The Grand Rapids Griffins didn't get back Tyler Bertuzzi and will have to go the rest of the way without Matt Lorito as well.

Lorito, tied for fourth on the team in scoring (23-26-49), will not return from a knee injury and is out for the rest of the season, coach Todd Nelson said.

Nelson said Lorito will undergo surgery. He has not played the past six games since injured in a March 24 game against Iowa. The left winger is in the last season of a two-year, two-way contract.

"It's unfortunate because, obviously, he's a big part of our hockey team," Nelson said. "We just have to get it done without him."

Last postseason, Lorito contributed 13 points (7-6-13) in 19 games as the Griffins won the Calder Cup Trophy.

The Griffins, with a playoff berth clinched, have three regular-season games remaining - Wednesday at Texas, Thursday at San Antonio and home Saturday against Milwaukee. They will finish anywhere between first and fourth in the tightly-contested North Division.

The Griffins learned Sunday they would not get back Bertuzzi ahead of the playoffs, which begin next week. The forward, who was the playoff MVP last season, will instead begin an off-season workout plan designed to increase his strength and quickness as an important piece to the Red Wings' future.

He finished the season strong in Detroit with five goals in the final eight games. In all, he had seven goals and 24 points in 48 games with the Red Wings.

"Tyler was asked about that option and he wanted to play. But that was a while ago," Nelson said. "Since that time, he's played important minutes and he really hasn't had a summer the past two years to really develop his body. So, I think that's why the decision was made to start training and get ready for next season. And I totally respect that. Once again, we're here to facilitate the Detroit Red Wings.

"Are we going to miss him? Absolutely. But it will give other players an opportunity to step up."

Their absences could hurt in the long run, but the Griffins also haven't had Bertuzzi since mid-December and have endured without Lorito, going 4-1-0-1 the past six games with 19 goals overall.

Meanwhile, the Griffins anticipate a scoring boost with the arrival at some point of 6-foot-6 center Michael Rasmussen, the Red Wings' No. 1 pick (ninth overall) last season. He is in the Western Hockey League playoffs with the Tri-City Americans and tearing it up with nine goals and 19 points in six games. On Monday, he was named WHL player of the week.

The Americans have a 2-0 lead in the quarterfinal series and are undefeated in six games.

"He's a player we can certainly use," Nelson said. "He's a big body and he's having a monster playoff. But we'll have to see how that plays out."