Mantha out at least two weeks for Red Wings with lower-body injury

Anthony Mantha will be out at least two weeks for the Detroit Red Wings because of a lower-body injury.

The forward was injured in the first period of a 5-1 loss at the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.
"Right now, it'll be at least a couple weeks," coach Jeff Blashill told the Red Wings website Tuesday. "We'll have more as the healing process goes. You miss a scorer like that. He's been our most dynamic offensive player this year, without a shadow of a doubt."
Mantha, who leads the Red Wings in goals (12) and points (23) in 25 games this season, will not need surgery, but will not be allowed to skate during his rehab for the injury.
"It's harder for sure," Blashill said. "He won't be skating anytime soon in the next few weeks. It's harder. When you have an upper-body (injury), you can keep your legs. ... It'll be a process once he gets himself closer to being healed where he can get going a little bit."

The No. 20 pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, Mantha has 158 points (80 goals, 78 assists) in 242 games through five seasons with Detroit.
The Red Wings are averaging 2.27 goals per game this season, last in the NHL, and have scored 59 goals this season, tied for second-fewest.
"When one of the players leading our team is injured, obviously it [stinks]," forward Andreas Athanasiou said, "but injuries happen and being good buddies with him it [stinks] to see him when you come in the morning and look for him and he's doing stuff for his knee and stuff.
"It's never fun seeing someone injured, but at the same time, injuries happen and a lot of guys have to step up."
Detroit (7-16-3), winless in its past six games (0-4-2), host the Toronto Maple Leafs at Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; SN1, SNE, SNO, FS-D, NHL.TV).