The Pittsburgh Penguins are down a top defenceman.
Erik Karlsson was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with a lower-body injury and will be out at least two weeks, the team said.
It is unclear when the injury to Karlsson, who played 23:12 against the Boston Bruins on Sunday, occurred. In any case, his absence is a blow to the Penguins, who have dropped two straight in the wake of a six-game winning streak.
The Swede had been enjoying a resurgent season with four goals and 29 assists in 44 games.
He was also named to his country's Olympic roster. The men's hockey tournament in Milan begins Feb. 11.
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Meanwhile, the Penguins also sent forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard to AHL Wilkes-Barre while recalling veteran defenceman Ryan Graves and prospect forward Tristan Broz.
Graves, 30, has just one point — a goal — in 17 games with the Penguins this season, though he's found his offence in the AHL with two goals and seven assists in 13 games.
The left-shot blue liner is under contract for three more seasons after this one at $4.5 million per year.
Broz, 23, will be playing just his second NHL game if he appears in a contest. He skated in one game for the Penguins earlier this season, recording two shots in 11:30 against the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 26.
The River Falls, Wis., native was selected by the Penguins in the second round (58th overall) of the 2011 draft.
Harvey-Pinard, 27, has yet to see game action for the Penguins this season after signing with the club as a free agent on July 2.
The Saguenay, Que., native has 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 32 AHL games.
The Penguins are back in action Tuesday when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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