Datysuk better, but not skating yet

DETROIT -- His knee continues to recover from the arthroscopic knee surgery that was performed on Tuesday, but Detroit Red Wings star center Pavel Datsyuk hasn't gotten back onto the ice just yet.

The dynamic Russian two-way centerman continues to do rehab work off the ice, but said he's glad he had the procedure to clean up a ligament fragment now rather than waiting. Datsyuk could be out up to two more weeks or longer, but is expected to be fully recovered by the time the playoffs start.

"Yeah, it's better now," Datsyuk said on Saturday at Joe Louis Arena. "I'm lucky to have [it done] now and not late in the season. I have more time to come back.''

Datsyuk said he was getting closer to skating on his own, but sometimes it can be difficult to tell whether he's being 100 percent serious.

"I would like to skate [Sunday] but maybe we have day off and I not come," Datsyuk said, smiling. "I'm not sure."

A reporter asked if he might try to skate somewhere other than Joe Louis Arena on Sunday.

"Yeah, I skate somewhere else," Datsyuk said, now clearly joking. "Maybe in Russia."

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