Chris Osgood will be out six-to-eight weeks after undergoing successful sports hernia surgery in Philadelphia on Tuesday morning.
The surgery was performed by Dr. William Meyer, who has performed the same surgery in the past on Kris Draper and Tomas Holmstrom.
Osgood, 38, has been bothered by a sore groin since late October.
Draper's procedure was on Oct. 21, and he missed six-and-a-half weeks.
Joey MacDonald, who was recalled from the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League, will take on Osgood's workload in backing up Jimmy Howard, according to Detroit coach Mike Babcock.
MacDonald got some playing time in Monday night's 5-4 loss in Colorado on Monday night when Howard was pulled after allowing four goals in the first period.
If the time frame is correct, Osgood would return around the beginning of March, which is the same projected return for Mike Modano (severed tendon in his wrist) and Brad Stuart (broken jaw).
Pavel Datsyuk (broken bone in his hand) and Danny Cleary (fractured ankle) could return around the NHL All-Star Break, which is Jan. 27-31.
Babcock didn't blame Howard but instead faulted Detroit's defensive miscues and turnovers for Monday night's loss to the Avalanche.
Henrik Zetterberg and Tomas Holmstrom had a goal and an assist on Monday night, Jan Mursak scored his first NHL goal and Brian Rafalski also scored.
Briefly
Nicklas Lidstrom, as expected, was named one of 36 additional players selected on Tuesday to play in the NHL All-Star game on Jan. 30 in Raleigh, N.C.
Lidstrom, 40, is the second-leading scoring defenseman in the league with 11 goals and 41 points.
… Calgary's Tom Kostopoulos, whose blind-side head shot injured Stuart on Friday night, was suspended six games by the NHL for the hit.
… Valtteri Filppula, who missed two games with a sore groin, returned Monday night against Colorado. Forward Tomas Tatar was sent to Grand Rapids.
… Red Wings' Fox Sports Detroit play-by-play television announcer Ken Daniels has been recognized as Michigan Sportscaster of the Year for 2010 by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA).
It is the second such honor for Daniels, who also earned the NSSA award in 2003.
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