DETROIT -- The Pavel Datsyuk waiting game is over just in time for the Red Wings.
The Hart and Selke nominee will return to the lineup for Game 5 at Joe Louis Arena tonight after missing the first four games of the Stanley Cup final and the last three games of the Western Conference final with a foot injury.
"He'll play," coach Mike Babcock confirmed yesterday.
That's great news for the Wings, who squandered a 2-0 series lead with back-to-back losses to the Penguins in Pittsburgh -- including an ugly 4-2 defeat in Game 4 Thursday.
While Datsyuk was on the ice for the morning skate and took the warmup before Game 4, the Wings wanted one more day to make sure he was ready.
He should add some life to a lineup that fell apart during a three-goal second period Thursday.
"Prior to the game, we were hoping (Datsyuk) 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," said Babcock.
"The second thing is how does he do when he gets out there? He missed a chunk of time. Is he capable of those situations? Is he playing on the wing or is he playing in the middle?
"I don't know the answer, and I'm being honest with you, just because until I see them play, I won't know."
The Penguins are well aware Datsyuk's presence changes the dynamic of the final.
"Obviously, he's a great player and he'll bring a lot of offence," said defenceman Sergei Gonchar. "He works so hard on defence as well. I'm sure it's going to give them a boost of energy."
While the Wings are down, they know they're not out. They don't get caught up in the hype.
Babcock wasn't going to listen to any talk about lost momentum, but did admit the Wings have looked tired.
That's why he opted to hold a meeting with the players yesterday, but no practice. Babcock warned them not to worry about talk of their reversal of fortune.
NOBODY'S DONE
"If you listen to what people on the outside say, Pittsburgh was done after two games. I don't think anybody in our locker room thought that. Now if you listen to what people on the outside say, the Red Wings are done after two games. So I don't think that's what we think," said Babcock.
"What we think is we've got (2-of-3 games) in our building and that we're going to come here (tonight) and play well.
"After they got up 4-2 (Thursday), we had a push, but we didn't have energy. Is that because we're worn right out? Or is that because it happens all the time, when one team scores a few goals, bang, bang, bang, the other team doesn't have as much energy and the other team gets more excited. We'll find all this out."
Whatever the case, the Wings need to regain their stride at home, where they've dominated in the final.
"This series has been really even. We took care of business here on home ice, and they did that in their rink," said blueliner Nicklas Lidstrom. "So coming back here again, you have to win two out of three, and that's the way we're looking at it. We're playing with a lot of confidence coming into our building, and that has come to out (tonight).
"You have to continue to play with patience. You can't get impatient and pinch at the wrong time or step up at the wrong time. When you have the puck, you can't throw it away or give it away. You have to make smart plays with it."
BRUCE.GARRIOCH@SUNMEDIA.CA
