|
Wings' Datsyuk envious of Green |
|
|
|
|
|
Mike Green feels like it’s been forever since he played a hockey game.
In reality, it’s only been 15 days.
“Although it’s been two weeks, it feels like a month,” said Green, out of the Detroit Red Wings’ lineup since suffering an upper-body injury Oct. 23 in a game at Calgary. “I can’t wait to get back out there.”
That day will arrive Sunday, as the Wings play host to the Dallas Stars in an afternoon tilt at Joe Louis Arena.
“I’m playing for sure,” Green said.
Compiling the frustration he’s felt over his absence is the fact that Green, an off-season free-agent addition, was just beginning to find a comfort zone with his new teammates.
“Yeah it was because I was just starting to get used to the habits and the guys and then you sort of take a step backwards,” Green said, “but it’s been good too to have some time here to skate with (injured teammate) Pavel (Datsyuk) and get to know him a little bit.
“We’ve had a good a time off the ice. He’s been working me hard.”
Green plans to take it slowly to start Sunday until he feels he’s back up to game speed.
“I’m hoping it’s going to be easy,” Green said. “There’s always that first period trying to get the speed back. We’ve been working hard here; doing our skates and making sure I do whatever I can to prepare for that. There always is the first period, but other than that, I’m hoping I can just jump back right into it.
“It shouldn’t take long, a couple shifts of the first period or the first period to get the feel back. Other than that it’s sort of just instinctual.”
Green also hopes he’ll be able to ignite Detroit’s inconsistent power-play unit.
“I just want to keep it simple,” Green said. “Move the puck around to create two on ones to establish shots. I’ll just try to slow things down and use the composure to open up plays.”
Getting Nearer
Like Green, Datsyuk – out all season following off-season ankle surgery – is getting anxious to play.
“Not bad,” Datsyuk said of how he’s feeling. “Think positive.”
Datsyuk believes he’s on pace to meet his original prognosis of a mid-November return to action.
“We’ll see,” Datsyuk said. “But it’s probably another week.
“It’s coming slowly, but at a good pace.”
As far as game conditioning, as good as Datsyuk looks working alongside his teammates in practice, he recognized that his level is not where it needs to be.
“I wish,” Datsyuk said. “But it’s not there yet. I need more practice, more skating with team.”
Datsyuk playfully declined to reveal what aspects of his game were still lacking.
“You think I just tell you my secrets?” he asked, while admitting his anxiety to suit up for real grows with each day he’s absent.
“It’s frustrating to practice, practice, practice,” Datsyuk said. You want to more be in action, you want it to be (against) another team.
“But I know it’s more important to recover good than play longer.”
Hall Monitors
The Wings were delighted to see former Detroit players Nicklas Lidstrom and Sergei Fedorov as they were honoured on hall of fame night Friday in Toronto as the Wings face the Leafs.
“It's great for the hockey world,” defenseman Jakub Kindl said. “All these guys, what they accomplished in their career - luckily I was a part of it when Lidstrom was around for a bit, so it's amazing experience.”
Even those who didn’t get to play with either player were excited to meet them.
“He was always my favorite player growing up,” defenseman Danny DeKeyser said of Lidstrom. “He was one of the best, if not the best. I always looked up to him as a role model.”
Follow me on Twitter @asktheduffer
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»