LILJA RETURNS TO DETROIT

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Defenseman Andreas Lilja on Friday was recalled from his conditioning loan with the Grand Rapids Griffins by the Detroit Red Wings, where he remains on injured reserve.

Lilja, 34, appeared in four games with the Griffins since his Feb. 2 assignment, going scoreless with six penalty minutes and a minus-two rating. He became the fifth Red Wings regular to make his Griffins debut during a conditioning stint, joining Curtis Joseph (2003-04), Chris Osgood (2005-06), Manny Legace (2005-06) and Chris Chelios (2008-09).

A member of Detroit’s 2007-08 Stanley Cup champions, Lilja has not played in the NHL since sustaining a concussion on Feb. 28, 2009. He earned 13 points (2-11—13) and 66 penalty minutes in 60 games with the Red Wings last season.

The Griffins will take aim at their third win in four games tonight, when they start a back-to-back road set against the Houston Aeros. Game time is 8:35 p.m. EST.