Henrik Zetterberg says he hasn’t suffered a head injury during his hockey career.
“I’ve never had a concussion,… Zetterberg said.
The captain of the Detroit Red Wings won’t call the current ailment that has him out of the lineup a concussion, either, even though it sure sounds like one.
“You know what? I haven’t really ruled it as a concussion,… Zetterberg explained. “I got banged up a few times, but I haven’t had these symptoms before.
“Obviously I’m not 100 per cent and until the symptoms go away I have to take it easy.…
Exactly what those symptoms might be is anyone’s guess, because Zetterberg was vague when asked to describe the sensations he’s dealing with and that will again keep him out of the Detroit lineup for the second straight night as the Wings face the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings Tuesday at the Staples Center.
“I feel like it hasn’t changed since Saturday (when he was injured in the second period of a game against the Dallas Stars),… Zetterberg said. “Hopefully, I will feel better soon. I thought it would be better but unfortunately, no.
“I have some symptoms that I don’t have when I am 100 per cent, so until those symptoms go away, we’ve just got to take it easy.…
While he won’t talk about the end result, the trigger of Zetterberg’s problems came when he and Dallas captain Jamie Been banged into each other on a second-period faceoff.
“I don’t really know,… Zetterberg said of how Benn hit him. “We had a battle on the faceoff and I think both me and him have done worse things than that on the ice. But obviously he got me in a bad spot and it is what it is.…
Zetterberg finished the period, but did not return for the third period or overtime as Detroit beat the Stars 7-6.
“I think when you’re in the game, you’re in the game,… Zetterberg said. “It is a battle sport, so you are in battles all the time.
“I think once I went into the room and got away from the ice a little bit I realized I wasn’t the way I was supposed to be and we decided to not play anymore.…
Zetterberg doesn’t anticipate any supplementary disciplinary action taken by the NHL against Benn and he’s fine with that.
“No, not really,… Zetterberg said. “I don’t think it was that bad.
“He just got me in a bad spot. Obviously I think guys have been roughed up worse than I have so I’m not worried about that.…
Zetterberg was able to ride the stationary bike Monday and planned to do likewise Tuesday. It’s a day-by-day patient process as he awaits clearance to once again return to the ice.
“That’s what it is,… Zetterberg said. “The symptoms have got to go away before I can do anything more heavy than that.
“Until then I’ve just got to take it easy.… Surgery Awaits Defenseman Kyle Quincey will miss his third game in a row Tuesday with what has finally been revealed as bone chips in his ankle, an ailment for which he already knows what the ultimate cure will be.
“Of course,… Quincey said. “I need surgery but it’s (a question of) when?…
That he’ll go under the knife to fix his ankle is a fact that Quincey was aware of from the early part of the season.
“It started in about August and acted up a few times in the pre-season but it is kind of an ongoing thing,… Quincey said. “We knew we needed surgery back in October but it was hopeful we could get through the rest of the year. That’s still the plan.…
Quincey was to meet with a specialist Tuesday to determine the next course of action and whether they can continue to delay surgery and get him back into the lineup.
“I can’t really answer anything until I have that opinion,… Quincey said. “Once I see him then all the questions should be answered.…
Up until recently, Quincey was able to play through the pain, but late last week, it finally grew to a threshold where it was unbearable.
“The last couple days - well, three or four days ago – I had a real bad day, kind of the worst yet,… Quincey said. “As of right now I’m on medication just to get through.…
Surgery, if required immediately, would likely put him on the shelf for six weeks, but in Quincey’s mind, he knows exactly the date when he’d like to lay don on an operating table – after the season is over.
“Oh yeah, for sure,… Quincey said of playing the season out. “Then get the surgery after we win the Cup in June.
“That’s the plan.…
Gustavsson In Jonas Gustavsson will get the start in goal, his first start since he suffered a shoulder separation Nov. 5, but that plan was in the works long before Jimmy Howard struggled the past two games.
“We’re playing Gus tonight because we feel that gives us the best chance to win on a back to back night,… Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. “Here’s his opportunity.
“He went to the minors (on a rehab stint) and played well. Gus has always played well for us. He’s been excellent for us, it’s just that he’s hurt. So it’s an opportunity for him but it’s an opportunity for ourselves.
“Tonight’s all about getting points.…
Forward Joakim Andersson, who missed Monday’s game due to illness, will take the warm-up. If he’s unable to go, Daniel Cleary again gets the call in his place.
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