Gotta love the injuries......

[Guest mindfly]

DETROIT -- Detroit Red Wings forward Brad May didn't practice Friday and is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury sustained in Thursday's 4-2 win over Colorado.

Forward Patrick Eaves returned to practice Friday after missing one game with the flu and said he is ready to play Saturday in Phoenix, the start of a four-game road trip and the first of five in a row away from home.

Coach Mike Babcock said Jimmy Howard will make his fourth consecutive start in goal. Babcock said hadn't decided on how he'll use his goalies beyond that game.

Here are the lines they skated with:

Bertuzzi-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Ritola-Filppula-Miller

Draper-Helm-Eaves

Leino-Abdelkader-Maltby

Cleary and Zetterberg also practiced. They won't play Saturday. Cleary is hoping to return either Tuesday in Anaheim or Thursday in Los Angeles. Zetterberg hopes to be back near the end of the trip.

On defense:

Lidstrom-Rafalski

Meech-Stuart

Lebda-Janik

Lilja

Howard (starting)

Osgood

DETROIT -- After experiencing a slight setback in his comeback from a sprained left medial collateral ligament, Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall hopes to return to the ice on Monday.

“Hopefully, from there we can push it and push it and get back in shape,’’ Kronwall said Friday, before the team flew to Phoenix for a four-game trip. “I was on the ice for a few days and it kind of got worse, so we decided to step back and try to do the things we can without the pain.’’

Kronwall said if all goes well he should be back for either Jan. 9 at San Jose, or the following game, Jan. 12 at the New York Islanders. He has been out since Nov. 21, following a knee-on-knee check by Montreal’s Georges Laraque.

“I hoped to be playing by the start of this trip, but it hasn’t been the case,’’ Kronwall said. “Have to take it step-by-step and see how it feels. I don’t want to come back too early and do something stupid. Listen to the trainers, listen to the body and go from there.’’

He said of his conditioning level: “I’ve been on the bike for seven weeks. It’s a different thing to be skating. I think I’m in as good a shape as I can be without skating. So it’s just a matter of getting out there and working hard on the ice.’’

WHY WHY WHY

[hooon 1,089]

Ugh.

[hokeychik22 17]

was at the game and during the third may was limping off the ice. looked like he was injured

[wings1110 184]

f***

[VM1138 1,921]

I don't think this is real anymore. It's gotta be a hoax. Seeing Ritola on the second line just shows you how awful this team has been hit by injuries.

[Tommy_Like_Wingy 25]

I'm really starting to question the team's conditioning methods and trainers. Players who are taken care of DON'T drop like flies like this. Some injuries can't be avoided but this is starting to raise eyebrows.

[Guest mindfly]

I'm really starting to question the team's conditioning methods and trainers. Players who are taken care of DON'T drop like flies like this. Some injuries can't be avoided but this is starting to raise eyebrows.

Fire Van Zant!!!!

[Miller Brew 0]

Atleast Eaves should be back. I'd rather Eaves over May anyhow. Ritola has been great and Leino had his best game of the year last night. All is well.

Besides, May won't be playing once the team gets healthy.

[Konnan511 1,736]

Eh, May isn't a big lost. The Kronners thing sucks, though.

[interminded 1]

Fire Van Zant!!!!

you're serious ?

[Guest Shoreline]

This is quite a nightmare'ish year regarding injuries.

[jollymania 162]

was at the game and during the third may was limping off the ice. looked like he was injured

I didn't notice may, but I saw Bertuzzi limp off, but he was obviously fine, earlier in the game i think I saw mcleod goin after may a bit but he didn't look injured, I guess i just missed it

[ShanahanMan 473]

Here's a bit of positive news at least:

"However, Danny Cleary and Henrik Zetterberg -- both out with shoulder injuries -- could be back for the game in Anaheim Jan. 5. Niklas Kronwall (knee) and Jonathan Ericsson (knee) could, in a best-case scenario, return to play in Los Angeles (Jan. 7) or San Jose (Jan. 9)."

http://detnews.com/article/20100101/SPORTS...ngs-near-return

[themule0932 0]

Here's a bit of positive news at least:

"However, Danny Cleary and Henrik Zetterberg -- both out with shoulder injuries -- could be back for the game in Anaheim Jan. 5. Niklas Kronwall (knee) and Jonathan Ericsson (knee) could, in a best-case scenario, return to play in Los Angeles (Jan. 7) or San Jose (Jan. 9)."

http://detnews.com/article/20100101/SPORTS...ngs-near-return

Best news I've heard all day.

