DETROIT (AP) — The general manager of the Detroit Red Wings says captain Nicklas Lidstrom missed the last two games of the conference finals because of surgery.
Ken Holland told The Associated Press on Sunday the operation was May 24, although he would not say what kind of surgery. Lidstrom told the Detroit Free Press he had testicular surgery after he was speared by Chicago's Patrick Sharp in Game 3 on May 22.
Lidstrom's operation came on the same day the Red Wings beat the Blackhawks 6-1 in Game 4. Detroit won the Western Conference finals in Game 5.
Lidstrom returned to the ice for the Stanley Cup finals, which the Pittsburgh Penguins won in seven games.
Maybe it was luck. Maybe it was toughness. Maybe a grittier man would have played at a higher level through the pain that Dats, Lids et al suffered. I can't say for certain either way, but niether can you.
I personally don't think our guys would have been as banged up as they were if we had a deterrent factor like Lappy to sort things out. I know I wouldn't spear Lids in the nuts if I knew Laperriere was going to bash my skull in for doing it.
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