Pavel Datsyuk Does Not Make Trip To Nashville, Still Day-toDay

Remember that whole thing I just said about Pavel Datsyuk possibly being available for Saturday’s game in Nashville? Well, erase it from your memories.

Datsyuk apparently won’t be playing as per this tweet from Fox Sports Detroit’s Trevor Thompson:

#PavelDatsyuk not making #RedWings trip to #Nashville #NHL

So unless he plans on catching a bus or something, Datsyuk is probably out. The team revealed earlier that he did not need any tests done on his lower body injury but didn’t reveal exactly what it was either. Datsyuk is listed as day-to-day, so it could end up being a situation like the Red Wings recently had with Patrick Eaves.

Detroit won’t need to recall anyone to replace Datsyuk even with Jiri Hudler also out of the lineup as they have plenty of healthy forwards (Hudler sat out last night’s game with the flu). Still, Datsyuk’s absence will be felt; he has 10 goals and eight assists since returning from a broken hand Feb. 7.

Red Wings Receive Good News On Brian Rafalski And Pavel Datsyuk

It appears that Red Wings players Brian Rafalski and Pavel Datsyuk both escaped major injuries in last night’s 2-0 win over Columbus.

General manager Ken Holland said Rafalski feels fine and expects to play tomorrow night in Nashville barring any setbacks. Rafalski hurt his right knee when Columbus’ Antoine Vermette slid into him in the corner of the Red Wings zone.

“Rafalski’s planning to play, unless he has a setback between now and tomorrow,’’ Holland said. "He says he feels pretty good.

News on Datsyuk wasn’t quite as optimistic, but good nonetheless. Datsyuk sustained what the team called a “lower body” injury after he was hit by the Blue Jackets’ Rick Nash. Holland didn’t rule him out but didn’t confirm his availability either:

“Pav feels a little sore, he’s day-to-day. We’ll make a decision tomorrow morning, see how he feels.’’

Both players left the game Thursday and didn’t return. Either way, Red Wings fans breathed a sigh of relief after learning Datsyuk didn’t reinjure his hand that kept him out nearly two months.

Pavel Datsyuk, Brian Rafalski Statuses Up In the Air After Injuries

Injury news on Red Wings players Brian Rafalski and Pavel Datsyuk remains unclear after both left the game against Columbus on Thursday in the third period.

Ansar Khan of MLive reported that both players were walking around fine in the locker room but more won’t be known until tomorrow. Datsyuk said he hopes to play Saturday in Nashville, but wouldn’t say any more than that.

“I just take a hit – lower-body injury,‘’ Datsyuk said. “I’m hoping (to play Saturday in Nashville), but now it’s after the game. In a couple of days we’ll see. Tomorrow we’ll make a decision. See how it feels in the morning.’’

Rafalski gave a similar sentiment about his right knee, which took a hit from Columbus’ Antoine Vermette with five minutes to play. Rafalski said the knee brace he wears prevented a much worse injury. He came back out after the game to test it out on the ice, and said as long as his MCL is undamaged he’ll be fine.

“See if the swelling goes down tomorrow,‘’ Rafalski said. "Can’t let it get stiffed up. At first the pain was (bad) and then it started going away after a few seconds.’’

Joey MacDonalds Helps Wings Shut Down Jackets, But Injury Bug Bites Again

Maybe it was a good thing Chris Osgood wasn't quite ready to return yet.

Osgood was scheduled to start tonight for the Detroit Red Wings but couldn't go, forcing the Wings to recall goalie Joey MacDonald from AHL-Grand Rapids just hours after sending him down. He didn't disappoint, stopping 37 shots in picking up his second career shutout against Columbus, 2-0.

MacDonald was stellar throughout the night, making Drew Miller's tally 33 seconds into the game stand up as the game-winning goal. Detroit also got a goal from Valtteri Filppula, his second in as many nights.

Miller punched in a rebound past Columbus goalie Steve Mason before most fans even got in their seats to put Detroit on top. Filppula then converted his 15th goal on the power play halfway through the frame, one-timing Johan Franzen's cross-ice feed past Mason.

MacDonald made sure it all was worth while, continually making spectacular saves to keep Columbus off the board. That including killing off a 5-on-3 power play with under ten minutes left after Nicklas Lidstrom and Jonathan Ericsson both took consecutive penalties. Detroit got out shot 37-27 for the game, a rarity for them, but came out on top thanks to their third-string goaltender.

However, all news out of Ohio's capital was not good on Thursday. Detroit lost forward Pavel Datsyuk again to injury after he was hit by Rick Nash in the third period. Not long after, defenseman Brian Rafalski hurt his knee after the Blue Jackets' Antoine Vermette slid into him in the corner of the Red Wings zone. Both players recently returned from injury; Datsyuk missed nearly two months with a broken hand and Rafalski sat out last week with back spasms.

Red Wings head coach Mike Bacock, who picked up his 300th career win with Detroit, said in the postgame interview on Fox Sports Detroit that Rafalski appears to fine and that Datsyuk has a lower body injury. Datsyuk skated off on his own power, making the "lower body" diagnosis a bit of a head scratcher (possibly one of those annoying groin tweaks, but that's purely speculation). Rafalski was down for over a minute, but was able to gingerly skate off on his own.