Wings Practice Lines

From Bruce MacLeod of the Macomb Daily:

Here’s what the Wings are working out of today …

Franzen-Zetterberg-Hudler
Cleary-Filppula-Hossa (Datsyuk working in)
Holmstrom-Helm-Samuelsson
Leino-Abdelkader-Maltby (Draper working in)

Lidstrom-Rafalski
Kronwall-Stuart
Lebda-Lilja
Meech-Chelios

Osgood
Conklin
Howard

Here’s what jumps out … Lidstrom is working out of a spot that says he’s definitely playing in Game 1 of the SCF. Datsyuk is just subbing on a line. Babcock is prepping the team for a game without Pavel.

On the blue line, Lilja is partnered with Lebda. Two things might be going on. First, Lilja might be back in the lineup with Chelios out. Second, and I think this might be more reasonable, Lilja is a place-holder for Ericsson, who might return from appendicitis surgery.

UPDATE: Datsyuk isn’t taking part in drills. He’s out there working on skating and stickhandling.

Click here for updates on the Wings lines.

Datsyuk still not practicing full out is not good for Wings fans.  He is such a good two-way player that Detroit needs him if they want to be successful against the Pens.  These Pens are much more experienced than the Hawks.