DETROIT – Forward Todd Bertuzzi will not play Saturday night for the Detroit Red Wings against the visiting Anaheim Ducks.
“(Bertuzzi’s) not feeling good,” Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. “He’s been sick for a few days and he’s just not feeling good.”
TheRed Wings (5-5-1) will also be without forward Patrick Eaves (lower back) for the second straight game after he injured himself against the Minnesota Wild earlier this week. Eaves has missed two practices, but skated with the Wings on Saturday morning before getting more treatment on his back.
Fabian Brunnstrom, who made the Red Wings roster on a tryout offer in training camp, has been recalled from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League to enter the lineup in place of Bertuzzi. Brunnstrom played in just one game with Detroit before he was sent down and has one goal in one game with the Griffins.
Where he will be placed in the lineup is to be determined because Detroit didn’t skate their forward lines Saturday morning, but Bertuzzi had skated at left wing on the top line with Pavel Datsyuk and Danny Cleary during practice Friday.
Forward Jiri Hudler will also be in the lineup after needing 26 stitches to sew up cuts above and below his left eye after he was pushed headfirst into the boards last game by Calgary’s Scott Hannan. Hudler’s eye is still swollen and the headaches he dealt with kept him awake most of the first night. However, he wasn’t going to ask out of the lineup – especially during Detroit’s current six-game winless skid.
“Pain?” Hudler said on Friday. “Haven’t got time for pain.”