Pavel Datsyuk missed practice Thursday at Joe Louis Arena, but Red Wings coach Mike Babcock hopes he is available for Game 3 today in Chicago.
"It's day-to-day," Babcock said of Datsyuk. "He got a rocket off the foot the other night. You know, you go from there and you see what happens."
Valtteri Filppula took Datsyuk's spot centering Tomas Holmstrom and Marian Hossa in practice. Darren Helm moved up to replace Filppula on a line with Jiri Hudler and Mikael Samuelsson.
Samuelsson has a three-game goal-scoring streak, netting the game-winning goal in each of the last two games to give the Wings a 2-0 lead against the Blackhawks.
Could losing Filppula as his center affect Samuelsson?
"Helmer played a great playoffs so far," Samuelsson said. "Today we had Helm and if that happens, I feel comfortable with him and Huds does, too. Still, it comes down to hard work. He's that type of guy. We like to play with him."
Helm said there wouldn't be any extra pressure if he's asked to move up to that line.
"I just gotta jump in there and help do what they've been doing to be successful," he said. "They've been really great down low grinding and cycling the puck. They're obviously scoring as well. I gotta be prepared to do the dirty work down low and move the puck to those guys and let their skill take over. ... Huds and Sammy are good skill players. Huds can pass the puck like no one else and holds onto the puck really well ... get it to him, move my feet and try to get to an open space for him. And Sammy, he can shoot from anywhere."
With Datsyuk out of the lineup, Ville Leino got a chance to practice on a line with Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby.
"It's fun to be around," Leino said. "We'll see tomorrow what's going to be the situation, (it's) fun to practice with the guys."
Maltby had been a healthy scratch the past three games, but Babcock said after Game 2 that the veteran would return to the lineup.
"I expect Malts to do a good job on the wall for us," Babcock said. "I expect him to be physical on the forecheck. I expect him to use his speed. I think he'll be excellent for us."
"It's day-to-day," Babcock said of Datsyuk. "He got a rocket off the foot the other night. You know, you go from there and you see what happens."
Valtteri Filppula took Datsyuk's spot centering Tomas Holmstrom and Marian Hossa in practice. Darren Helm moved up to replace Filppula on a line with Jiri Hudler and Mikael Samuelsson.
Samuelsson has a three-game goal-scoring streak, netting the game-winning goal in each of the last two games to give the Wings a 2-0 lead against the Blackhawks.
Could losing Filppula as his center affect Samuelsson?
"Helmer played a great playoffs so far," Samuelsson said. "Today we had Helm and if that happens, I feel comfortable with him and Huds does, too. Still, it comes down to hard work. He's that type of guy. We like to play with him."
Helm said there wouldn't be any extra pressure if he's asked to move up to that line.
"I just gotta jump in there and help do what they've been doing to be successful," he said. "They've been really great down low grinding and cycling the puck. They're obviously scoring as well. I gotta be prepared to do the dirty work down low and move the puck to those guys and let their skill take over. ... Huds and Sammy are good skill players. Huds can pass the puck like no one else and holds onto the puck really well ... get it to him, move my feet and try to get to an open space for him. And Sammy, he can shoot from anywhere."
With Datsyuk out of the lineup, Ville Leino got a chance to practice on a line with Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby.
"It's fun to be around," Leino said. "We'll see tomorrow what's going to be the situation, (it's) fun to practice with the guys."
Maltby had been a healthy scratch the past three games, but Babcock said after Game 2 that the veteran would return to the lineup.
"I expect Malts to do a good job on the wall for us," Babcock said. "I expect him to be physical on the forecheck. I expect him to use his speed. I think he'll be excellent for us."
