Niklas Kronwall got hurt during a knee-on-knee collision with Montreal's Georges Laraque.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DETROIT -- The banged-up Detroit Red Wings have lost defenceman Niklas Kronwall for at least a month with a sprained ligament in his left knee.

The team announced Sunday that Kronwall will be out four to eight weeks.

Kronwall had a leg-on-leg, open-ice collision with Montreal enforcer Georges Laraque on Saturday.

Laraque, who was called for tripping, said it was an accident. The Red Wings called it a dirty play.

Detroit has been without forwards Johan Franzen, Valtteri Filppula and Jason Williams because of injuries.