The Detroit Red Wings are on a two-game winning streak and their roster may be bolstered by the return of Pavel Datsyuk when they take the ice in search of a third consecutive victory Tuesday night at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
According to The Detroit Free Press, Datsyuk may play for the first time in the 2014-15 campaign when the Red Wings visit the Canadiens in Montreal Tuesday night. Datsyuk has been sidelined with a separated shoulder that has caused him to miss the first five games of the season.
Update: The Red Wings confirmed after their morning skate that Datsyuk will in fact play Tuesday night.
Red Wings coach Mike Babcock told the publication that he is being cautious with Datsyuk due to the speed of their opponents.
"They've got good speed," Babcock told the paper of the Canadiens. "Last year, when we got fast at the end, they still beat us twice down the stretch, and they outscored us. They've got real good goaltending and they find ways to score goals. We've got to be able to handle them."
Datsyuk has been sidelined with the injury since Sept. 22 and was estimated to miss four weeks. He is slated to decide Tuesday morning whether or not he can give it a go against the Canadiens.
Detroit has skated to a solid 3-1-1 record (seven points) thus far this season, good enough for third in the Atlantic Division, but it could use Datsyuk to lift a struggling power play that it is 2-for-21 on thus far this season.
Goaltender Jimmy Howard (groin) also practiced and could return Tuesday as well while Johan Franzen (thigh) is on the seven-day injured reserve.
The Red Wings will have their hands full with the Canadiens, as Montreal is off to a red-hot start with a 5-1-0 record and 10 points to rank first in the Atlantic Division and second in the entire NHL.
Datsyuk, 36, has a history of injury problems and is coming off a campaign where he put up 37 points in 45 games off of 17 goals and 20 assists.
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