Lightning right wing Ryan Callahan is expected to miss approximately four weeks with a nagging lower-body injury, the team announced Sunday night.

Callahan was originally injured in Tampa Bay's game at Philadelphia on Jan. 7 and has missed three games. He previously missed 15 games with a lower-body issue before returning to the ice against Winnipeg on Jan. 3 and playing in three games.

Asked about Callahan's condition before Friday's meeting with Columbus at AMALIE Arena, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said there were worries about the alternate captain's condition.

"There's lots of concern," Cooper said. " ... Let's move our team aside. It's Callahan. Everybody knows who follows our team what a gamer he is, his passion to play and to help our team, especially when things haven't gone as well as we'd have hoped. For him to get in for (three) games and have to be out with some lingering effects with some past issues he's had, it's killing the kid.

"So, you feel for him. We're missing an emotional leader. It's tough all the way around."

In 18 games this season, the 31-year-old Callahan has two goals and two assists.