled to fill in for Quincey, who tweaked his groin sometime during the first period of Saturday's game.
"I was almost skating on one leg," said Quincey, who continued to play after the injury. "That probably didn't help the groin.
"It gradually got worse, but I felt good in the third (period)."
Quincey was at a loss for words when trying to figure out exactly how the injury occurred.
"It's day-to-day," said Quincey, who had a battery of tests done to make sure the injury isn't serious. "I hope to get back in the swing of things. It"s frustrating."
Both Lidstrom and Quincey expect to play Friday night vs. Minnesota.
Red Wing coach Mike Babcock told reporters Monday that Smith and Jakub Kindl will both be in Detroit's lineup against Columbus.
"Injuries are a part of hockey," said Kindl, who has appeared in 42 games this season for the Wings and has a goal and 10 assists. "I didn't expect that I was going to be in the lineup this quick.
"You never want to see a teammate go down, but it happens. I just have to be ready."
Kindl says the key for him will be to keep his game simple and "show them I can play."
As for Smith, he has an admirer in Babcock.
"He's an NHL player, probably could have played this year, probably could have played last year (in Detroit)," Babcock said. "If the truth be told, the coaching staff wanted him, and the general manager made sure he got some seasoning. That's what we do here."
Smith, 23, has appeared in 47 games for Grand Rapids and has 10 goals and 22 assists. He's a plus-7 and has 74 penalty minutes. Smith was named to the AHL All-Rookie team last season.
When asked about Detroit's lack of activity during Monday's trade deadline, Babcock was somewhat philosophical.
"It's like going shopping," he said. "You want to buy lots, but when the coat you want is 3,000 bucks, I'm too tight for that.
"That's just the way I am, pretty tight. So I just keep wearing what I've got."
