Rafalski's status for game 4

[KronwallCRUNCH 5]

Has anyone heard anything yet? I know last night that they said it was doubtful, but has anything official come out?

[Echolalia 2,961]

I wouldn't count on him.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Nothing confirmed, but from what I've heard he's out tomorrow night and will be back for Game 5.

[Jake Ryan 1]

I wouldn't count on him.

I tried to post a thread to say that Rafalski is DONE, but it got removed. He MUST have a broken bone (wrist?) or torn muscle (groin?) to be out this long. The team is not doing itself any good by keeping the injury undisclosed. They should just tell everyone what's going on, so everyone can stop wondering. This goes way beyond flu or bruise or something like that. It's been 2 weeks now. It's got to be a 4-8 week injury or something like that. I'm counting him out for the rest of the playoffs.

[Vincanni 1]

I tried to post a thread to say that Rafalski is DONE, but it got removed. He MUST have a broken bone (wrist?) or torn muscle (groin?) to be out this long. The team is not doing itself any good by keeping the injury undisclosed. They should just tell everyone what's going on, so everyone can stop wondering. This goes way beyond flu or bruise or something like that. It's been 2 weeks now. It's got to be a 4-8 week injury or something like that. I'm counting him out for the rest of the playoffs.

He was listed as day-to-day, and has been injured for about a week. No need to exaggerate to highlight such a dreary outlook, furthermore the word is he'll play game 5. Personally I'm more curious to know how he got injured in the first place.

[MTU_Huskies963 398]

Ugh just stick him out there if you are afraid he is going to seriously injure himself and not be available for the rest of the playoffs NEWSFLASH if the wings don't have him in there now there may not be a rest of the playoffs. This is the playoffs you have to play through the injuries, unless it's a concussion.

[Broken 16 381]

Ugh just stick him out there if you are afraid he is going to seriously injure himself and not be available for the rest of the playoffs NEWSFLASH if the wings don't have him in there now there may not be a rest of the playoffs. This is the playoffs you have to play through the injuries, unless it's a concussion.

Ya... just pump him with drugs till he bursts... a la Brent Gilchrist.

[lets go pavel 2]

I tried to post a thread to say that Rafalski is DONE, but it got removed. He MUST have a broken bone (wrist?) or torn muscle (groin?) to be out this long. The team is not doing itself any good by keeping the injury undisclosed. They should just tell everyone what's going on, so everyone can stop wondering. This goes way beyond flu or bruise or something like that. It's been 2 weeks now. It's got to be a 4-8 week injury or something like that. I'm counting him out for the rest of the playoffs.

How does the fact that he's missed one week mean that he has a 4-8 week injury? Wouldn't he still miss a week if he has a 1-2 week injury? If he were done for the season I think they probably would disclose that; the fact that they haven't made any such announcement seems to suggest they expect him back and subsequently don't want the injury to be a target.

[sean 19]

Is he skating?

I don't understand how Draper can take warmups and still be out, that is truly odd.

[Guest mindfly]

Rafalski is lazy and he sucks............

No he won't play.

[P. Marlowe 748]

Ya... just pump him with drugs till he bursts... a la Brent Gilchrist.

What happened to him? I remember him from the 90's Wings.

[MTU_Huskies963 398]

Ya... just pump him with drugs till he bursts... a la Brent Gilchrist.

I am just curious how long Wiz will be out for a lung contusion that usually takes a while to heal maybe 3 weeks. If he returns before Rafalski I am going to be angry. He has to have a concussion that's the only thing I can think of that would put him day to day.

[Guest MrSandMan]

I thought they said that Ralfi was skating and "feels good", but he's day-to-day.

Can anyone confirm this?

[wingslogo19 281]

We miss him on the PP

[CenterIce 83]

I thought they said that Ralfi was skating and "feels good", but he's day-to-day.

Can anyone confirm this?

No, Rafalski has not been skating, while Draper has. Draper has said he just has to wait for the doctors okay, and he is in. Rafalski had a nagging groin injury down the stretch of the regular season, so it is assumed that this is the issue.

[redwings1914 18]

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20...alski_will.html

Out.....We need both of them back ASAP, trade Draper for Maltby.

[Blood On The Ice 15]

Still no Raffy or Drapes for game 4. He did say the injury did not occur in the Columbus series. That means practice or off ice. HMMM.

