Helm could be back in time for Detroit's first-round playoff series. (Getty Images)

The Detroit Red Wings aren't getting too much good news these days when it comes to injuries. The latest batch of bummer comes with the news that center Darren Helm is going to miss 4-6 weeks with a sprained knee he sustained over the weekend in a game at San Jose.

He joins defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom on the injured list. The team captain recently had a setback in his injury recovery. The one bit of positive news though was that Pavel Datsyuk returned from his minor knee surgery the same game Helm went out.

The loss of Helm isn't quite as devastating as Lidstrom or Datsyuk, but it takes a toll on the team to be sure. He anchors the third line for the Wings and brings a boatload of speed to the table as well as being a key part of their penalty-killing efforts.

Based on the positive side of the timeline, Helm could return in what would likely be the middle of the first round of the playoffs. If it takes longer it's possible he could not play again this season considering the Wings are on a collision course with the task of playing the Nashville Predators in the first round.

This season Helm has scored nine goals and put up 17 assists, pretty consistent with where the 25-year-old has been in his only other two full seasons with the Wings.

Going into Monday night's game against the Capitals, the Red Wings have lost six of their last seven games, putting them at risk of losing home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. You wouldn't figure losing Helm is likely to help turn that around in the final few weeks.

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