Zetterberg on the shelf following back surgery
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Detroit, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - The Detroit Red Wings suffered a blow to their post-Olympic playoff hopes.
Wings general manager Ken Holland announced Friday that veteran forward Henrik Zetterberg, who has been bothered by a balky back this season, underwent successful surgery and will be re-evaluated in eight weeks.
Zetterberg has missed 13 games due to his back issues this season, but he still tried to play for his native Sweden in the Winter Olympics.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Named the captain of the unit, Zetterberg managed to play one game with Sweden and scored a goal in the tournament-opening 4-2 win over the Czech Republic. He missed practice the next day and was diagnosed with a herniated disk in his back.
Despite his absence, Sweden advanced to the gold medal game with a semifinal victory over neighbor and rival Finland on Friday.
Detroit, which now competes in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference, ended its pre-Olympic slate in fifth place with a 26-20-12 record. The Red Wings resume play on Feb. 26 at Montreal and have 24 games remaining on their schedule.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Under the current timetable for recovery, the Wings will have to advance beyond the first round of the playoffs before Zetterberg could be cleared to return.