Lidstrom, Datsyuk iffy in Game 5

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Neither Nicklas Lidstrom nor Pavel Datsyuk practiced Tuesday, and Mike Babcock said their availability for Game 5 will depend on how they feel after tomorrow's morning skate.


Lidstrom missed the first playoff game of his career Sunday because of a lower-body injury suffered in Game 3.

Datsyuk hasn't played since taking a shot to his foot in Game 2, but he was finally able to get his foot into his boot today and skated by himself for about 20 minutes.

Kris Draper also didn't practice, but that was expected as he's already been ruled out for tomorrow because of a pulled groin incurred late in Game 3.

Obviously it'd be better for the Wings to have these two guys back, especially so Lidstrom, but we saw Sunday how well the Wings hid their absences at they trounced the Blackhawks, 6-1, and that was on the road.

 

[IE]

Wings, Blackhawks missing key players for Game 5

18 minutes ago


The Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks will both play without two star players in Game 5 of their rugged Western Conference finals on Wednesday night.

The Red Wings will be without defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom and center Pavel Datsyuk, while the Blackhawks won?t have right wing Martin Havlat or top goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin.

Detroit leads the best-of-seven series 3-1.

Lidstrom missed Game 4 with an undisclosed injury and Datsyuk has been out of the Red Wings? lineup the past two games with an injured foot.

Havlat missed most of the past two games after a hit from Detroit?s Niklas Kronwall in Game 3, while Khabibulin left Game 3 with a lower body injury.

Cristobal Huet is expected to start his second straight game in goal for Chicago.