Detroit Red Wings center Henrik Zetterberg (back surgery) and defenseman Jonathan Ericsson (broken finger) are expected to miss the team's first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins.
"We were always shooting for Round 2," Zetterberg said Thursday. "If it's just before that I will be happy."
The Red Wings' captain had back surgery Feb. 21.
"I think the timeline is eight weeks without contact," he said previously. "That's what the doctors say and that's what we're going to stick with, and then we'll re-evaluate after that."
Ericsson was hit by a shot and suffered a broken finger March 18 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He had a goal and 10 assists with a plus-2 rating in 48 games this season.
Zetterberg said he felt great when he went to the Winter Olympics. After Zetterberg played his one and only game as Sweden's captain, he woke up in pain because a lingering back problem that became debilitating. He had surgery about a week later in New York.
"This had to be done," he said. "We went in, took away two pieces from my disk that were pushing on the nerve. Once this is healed and properly rehabbed, I shouldn't have an issue again."
Despite not playing for Detroit since Feb. 8, Zetterberg had 48 points this season.
Detroit is in its 23rd straight postseason.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
