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Red Wings downgrade Vanek’s status to ‘week-to-week’

Detroit Red Wings v New York Rangers

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 19: Thomas Vanek #62 of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on October 19, 2016 in New York City. The Red Wings defeated the Rangers 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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It seems the Detroit Red Wings are going to be without forward Thomas Vanek a little longer than originally expected.

After being listed as day-to-day and missing each of the past two games with a lower body injury, coach Jeff Blashill announced on Sunday that Vanek is now considered “week-to-week” and will not play in any of their games this week. Obviously, he will be out of the lineup again on Sunday night when the Red Wings play the Florida Panthers.

It is a big blow to the Red Wings offense because Vanek was off to a fantastic start with eight points (four goals, four assists) in his first seven games. He has been arguably their best forward this season.

In his absence over the past two games the Red Wings have managed just two goals (total) during a 2-1 overtime win in St. Louis and a 1-0 loss to Boston on Saturday.

Including Sunday’s game against Florida, the Red Wings have four games through next Saturday, also playing the Philadelphia Flyers, Winnipeg Jets and Edmonton Oilers.

Vanek is now expected to miss all of those games.