DETROIT — And the Red Wings forward out for tonight’s game against the Anaheim Ducks is … Pavel Datsyuk.
Datsyuk did not come onto the ice for the pre-game skate prior to the game against the Anaheim Ducks.
Wings general manager Ken Holland said Datsyuk has a nagging upper-body injury and is day-to-day.
The Wings thought there was a chance Datsyuk was going to be able to play and held off on their decision if he could or couldn’t go until right before game time.
Earlier in the day the Wings recalled Gustav Nyquist from Grand Rapids to have him on hand of Datsyuk would be unable to play.
“Watch Pavel Datsyuk play and you talk about how skilled he is, but when I watch Pavel Datsyuk play all I think about how much will he has and how determined he is,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said after Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Kings. “The best of the best are ultra competitive and they bring it every single day. They don’t have it every day, but they bring it. Those guys are our best players and they drive our bus.”
Datsyuk is tied for first in goals on the team with six and second in points with 14.
Datsyuk’s injury just adds to the growing list of injured forwards the Wings have on the roster.
The Wings are already missing Johan Franzen (hip flexor), Todd Bertuzzi (back), Darren Helm (back), Mikael Samuelsson (groin) and Jan Mursak (shoulder).
Datsyuk has won four Lady Byng and three Selke trophies.
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