Detroit Red Wings forward Joe Veleno leaves game after taking puck to the head

As if what was going on the scoreboard was not bad enough, the Detroit Red Wings suffered a personnel casualty on Tuesday night.

During their blowout loss against the Buffalo Sabres, forward Joe Veleno suffered a freak injury that forced him to leave the game.

The incident happened early in the second period, when Veleno was hit in the side of the head by a Connor Clifton one-timer. Veleno was down for a few moments, but managed to skate off under his own power.

Veleno has been relatively healthy throughout his NHL career, though he did miss two games in late December with an undisclosed injury.

Veleno has been expected to pick up some of the slack while captain Dylan Larkin recovers from a lower-body injury, but has only scored a goal and two assists over the last 11 games.

The 24-year-old has scored 11 goals and 15 assists in 62 games this season, already setting a career-high in goals, assists and points (26). In 214 career NHL appearances, all with Detroit, Veleno has scored 29 goals and 33 assists.

While it is unknown how long Veleno will be out, it might force head coach Derek Lalonde to do some more line juggling to fill the lineup if Veleno misses an extended period of time.

Veleno was a highly-touted prospect when the Red Wings took him in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft. The former Drummondville Voltigeur was a President’s Cup Champion in the QMJHL with the Saint John Sea Dogs in 2017, also winning gold representing Canada at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Champions and 2023 IIHF Men’s World Championships.

The Red Wings (33-26-6) are sliding out of a playoff spot. They are currently tied with the New York Islanders for the last Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, and are fifth in the Atlantic Division, 10 points back of the Toronto Maple Leafs for third.