The Wings announced after the game that they have recalled center Dominic Turgeon from the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins.
Turgeon, 21, was Detroit's third-round pick, 63rd overall, in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
Wings' assistant general manager Ryan Martin had high praise for Turgeon when he appeared on the Wings' podcast, The Red and White Authority, on Thursday.
"Dom Turgeon has had a great second year," Martin said. "There's a guy that in March of his last year of junior hockey, he had a shoulder injury where the surgery put him on the sideline 'til August so he really couldn't hit the gym until August. So the fact that he came in last year and he was penciled in as sort of our 13th or 14th forward, he ended up earning a spot in the opening night lineup and never lost it.
"It's a real credit to him, he was able to knock a veteran out of his job to the point where the veteran, who was on a minor league deal, he left and went to Germany halfway through the year because he wasn't playing anymore because Dom had taken his job. I think his story has been great, he's had a tremendous year in terms of his production. He has 22 points in 39 games so that's a career high for him and he's definitely trending upwards."
Turgeon has nine goals and 14 assists in 40 games with the Griffins. He had six goals and 12 assists in 71 games with the Griffins last season.
If Turgeon plays, he will be making his NHL debut.
Abdelkader, who scored Detroit's only goal in the game, appeared to play his last shift at 9:25 of the second period.
Helm was hit by Daniel Sprong in the third and went down awkwardly with his right knee bent under him.
Neither player returned to the game and Wings coach Jeff Blashill did not expect either to play Sunday afternoon in Chicago against the Blackhawks.
"I can't tell you what happened," Blashill said. "I just know Justin and Helmer both left the game and I don't expect them to be available tomorrow. I don't have lots of information on it. I think it's a lower-body injury. I knew as soon as we got done here, we made some initial contact to look for somebody from GR."
Luke Witkowski started the game in Pittsburgh as the 11th defenseman but finished as a forward.
David Booth was a healthy scratch but is likely to play Sunday,
"That's a big part of our group, especially on the PK." Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg said. "I have no idea what their situation is but hopefully it's not too bad."
Frans Nielsen, one of the Wings' top penalty killers, acknowledged it's a big loss, especially with Luke Glendening out with a hand injury.
"It's tough," Nielsen said. "If we're going to be without those guys, too, it's going to be tough. Not only good players, but we're missing three penalty killers, too. That's going to be really tough for us."
The Penguins went 2-for-5 on the power play.
"It's tough," goaltender Jimmy Howard said. "At the same time, guys got to pick it up and (any) young guys that are coming up have got to step up as well."
