Red Wings' Datsyuk could return Thursday

Detroit Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk practiced on a regular forward line Wednesday and hopes to return for their game Thursday at the Florida Panthers.

Datsyuk, out the past 14 games with a knee injury, skated with Darren Helm and Daniel Alfredsson, according to a report by Ansar Khan of MLive.com

Traveling with @DetroitRedWings to Florida. Hoping to be back in the lineup tomorrow!

— Pavel Datsyuk (@Datsyuk13) February 5, 2014

"It wasn't bad, yeah, I can move," Datsyuk said. "Better every day. Now I skate with the team, and it's more fun and more enjoyable and more confidence."

Datsyuk, who was named Russia's captain for the 2014 Sochi Olympics, has 15 goals and 32 points in 35 games this season.

In order to activate Datsyuk from injured reserve, the Red Wings would need to make a corresponding roster move. It's expected defenseman Jakub Kindl, who won't play in either of Detroit's final two games prior to the Olympic break, would go on injured reserve if Datsyuk is ready to play.