Rafalski didn't practice, given the day off

[Mike 0]

Babcock finally opened his eyes long enough to see that Rafalski has been playing like crap. I don't think a day off from practice will do much good, but hopefully it does something. Babs says he got the day off because he has been playing good, but I don't buy that. Glad to see that Hossa will be back in the lineup. Hossa should come out hungry and spark the struggling offense. I hope this lines don't stay put for the game. I want to see the euro twins with Homer and the solid second line of Flip, Franzen and Hossa.

Update from Friday's practice: Marian Hossa (stiff neck, back) will return to the lineup Saturday in St. Louis, after missing four games. Brian Rafalski didn't practice, as coach Mike Babcock said he was given the day off the recharge. He'll play tomorrow.

"A little wear and tear, we're playing a lot of hockey,'' Babcock said. "I thought he played real well last night, he just got the day off.''

Hossa's return prompted a shuffling of the lines:

Franzen-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Cleary-Zetterberg-Hossa

Hudler-Filppula-Samuelsson

Kopecky-Draper-Maltby

The defense pairings were rotated.

Chris Osgood will start in goal.

MLive

Edited March 14, 2009 by Mike

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Uggg... I hope he spent it watching tapes of Lidstrom playing sexy defense. Actually, I hope every single Wing is forced to watch those tapes. And once they're done they can mail them to me

[Namingway 146]

Uggg... I hope he spent it watching tapes of Lidstrom playing sexy defense. Actually, I hope every single Wing is forced to watch those tapes. And once they're done they can mail them to me

Maybe Ozzy can learn a thing or two on stopping breakaways from this

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

Maybe Ozzy can learn a thing or two on stopping breakaways from this

i love his smile at the end as he's watching the jumbotron. lol.