by true Citizens of Hockeytown
Update (1:28 PM): Looks like Draper’s alright. - Matt
Bruce MacLeod has the latest from practice today, including possibly troubling news regarding Kris Draper. All seems well on the Datsyuk front, though if the lines today are any indication, he won’t have his own line tomorrow.
Update (3:06 PM): MacLeod has it from Babcock that Datsyuk is a game day decision (more here, as well as stuff on Draper and Abdelkder). Based on reports of how he looked in practice, it sounds like he’ll be in, barring a setback. Also, more on Rafalski and Holmstrom here. - Matt
Quick update because the news is too good not to pass along: Bruce MacLeod reports from practice: “Datsyuk is practicing as though he’s playing Game 4, centering Filppula and Hossa.” Not a lock, but it’s looking good. More detail from Bruce here.
Also, Draper’s skating with the fourth line as the center, instead of Abdelkader, and Rafalski is skipping out (though expect him to play). Sucks for Abdelkader, but who do you sit if you want Draper back in? My choice: Samuelsson, but his size is helpful. A tough one. And no Holmstrom, either. He took a beating last night, so that’s not surprising. I hope the day off can get him going, if he’s healthy enough to play again.
Bruce MacLeod has the news here.Great news on Lidstrom and Ericsson, obviously. Expected, but sucky, news on Datsyuk and Draper.
Apparrently, both Ericsson and Datsyuk took part in the optional morning skate, but obviously in Jonny’s case it was to make up for two days of not skating, and in Datsyuk’s it was just another test drive of his bum foot. Here’s hoping he’s able to go tomorrow, though the odds of him improving enough a single day later don’t seem all that good.
It must be pretty serious pain to keep him out, because even a 75% effective Datsyuk is better than no Datsyuk. From media reports of practice yesterday, it sounds like he couldn’t get around all that well.
Preview/pre-series commentary coming this afternoon.
Update (1:45 PM): Babcock, through Chris Johnston: I think everyone’s ready to go. Pavel (Datsyuk) is the only last-minute decision.” - Matt
Update (12:43 PM): George’s got an audio clip from Draper in which he talks about his status and says to expect him to play. Meg suggests he’s taking it easy in practice in order to avoid tweaking anything. - Matt
Update (12:36 PM): Just now remembered Lilja’s lightning-fast return from an appendectomy earlier this year. So, Ericsson could be back in time for Game 1, assuming his recovery time is similar. - Matt
Update (12:17 PM): From his Twitter account, good news from Johnston: Lidstrom’s looking good. And bad news from Johnston: Datsyuk not so much.
Here’s hoping “ginger” means “careful,” not “still in pain.” Realistically, though, I have to say that Sunday really is looking like the more likely return date of the first possible two. - Matt
Update (11:56 AM): I initially ignored the part of today’s practice reports that included Lilja’s presence on the ice because he’s been skating with the team for a while now and by all accounts was no closer to returning.
Well, MacLeod now suggests he might be ready to return since he’s skating with Lebda on the third pairing. Unless Ericsson really is going to be back for Game 3, that may indicate Chelios and Meech are losing out to Lilja, who hasn’t played since February.
On his blog, MacLeod leans toward “filling in for Ericsson,” but could Jonny really be back that fast? - Matt
Bruce MacLeod reports that Lidstrom, Datsyuk and Draper are on the ice in practice this morning. From yesterday’s reports on Nick’s status, that part of the news isn’t surprising. Apparently he’s “practicing as though he’s playing,” and skating with Rafalski.
Draper’s presence is more so, though I’m guessing he’s still ruled out for Game 1.
As for Datsyuk, based on CP writer Chris Johnston’s Twitter report, it sounds like he’s just testing his foot again. And it doesn’t sound like great news. In his latest Twitter update, MacLeod says he’s filling in on the Filppula line. Still, nothing’s certain yet. Apparently Game statuses will be updated this afternoon. So we’ll know more later, but even that likely won’t be the final word on Pavel.
Ericsson, obviously, isn’t skating. “Next game” was probably very optimistic.
Good news: CBC has it from Holland that Nick will be back for Game 1 of the Finals. No word on Datsyuk and Ericsson yet and we likely won’t get any until Saturday. Draper’s unlikely to play in the opener.
Update (3:49 PM): The CBC’s got a little more on the situation. Datsyuk apparently went through a “rigorous” off-ice work out, while Lidstrom wasn’t even around.
Makes you wonder where Nick was.
Also mentioned is Babcock’s comment today that if they’re ready, they’ll play. So if they’re out tomorrow, it won’t be due to rest. - Matt
Update (12:56 PM): Khan has updated his earlier post with the news that Datsyuk skated for about 15 minutes before practice and feels mostly good. He’ll try again tomorrow, and could go in Game 5 if he feels he’s good to go (i.e. able to take turns to his satisfaction).
Khan also has more detail on the injury, including some reassuring news about X-ray results (no break). - Matt
Update (12:05 PM): Helene St. James has an angle on the same news, with an added detail I hadn’t heard before: Datsyuk’s foot is swollen enough that he can’t get his skate on.*
She also frames the news as casting doubt on their availability for tomorrow, despite the fact that players skip practices in the playoffs in this exact circumstance all the time. - Matt
Ansar Khan has the latest from practice.
Here’s hoping that in Nick and Pavel’s case, it’s just further rest in preparation for a return. If Datsyuk’s foot is really just sore and not broken, and Nick’s just got a sore ankle, we can be optimistic. Maybe.
But Drapers still definitely out. Poor guy can’t catch a break in this run.
Khan promises a further update after the skate.
*Update: Apparently this was reported already on TV. I assume it was by Versus or NBC, since I don’t really listen to those guys.
Bruce MacLeod has the latest on Draper, Datsyuk and Lidstrom from Mike Babcock here.
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