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DETROIT -- For two periods, Robyn Regehr provided the game the Calgary Flames were hoping for in his return.
He finished hard checks -- three on the official sheet -- blocked a shot and did a solid job of making life miserable for opposing forwards. Unfortunately for the Flames, it was only for two periods.
Regehr, who missed the final two regular-season games and the series opener with a knee injury, didn't play the third period of yesterday's 3-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings after apparently being re-injured.
"He didn't rush back too soon," said head coach Jim Playfair.
"He was medically cleared. We'll get an evaluation on him (this) morning back in Calgary and we'll have a better, clearer understanding of where he's at."
Regehr played a total of 11 minutes 15 seconds in the first two periods.
A replay showed him wincing on the bench after colliding with Detroit's Kris Draper.
Regehr was out more than a week after suffering the original injury when San Jose Sharks forward Curtis Brown rolled into his leg late in the regular season.
Regehr's loss will unquestionably put a dent in Calgary's chances of upending the Red Wings.
The team's best shutdown defenceman, he was being counted on to provide a physical presence to limit the Wings' top two point producers, Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg.
"It's tough," said Flames centre Craig Conroy.
"Reggie's one of the key guys on the defence but this is playoffs and you know there are going to be some injuries. We have to move forward, hopefully with him, but if it's without him everybody's got to step up."
