-- Right before Mathieu Schneider headed to the hospital Saturday afternoon, he ran into Brett Lebda and pulled Lebda into an empty room near the Wings locker room.
In a way it was like a passing of the torch. Schneider knew he had multiple fractures in his left wrist and would be out for the remainder of the playoffs.
Lebda, who has been nursing a sprained left ankle, probably will replace Schneider in the lineup.
"We had a heart-to-heart, and he told me what to expect now," Lebda said before Sunday's optional practice at HP Pavilion. "He gave me some of his words of wisdom and it really touched home with me.
"It was just little things, like what to do and what to expect. He knows the way I play."
Both are offensive defensemen, but Schneider is 37 and Lebda is just 25.
Not having played since Game 5 of the Calgary series, Lebda still doesn't appear to be completely healed.
If the Wings feel Lebda is close enough to play tonight, he will. But if there's doubt, the Wings will go with Derek Meech, a recent call-up from Grand Rapids who had a brief stay with the Wings in December.
"We're not going to put Lebs in a position to be hurt," Babcock said. "If he's ready, he'll play. If not, Meechie will go."
More responsibility
Regardless of who replaces Schneider, Andreas Lilja and Kyle Quincey likely will see more ice time.
Lilja played 19:01 and Quincey 15:09 in Game 5, seeing more time after Schneider skated off with his broken wrist early in the first period.
"They did a real good job for us," defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom said. "They've stayed ready, they've both played real solid in the playoffs, and it paid off."
Special special teams
The Wings certainly won the special-teams matchup in Game 5. Doing so again in Game 6 could result in a series victory.
On the power play, the Wings scored twice Saturday and have now scored four goals in the last two games.
Talking about forward Mikael Samuelsson scoring his first goal of the playoffs, on a third-period power play, Babcock said, "Good for him to shoot the puck in the net, but it was good for our power play, when Schneider went out, to bury two more (power-play goals) and get rid of that (doubt) right away."
The Wings killed all six San Jose power plays and have killed 21 of 23 in the series.
"We're prepared, committed and working at it," Babcock said. "It was a focal point coming into the series after what they had done to us during the year (13 power-play goals). But Dom (Hasek) has played well and that's your best penalty killer, and the guys have been aggressive."
Wile E. vet
General manager Ken Holland said Schneider will get a second opinion early next week, but surgery is likely. Schneider didn't accompany the Wings to San Jose, but Babcock said Schneider will be back with the team once it arrives in Detroit.
"He's a wily old veteran," Babcock said. "Might as well have him around."
In a way it was like a passing of the torch. Schneider knew he had multiple fractures in his left wrist and would be out for the remainder of the playoffs.
Lebda, who has been nursing a sprained left ankle, probably will replace Schneider in the lineup.
"We had a heart-to-heart, and he told me what to expect now," Lebda said before Sunday's optional practice at HP Pavilion. "He gave me some of his words of wisdom and it really touched home with me.
"It was just little things, like what to do and what to expect. He knows the way I play."
Both are offensive defensemen, but Schneider is 37 and Lebda is just 25.
Not having played since Game 5 of the Calgary series, Lebda still doesn't appear to be completely healed.
If the Wings feel Lebda is close enough to play tonight, he will. But if there's doubt, the Wings will go with Derek Meech, a recent call-up from Grand Rapids who had a brief stay with the Wings in December.
"We're not going to put Lebs in a position to be hurt," Babcock said. "If he's ready, he'll play. If not, Meechie will go."
More responsibility
Regardless of who replaces Schneider, Andreas Lilja and Kyle Quincey likely will see more ice time.
Lilja played 19:01 and Quincey 15:09 in Game 5, seeing more time after Schneider skated off with his broken wrist early in the first period.
"They did a real good job for us," defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom said. "They've stayed ready, they've both played real solid in the playoffs, and it paid off."
Special special teams
The Wings certainly won the special-teams matchup in Game 5. Doing so again in Game 6 could result in a series victory.
On the power play, the Wings scored twice Saturday and have now scored four goals in the last two games.
Talking about forward Mikael Samuelsson scoring his first goal of the playoffs, on a third-period power play, Babcock said, "Good for him to shoot the puck in the net, but it was good for our power play, when Schneider went out, to bury two more (power-play goals) and get rid of that (doubt) right away."
The Wings killed all six San Jose power plays and have killed 21 of 23 in the series.
"We're prepared, committed and working at it," Babcock said. "It was a focal point coming into the series after what they had done to us during the year (13 power-play goals). But Dom (Hasek) has played well and that's your best penalty killer, and the guys have been aggressive."
Wile E. vet
General manager Ken Holland said Schneider will get a second opinion early next week, but surgery is likely. Schneider didn't accompany the Wings to San Jose, but Babcock said Schneider will be back with the team once it arrives in Detroit.
"He's a wily old veteran," Babcock said. "Might as well have him around."
