Datsyuk set to return

by James Mirtle on Jun 6, 2009 5:00 AM CDT Comment 5 comments

Here are a few words from Mike Babcock on the fact Pavel Datsyuk is apparently very likely to draw back into the lineup for Saturday's Game 5 tonight in Detroit:

Q. Can you talk about Pavel's availability for Game 5 and if you expect him to play?
COACH BABCOCK: He'll play.

Q. You said that Datsyuk was going to be back in with regard to the power play or penalty kill. Is he a guy that can maybe help those units being that they're struggling right now?
COACH BABCOCK: Well, you know, first thing is prior to yesterday's game, we were hoping Pav was going to be in, but we weren't planning. Now we're hoping Pav's going to be in and we're planning that he's going to be in. But he's still got to be in. Then the second thing is how does he do when he gets out there? You missed a chunk of time. Is he capable of those situations? Is he playing on the wing or is he playing in the middle? You know, all those things. We'll see. I don't know the answer, and I'm being honest with you, just because until I see them play, I won't know.

Q. Just with the way Malkin's playing, too. Do you need Pav's defensive abilities right now more than anything else?
COACH BABCOCK: Well, we'd like Pav to have the puck for 18 or 20 minutes like he normally does. That's a great concept. When he has the puck, they don't have it. It's not even playing defense, you just have the puck. You don't have to worry about it. Plus you're faster coming out of your scone. You're faster for the neutral zone. He is up for the Hart Trophy, too.

Datsyuk's one of the best players in the NHL, so his presence obviously would make a huge difference if he was at 100 per cent. What we don't know, to any extent, really, is how healthy he'll be and how much (and in which situations) Babcock will roll him out there.

Can he help shutdown Evgeni Malkin? Or is he only going to be able to play 10-12 minutes and chip in on the power play? Will he be part of the solution for a woeful penalty kill or be kept off that unit entirely?

Just another storyline for a game that figures to have plenty of them.

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At the very least the Wings now have someone who can trashtalk in Malkin’s language.

"Without good hard work, it is impossible to reach the pinnacle of success." - Anatoli Tarasov

by PRC on Jun 6, 2009 10:33 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Scone, eh?

by Pyronite on Jun 6, 2009 11:54 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It’s amazing that the Wings are even having missed their best player to date. No chance the Pens would have survived without their top gun. A tremendous compliment to the depth Holland has built in Detroit.

by puckreport on Jun 6, 2009 3:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs