Datsyuk a game-time decision, Draper out

[Mike 0]

Update from Wings practice Saturday at the United Center: Coach Mike Babcock said Pavel Datsyuk (bruised foot) will again be a game-time decision for Game 4 Sunday afternoon, but that Kris Draper (groin) will not play. Justin Abdelkader will replace Draper, unless Datsyuk returns. Neither Datsyuk nor Draper practiced Saturday.

For the Blackhawks, coach Joel Quenneville said right wing Martin Havlat feels better but that that staus for him and goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin will be determined tomorrow. Don't expect Khabibulin (lower-body injury) to play, however, as Cristobal Huet indicated he is preparing to start the game. Niether Havlat nor Khabibulin practiced.

The Wings tinkered with their lines a bit, switching Cleary and Hudler.

Franzen-Zetterberg-Hudler

Holmstrom-Filppula-Hossa

Cleary-Helm-Samuelsson

Leino-Abdelkader-Maltby (Meech practiced at forward)

McCarty-Downey

Lidstrom-Rafalski

Kronwall-Stuart

Ericsson-Lebda

Lilja-Chelios-Kindl (scratches)

Osgood

Conklin

Howard

MLive

The injury bug visited the Red Wings on Friday night, and Saturday's practice revealed a less-than-surprising result thereof, as the Macomb Daily's Bruce MacLeod noted:

May 23, RedWingsCorner: Coach Mike Babcock just said that Kris Draper (groin) is definitely out for tomorrow's Game 4. Justin Abdelkader will dress in his place, centering the fourth line with Kirk Maltby and Ville Leino. Abdelkader played in the Anaheim series before being a healthy scratch in Game 3 in Chicago.

Babcock also said that Pavel Datsyuk's status will be decided tomorrow. Datsyuk injured his foot blocking a shot in Game 2 and missed Game 3. The Red Wings practiced today, however, as though they're not expecting Datsyuk to return. Valtteri Filppula centered Datsyuk's line.

Plus Babcock said that Abdelkader is in the lineup and will play his natural position, center. If he was planning on having Datsyuk, Abdelkader wouldn't be playing center tomorrow.

MLive- Snapshots

Edited May 23, 2009 by Mike

[Vladifan 680]

MLive

Thanks for the input, Mike. I'm thinking the fourth line will do some real damage against the Hawks, and I'm hoping Hossa, Zetts and Dats (hopefully, he'll play) pursue, push and DRIVE!!!

[Guest mindfly]

As Bruce says, it seems extremely unlikely that Datsyuk will play tomorrow... is something torn or broken or what? It can't be just swollen then it would be fine in a couple of days of rest.

[thedisappearer 291]

All I got to add to this is... the Wings are truly blessed with depth at forward.

[Zetterling 16]

This shouldn't be too much of a problem. We made it through Columbus and Anaheim without Draper. The loss of Datsyuk is too bad but our skill and offensive depth far outmatches Chicago. Having a moot penalty call that changes the game is completely unpredicatable though.

[dat's sick 1,002]

Sucks. Not that we can't win without Datsyuk, we almost did it last night, but this really hasn't been Pavel's playoffs..

Atleast we get some more Leino.

[10 Minute Misconduct 104]

Hopefully Havlat is out to offset Datsyuk's absence if he is out as well.

[Guest mindfly]

Yeah here's to actually hoping Havlat won't play!

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

I assume that we've seen the last of Pavel in this series then.

[wingscapsfan 1]

dats has to play next game.. I mean the wings medical staff seems not to want to put them on the ice for every slight injury.. draper pulled his groin c'mon its the playoffs you have to suck it up.. Havlat might even play next game after that huge hit

[Rocket Queen 30 1]

Three darts is too much. WTF? We're droppin' like flies. This blows. I want Datsyuk back.

[Mike 0]

I don't see how Datsyuk doesn't play tomorrow unless the injury is worse then they are leading on, which is entirely possible.

[FunkedUp 29]

Datsyuk won't be back tomorrow, you can count on that. We really miss his defensive play and backchecking even if he stays off the scoresheet. Unfortunately, I think this case will be kinda like the Rafalski case...

[Rocket Queen 30 1]

yeah.. I doubt Datsyuk will be back very soon. I fear it's much worse than they're letting on. I mean seriously, how is this guy not scoring? He's way too good to be held off the board this long.

Datsyuk we need you. Come back to us!

[sharomyga 6]

Dats would be the difference for next game if he plays

[ben_usmc 253]

something is up with Dats I doubt we see him unless we go down in the series 3 to 2, but in positive news we actually get to play with 6 dman tomorrow (for now)

[Outsider 42]

While Dats isn't scoring, he's definitely contributing defensively.

And I think folks are underestimating the importance of having Draper in the line-up when it comes to face offs, defensive play, AND veteran experience and composure.

The Wings were pretty brutal in the face-off circle last night. Drapes was the only Wing at >50%.

That's a problem. Especially since Draper was more effective in the DZ than he was anywhere else, and more effective in the DZ than any other Wing.

The Wings are banged up.

Has no one else noticed that Franzen is hurting? He's been hurting since Game 7 against the Ducks, and took another shot in Game 1 against Chicago.

[NvrFrgtRussian5 85]

i am going to be honest. I am getting worried about this series.

[96warrior 11]

MIKE BABCOCK: Draper can’t play. Abbie is going to go in his spot. Be good for him. Play his natural position. Datsyuk is going to be the same thing as it was the day before. We’ll see. I noticed his stuff was hanging up. They’re hoping they can get him in his boot and get him going.

[dat's sick 1,002]

i am going to be honest. I am getting worried about this series.

In a way I am too, because the one thing that I felt could stop the Wings in this series was injuries to important players.

But as long as we don't get any players tossed out of the game for absolutely no reason, we should be fine with this lineup.

[Nero 20]

Does this mean that Detroit has destroyed the Bulin Wall?

[XxGoWingsxX 0]

I am in no way, shape, or form worried about this series. I feel that any uninjured or ejected for no reason players will Step it up in game 4. I'm expecting franzen/hank/hossa to come up big for some reason. In fact our forwards need to stop leaving all the goals to the Defense like last game....all three goals came from the D. While thats all fine, we need the guys paid to score...to well, score.

[Kira 451]

Something tells me that if Pasha doesn't play tomorrow, that whatever they are saying is wrong is a lot worse than they are letting on, because he would have to be damned near dead to miss more than one game. He's that determined.

[Outsider 42]

In a way I am too, because the one thing that I felt could stop the Wings in this series was injuries to important players.

But as long as we don't get any players tossed out of the game for absolutely no reason, we should be fine with this lineup.

Ditto.

They are seriously banged up right now. Hopefully they'll be okay.

[10 Minute Misconduct 104]

Datsyuks foot is probably just really swallen and hurting.