Posted by Pierre LeBrun
DETROIT -- The coaches made it easy on us today. No guessing whatsoever.
Red Wings stars Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk are out for tonight's game, as are Blackhawks stars Martin Havlat and Nikolai Khabibulin.
"Not playing," Wings coach Mike Babcock said after the pregame skate regarding Lidstrom (lower body) and Datsyuk (foot).
Of course, your humble hockey reporter managed to make it more complicated because I didn't hear Babcock say that at the beginning of his news conference. So when I asked about Datsyuk and Lidstrom again (thinking I was asking the first time), I didn't quite follow.
"I think they're both getting closer; Nick rode the bike," Babcock said. "You know, I'd like to think they'll play the next time we play. I thought that today, though."
At that point, I was totally confused, so I asked for clarification.
"That's what I said initially -- they're not playing tonight," Babcock said. "Prior to today, I thought they were playing today. So now that I've cleared that right up ..."
At that point, there was laughter in the media room. Oops, I guess I've got egg on my face. Oh well, it happens. I honestly never heard him say it at the beginning.
Datsyuk skated briefly in a track suit this morning. Lidstrom did not skate. Kris Draper (groin) also is out.
On the Hawks' side, coach Joel Quenneville wasted no time.
"Khabby, not playing tonight," Quenneville said right off the top of his media availability (I was listening this time). "He's progressed pretty well today, and we'll see."
And Havlat?
"Havy is in the same boat. He's not playing tonight either," Quenneville said.
OK, before we move on, a quick thought on Havlat. He seems to have returned too quickly after getting hammered by Niklas Kronwall in Game 3. I credit Havlat's courage and was told he convinced the team to let him play in Game 4, but that was dangerous in retrospect. Colin Fraser will replace Havlat in the lineup tonight, while Cristobal Huet will get the start in goal.
"I'll give my best effort, hopefully see the puck and challenge the shooter more," Huet said after the pregame skate. "I think we're going to need everybody tonight, but it starts with me making the first save."
Huet was pulled Sunday in Game 4.
Fraser has played in only one playoff game this year, on April 20 at Calgary.
"I was ready last game; I'll be ready tonight," Fraser said. "We've been working hard off the ice to stay in shape, so we're all ready to go. Staying mentally into it, staying around the team, we know the system, we know what's going on. You have to be ready. It's part of the role. It's part of being a professional. When you get your chance, you got to be ready to take it."
As for the Wings, most of them watched Pittsburgh punch its ticket to the Cup finals on Tuesday night, but veteran forward Kirk Maltby said that doesn't change anything for Detroit going into tonight.
"It's not added motivation," Maltby said. "For us, our goal is to get to the final regardless of who it is. Obviously, it's no secret who it would be [from the East], regardless of whether it's us or Chicago. For us, we hope to take care of business and then we worry about the next round. But it's important we focus on this game and not get too ahead of ourselves.
"We don't want to give these guys any life at any time. History shows that this is always the toughest game to win. It's a cliché, but it's true. It's up to us that we're ready to go."
The Wings had a chance to clinch in Game 5 in both the conference finals and Cup finals last season and lost in both games. Babcock said that's easy inspiration for his players.
"I can just say, 'Remember last year?' They were just like me, getting on a plane and going somewhere else when we didn't close out the series when we had the opportunity," Babcock said. "So I think it's that experience thing -- you've been through it. You didn't get it done in the past and you'd like to get it done here tonight."
One Red Wing who certainly was watching Tuesday night was backup goalie Ty Conklin. He was the backup to Marc-Andre Fleury last season in Pittsburgh and is impressed with his former team.
"They're pretty impressive, especially that last round," Conklin said. "They've been playing some pretty good hockey for a while now. A lot of skill. Obviously Geno [Evgeni Malkin] and Sid [Crosby] are playing really well, but from what I've seen, it looks like everybody is playing really well."
Conklin was among the several offseason defections from the Penguins, which included Ryan Malone and Marian Hossa, who now is with the Wings. I asked Conklin about the Pens' ability to overcome those losses.
"Obviously [Bill] Guerin's been a big addition," Conklin said. "I haven't followed it that closely where I can tell you exactly what their lineup is like. But they've got a lot of good leadership and character in that room, and it's not too surprising they are where they are."
ESPN.com Stanley Cup playoffs blog
