Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reports in her blog this afternoon that the Red Wings could get back No. 2 defenseman Brian Rafalski back into the lineup for Friday's game against the Flames in Calgary. The prognosis on Niklas Kronwall and Dominik Hasek isn't as good, as neither are expected to return to the lineup until next week at the earliest.

Hasek told reporters that the injury feels "much better" than it had last week but he hasn't returned to the ice to practice yet.

"This week, I hope I can start to practice," Hasek told John Niyo of the Detroit News in his Wings Blog. "That's my goal. I want to go on the ice in the next few days and see how it feels, but I definitely feel better than one week ago -- much stronger."

Kronwall, out since January 30th with a strained clavicle, continues to skate hard but isn't taking any physical contact.