Justin Abdelkader News

Abdelkader (undisclosed) says he will play on Friday.

Abdelkader missed practice on Thursday but said he will play tonight, despite Mike Babcock calling him a game-time decision. Abdelkader has one goal and one assist in three games this season. He will skate on the Red Wings third line with Darren Helm and Andrej Nestrasil.

Justin Abdelkader
Abdelkader (undisclosed) did not skate on Thursday.

According to the Red Wings GM Ken Holland it was just a "maintenance" day for the Red Wings' winger, but his status for Friday's game remains unknown. A decision on Abdelkader will come tomorrow, if he is unable to go, expect Stephen Weiss to make his season debut.

Justin Abdelkader
Justin Abdelkader (blow to head, undergoing concussion protocol) biked today, might be ready by the weekend.

Abdelkader left Saturday's game after being hit to the head by Derek Engelland and did not play against the Lightning on Saturday. He is expected to miss the Red Wings games tomorrow and Thursday but he could be back for Saturday's contest in Toronto.

Justin Abdelkader
Justin Abdelkader left with a possible concussion in the first period of Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Abdelkader had to be helped off the ice after Pittsburgh defenseman Deryk Engelland slammed his shoulder into Abdelkader's jaw on a hit that came just as Abdelkader was reaching for the puck. Engelland received a match penalty and faces certain further punishment after being offered an in-person hearing by the NHL Department of Player Safety. In-person hearings allow for suspensions beyond five games. Tomas Jurco has been recalled with Abdelkader out.

Justin Abdelkader
As expected, the Detroit Red Wings’ Justin Abdelkader will have a hearing with the league later Sunday, according to the NHL’s department of player safety.

The hearing, scheduled for 4 p.m. EST, comes after Abdelkader’s hit on Ducks defenseman Toni Lydman late in the second period of Game 3 on Saturday. Abdelkader received a five-minute major penalty for charging and an automatic game misconduct at 15:11. A woozy Lydman left the game and did not return.

Justin Abdelkader
Babcock said Abdelkader will start on line with Datsyuk and Franzen but that Nyquist will play up there too.

Abdelkader has been playing with Datsyuk lately and he will stay there at least for the start of the game. Even though he is playing with one of the best players in the NHL he still only has one goal and one assist in 26 games this season.

Justin Abdelkader