[thedisappearer 291]

Here's a bit of positive news at least:

"However, Danny Cleary and Henrik Zetterberg -- both out with shoulder injuries -- could be back for the game in Anaheim Jan. 5. Niklas Kronwall (knee) and Jonathan Ericsson (knee) could, in a best-case scenario, return to play in Los Angeles (Jan. 7) or San Jose (Jan. 9)."

http://detnews.com/article/20100101/SPORTS...ngs-near-return

You just gave me a boner. Happy new year's to you, too.

[newfy 695]

I'm really starting to question the team's conditioning methods and trainers. Players who are taken care of DON'T drop like flies like this. Some injuries can't be avoided but this is starting to raise eyebrows.

How can a trainer prevent Z from getting laid out like he did and seperating his shoulder? Same with Franzen, how do you get an MCL in shape?

A trainer can't prevent Ericcson's knee from snaping back like it did. These are just a bunch of freak incidents that can't be prevented.

[Miller Brew 0]

2010 doesn't have the best start

WHY WHY WHY

Brad May? It's more of blessing than a curse, my friend. I'll take Eaves over Brad May any day of the week. There is no negative losing May when we have Eaves, Ritola and Leino in the line-up and ready to play. Needless to say, I've been more than impressed with Ritola. He should be in the NHL right now, he reminds me of a Filppula 2.0. Kronwall shouldn't even be playing until January 21st. So if he comes back by the end of the road trip, then that ROCKS! We already knew Zetterberg and Ericsson wasn't coming back until towards the end of the road trip. I'm happy Kronwall is coming back before the end of January!

Great news!

[eva unit zero 271]

Fire Van Zant!!!!

Only if we can replace him with John Wharton.

[newfy 695]

Brad May? It's more of blessing than a curse, my friend. I'll take Eaves over Brad May any day of the week. There is no negative losing May when we have Eaves, Ritola and Leino in the line-up and ready to play. Needless to say, I've been more than impressed with Ritola. He should be in the NHL right now, he reminds me of a Filppula 2.0. Kronwall shouldn't even be playing until January 21st. So if he comes back by the end of the road trip, then that ROCKS! We already knew Zetterberg and Ericsson wasn't coming back until towards the end of the road trip. I'm happy Kronwall is coming back before the end of January!

Great news!

I don't see how you can say you would rather have Leino then May. May is just as strong if not stronger defensively and at least does something out there.

[Guest mindfly]

Brad May? It's more of blessing than a curse, my friend. I'll take Eaves over Brad May any day of the week. There is no negative losing May when we have Eaves, Ritola and Leino in the line-up and ready to play. Needless to say, I've been more than impressed with Ritola. He should be in the NHL right now, he reminds me of a Filppula 2.0. Kronwall shouldn't even be playing until January 21st. So if he comes back by the end of the road trip, then that ROCKS! We already knew Zetterberg and Ericsson wasn't coming back until towards the end of the road trip. I'm happy Kronwall is coming back before the end of January!

Great news!

Everyone should know by now the importance of having an "enforcer" in the lineup

[dat's sick 1,002]

I don't see how you can say you would rather have Leino then May. May is just as strong if not stronger defensively and at least does something out there.

I got nothing against May, but looking towards the future I think it's more important that Leino finds his game and gets ice-time than it is that May plays. May is going to retire soon. Leino, if he starts playing to his potential, could be an important player for us for many years to come.

[Miller Brew 0]

I don't see how you can say you would rather have Leino then May. May is just as strong if not stronger defensively and at least does something out there.

No disprespect to May but this team needs players who can put the puck in net right now, not someone who can ass punch players. I know Leino's numbers aren't that great 4-3-7 but it is 7 times better than May's numbers.

I'll take goal scoring over a fighter.

Besides, even if May was healthy Babcock would still need to reward Leino for his strong game. Babs wasn't going to sit Leino and send a negative message for doing what was asked of him. Chances are Ritola would be the odd man out. I'll take Ritola (from what I've seen in his game these past few games) over Brad May.

[Pavel Hossyukstrom 2]

How can a trainer prevent Z from getting laid out like he did and seperating his shoulder? Same with Franzen, how do you get an MCL in shape?

A trainer can't prevent Ericcson's knee from snaping back like it did. These are just a bunch of freak incidents that can't be prevented.

Exactly. ICE DOESN'T GIVE in a lot of situations. It's roughly to worst surface to fall on as well.