DETROIT — Quick update from the Wings’ morning skate at Joe Louis Arena.
Forward Johan Franzen appears will be able to play, which leaves Todd Bertuzzi on the sideline again.
Franzen suffered an undisclosed injury at the end of Wednesday night’s 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings.
Wings GM Ken Holland texted that it looks like Franzen is playing, but the final decision won’t come until after warmups.
Franzen did not take part in the optional skate.
If Franzen can’t play, Todd Bertuzzi will dress.
However, if Franzen plays Bertuzzi will sit according to Wings coach Mike Babcock.
“We just have to prepare for the process here tonight,” Babcock said about playing the Nashville Predators. “We’re playing a team that has a bunch of kids that got called up and are playing well. They get (Mike) Fisher back here tonight. They’re going to play hard. The last time we played them it took us 57 minutes to get to Franzen’s goal to give us some breathing room and I expect the same tonight. Pekka Rinne always gives us a tough time so we’ll have to get to him.
“Last night you were playing the Stanley Cup champions and tonight you’re playing a team that’s out of the playoffs,” Babcock added. “No disrespect to them, but that sometimes effects your mindset and we can’t let that happen.
Nashville has played us hard each and every night I’ve been here and has beaten us a bunch so we have to be prepared and start on time.”
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