Injury Update

Update from Monday's practice: Kris Draper practiced but has been ruled out of Game 3 Tuesday in Columbus due to his upper-body injury. Draper had tests performed on Monday and said the results were not favorable. He said he is taking it day-to-day.

"I can practice and take warm-ups, I'm just trying to be a part of it,'' Draper said. "When the puck drops, those guys are going to go out and take care of business. They're playing great right now.''

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2009/04/kris_draper_wont_play_game_3_f.html

Cleary also didn't practice but him and Babcock both said he will be playing in game 3.

I wish Draper well. I miss seeing him out on the ice. Miss seeing that beard of his. Hopefully he'll be back sometime during the playoffs.

Cleary likely to play game 1; Leino called up

Update from Wednesday's practice: Dan Cleary didn't skate but he said he is confident he will play in Game 1 against Columbus Thursday. Cleary sustained what he called a lower-body injury in Tuesday's practice on a hit from Niklas Kronwall. Cleary had tests done, which he said "showed something,'' but it was nothing significant.

Coach Mike Babcock also confirmed that Cleary will play.

Just in case, the Wings recalled Ville Leino from Grand Rapids and he skated Wednesday on a line with Valtteri Filppula nd Jiri Hudler. Leino will only play Thursday if Cleary can't go.

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2009/04/red_wings_dan_cleary_expected.html

Good to see Leino called up. Hopefully he'll get a chance to play this playoffs. His speed would be good for the team and the playoffs.

Wings injury update

Update from Tuesday's practice: Wings center Kris Draper won't play in the first two games against Columbus due to the upper-body injury that sidelined him for the last two games of the season. His availability beyond that has yet to be determined.

Draper, who still was able to practice, was reluctant to talk about the injury, since it's playoff time. But he said it happened against Buffalo on April 6. He still was able to play the next game against Nashville, though.

"It's not easy to handle, but so I just got to deal with this for Games 1 and 2 and we'll go from there,'' Draper said.

Also, forward Dan Cleary left practice early after getting checked along the boards by Niklas Kronwall. Cleary went for tests, but general manager Ken Holland said he was told the injury is not significant.''

Marian Hossa (groin) practiced and is ready to play in Game 1.

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2009/04/red_wings_kris_draper_out_for.html

Not being able to have Draper back until possibly game 3 isn't good. He is a key player we need in the playoffs, not only for his experience but for his faceoff skills. I hope he gets better soon.

From the sounds of it, Cleary's injury isn't that bad. I think a day off from practice on Wednesday will help. Kronwall should know that he doesn't need to practice his hitting skills (haha!).

Wings injury update

Mlive is reporting that Lilja will be idle for the beginning of the playoffs due to his concussion he sustained for a fight against Shea Weber on February 28th.

Wings defenseman Andreas Lilja did not receive good news from the MRI he
took on Monday. He doesn't expect to be ready for the start of the playoffs next
week.

"There's a vein up there (in his head) that still bleeds, that's why I
got headaches,'' Lilja said. "I thought I was going to be good today, but I
wasn't. The doctor said there might be a possibility to go in and stitch it up,
but that might be a big risk, too. Just have to wait.'

"It's really frustrating. Time's running out,'' he said.
http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2009/04/bleeding_vein_likely_to_keep_r.html

Brian Raflaski is returning to the lineup Thursday night against the Nashville Predators. He was out with a sore groin. He will be paired with Lidstrom.

Personally, I wish Babcock would leave Lidstrom and Kronwall together. They play great with each other and when they are together, they both get points and/or goals. Why split up a good thing?

Look for a special playoff entry soon. Also, I will placing my playoff predictions for the first round once it is settled on who is playing who.