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20...alski_will.html

Update from Wednesday's practice at the Honda Center: Defenseman Brian Rafalski said he will not play in Game 4 Thursday. He has missed the entire series with an undisclosed injury that the team says is upper-body. Rafalski hasn't skated since last Wednesday but continues doing off-ice workouts.

As he rode a stationary bike outside the dressing room, Rafalski said he's made "a lot'' of improvement since last week. He was vague when asked how and when the injury occurred but indicated it didn't happen in the Columbus series.

"It just happened,'' Rafalski said. "I'm much closer than I was several days ago.''

Asked if he expects to play in the series, he said, "I want to play as soon as I'm able.''

He added: "It's always hard. You want t contribute and be part of the playoffs. It's not easy sitting here watching.''

Coach Mike Babcock said Kris Draper (upper-body injury) will not play in Game 4 and that he is planning no lineup changes and will stick with the same line combinations.

[dawings1905 2]

Still no Raffy or Drapes for game 4. He did say the injury did not occur in the Columbus series. That means practice or off ice. HMMM.

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20...alski_will.html

Update from Wednesday's practice at the Honda Center: Defenseman Brian Rafalski said he will not play in Game 4 Thursday. He has missed the entire series with an undisclosed injury that the team says is upper-body. Rafalski hasn't skated since last Wednesday but continues doing off-ice workouts.

As he rode a stationary bike outside the dressing room, Rafalski said he's made "a lot'' of improvement since last week. He was vague when asked how and when the injury occurred but indicated it didn't happen in the Columbus series.

"It just happened,'' Rafalski said. "I'm much closer than I was several days ago.''

Asked if he expects to play in the series, he said, "I want to play as soon as I'm able.''

He added: "It's always hard. You want t contribute and be part of the playoffs. It's not easy sitting here watching.''

Coach Mike Babcock said Kris Draper (upper-body injury) will not play in Game 4 and that he is planning no lineup changes and will stick with the same line combinations.

UGHHHHH!!! This is the part that bothered me most. (Bolded)

Coach Mike Babcock said Kris Draper (upper-body injury) will not play in Game 4 and that he is planning no lineup changes and will stick with the same line combinations.

No lineup OR LINE CHANGES??? Are you kidding me???? At some point you have to make some changes.... How does that saying go about continuing to do something that keeps failing, and expecting different results???? I mean comon. At the very least, and I mean the very least....You have to change up that Hossa/Dats/Homer line. At the very least make Anaheim make a decision on whether or not they are going to split the Marchant line up to match the players that have been matching up with Pavs and Hoss. Man I hope Babs stubborness doesn't cost us. If it works he's a genius, but I don't feel good about him being this stubborn.

Heres what I don't understand (And yes I love Darren Helm, but he doesn't scare anyone as far as putting up points) Why, when we are having trouble scoring/beating this goalie.....would you not try to add some scoring punch to the bottom half of your lineup. Even if they contribute a point, it would have been the difference in games 2 0r 3. Now is the time to put leino in Mikey. And NO I would not take out Helm. Helm has been playing really well, and with someone next to him that can bury the puck, who knows what might happen. I would take out either Malts or Kopecky. Prolly Kopecky.

# Pos Player GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH GW S S

82 R Tomas Kopecky 79 6 13 19 -7 46 1 1 2 110 5.5

18 L Kirk Maltby 78 5 6 11 -9 28 0 0 1 58 8.6

21 L Ville Leino 13 5 4 9 5 6 0 0 1 17 29.4

43 C Darren Helm 16 0 1 1 -7 4 0 0 0 29 0.0

So you would rather have Malts who had 11 points in 78 games and was a -11 player in the lineup over a kid who had 9 points in 13 games and was a plus 5? I know Malts is a vet, but really? When you are trying to find something, anything, to build upon? Who knows, Leino...might just contribute something that turns this thing around. On the other hand, does anyone truely believe Malts or Kopecky will do so? I love all of our players, but I just think Mike is wrong on this one.

Edited May 6, 2009 by dawings1905

[10 Minute Misconduct 104]

lol if we dont win tomorrow might as well not come back.

series will be done.

Edited May 7, 2009 by 10 Minute Misconduct

[Guest MrSandMan]

lol if we dont win tomorrow might as well not come back.

series will be done.

Yeah, and decline to play game 4. And not play next year either. Hell, Illich should just give up and dismantle the club and make a parking lot where the Joe is. Brilliant idea!