Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Matt Carle will be out 6-8 weeks with a torn adductor muscles in his lower abdomen.
Carle, 30, will have surgery to repair the tear, with the procedure being performed in Philadelphia by Dr. William Meyers.
The 10-year NHL veteran has four goals and 14 points with a plus-10 rating in 46 games this season.
Carle injured himself during Thursday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers.
In his place the Lightning recalled defenceman Luke Witkowski from their AHL affiliate. Witkowski, 24, hasn’t played in an NHL game, but head coach Jon Cooper told the Tampa Bay Times that there’s a chance he’ll get an extended look at the NHL level in Carle’s absence.
Witkowski was the Lightning’s sixth round pick, 160th overall, in the 2008 NHL Draft. He had a goal and six points in 36 games in the AHL this season.
