"Datsyuk and Lidstrom are day-to-day, and I don't have to worry about it today. We don't practice or play. I'm hopeful to see Pav and Nick very shortly here."
-- Wings coach Mike Babcock on the status of Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom
Not only do the Wings have a chance to end this best-of-7 series Wednesday night at Joe Louis Arena (7:30 p.m. ET, VERSUS, CBC, RDS), but they now have two full days to heal before the puck drops again.
Monday morning, coach Mike Babcock ruled Kris Draper (groin) out for Game 5, while the statuses of Pavel Datsyuk (foot) and Nicklas Lidstrom (lower body) remain day-to-day. The Red Wings took full advantage of having the extra day off, as they did not skate Monday. They will return to the ice Tuesday morning at “The Joe.”
"Datsyuk and Lidstrom are day-to-day, and I don't have to worry about it today," Babcock said. "We don't practice or play. I'm hopeful to see Pav and Nick very shortly here."
Wings goaltender Chris Osgood did not finish Sunday's win due to dehydration, but will play Wednesday night. Ty Conklin started the third period and stopped all nine shots he faced.
Despite Sunday's trouncing minus some of his top players, Babcock is not ready to book his team's ticket to the Stanley Cup Final. The coach has never been a big believer in momentum and doesn't expect anything to carry from Sunday into Wednesday.
"I don't buy any of that stuff," Babcock said. "I think (Detroit Tigers manager) Jim Leyland's momentum is as good as tomorrow's starter. I think hockey is the same thing. It's a new game.
"I believe in living in the present and getting prepared for the opportunity that we have. We have a good opportunity. I understand that, the guys understand that. But if we don't play good, the last game doesn't mean anything."
Contact Brian Compton at: [email protected].
NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup, the Stanley Cup Playoffs logo, the Stanley Cup Final logo, Center Ice name and logo, NHL Conference logos, NHL Winter Classic name, and The Biggest Assist Happens Off The Ice are registered trademarks and Vintage Hockey word mark and logo, The Game Lives Where You Do, NHL Winter Classic logo, NHL Heritage Classic name and logo, NHL Stadium Series name and logo, NHL All-Star logo, NHL Face-Off name and logo, NHL. TV, NHL Premium, NHL After Dark, NHL GameCenter, NHL GameCenter LIVE, NHL Network name and logo, NHL Tonight name and logo, On The Fly, NHL Awards name and logo, NHL Draft name and logo, Hockey Fights Cancer, Because It's The Cup, NHL Green name and logo, NHL Vault, Hockey Is For Everyone, NHL Thanksgiving Showdown name and logo, NHL Centennial Classic name and logo, NHL Centennial Season logo, NHL100 Classic name and logo, NHL Global Series name and logo, NHL China Games name and logo, and Don't Miss A Moment are trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. © NHL 2018. All Rights Reserved. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. © Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2018. All Rights Reserved. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.