4/1 Wings vs. Avalanche Game Day Updates

No Zetterberg at the optional morning skate. He participated in the warm up skate yesterday morning, but it was announced shortly thereafter that he wouldn't be playing due to a groin issue. The extent of the injury, or soreness, is not known at this time, but the fact that he was at warm ups and was a game time decision, gives me hope that it's nothing serious.

Zetterberg said tests on his injured groin (happened in Thursday's game) showed "something" and he remains day to day.
— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) April 1, 2013

Colaiacovo will play tonight, making his home debut.

Quincey skated again today, still wearing a full cage and says he hopes to play as early as Thursday in Phoenix.

Still no time frame on Helm's return.

Bertuzzi skated as well

3/4 bertuzzi on ice, looking good and saying he feels better. epidural shot for back moving through his body and now affecting inner leg.
— gregg krupa (@greggkrupa) April 1, 2013

4/4 11 days after shot, so it should be running its course. helm still out tonight. sammy, bert and helm would have been 3d line all season.
— gregg krupa (@greggkrupa) April 1, 2013

Bertuzzi: "Hopefully everything stays the course and get back within a week or so. But it’s tough to say when you’re going to do it.''
— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) April 1, 2013

Dekeyser won't play tonight and may possibly play Thursday in Phoenix, but nothing is certain yet.

Lashoff was sent down to Grand Rapids yesterday to clear a roster spot for Dekeyser, however after Wednesday (trade deadline) the roster limit is suspended and Lashoff will be brought back up. He will play in Grand Rapids Tuesday night, then fly to Phoenix to meet the team.


Detroit vs. Colorado stats:

Tonight's game is the 112th all-time meeting between DET and COL

This is 56th all-time meeting between the Red Wings and Avalahcne in Detroit

DET's all-time record vs COL: 60-41-5-5

DET's all-time home record vs COL: 33-17-1-4

Last head-to-head game: DET 2, COL 1on Mar. 5 at Joe Louis Arena

DET is 6-3-1 in its last 10 regular season games vs COL

DET is 3-1-1 in its last 5 regular season home games vs COL

DET's PP is 4-19 (21.1%) over the last 5 regular season games vs COL

DET's PK is 9-12 (75.0%) over the last 5 regular season games vs COL

J. Franzen has 6 goals over the last 5 regular season games vs COL

H. Zetterberg has 5 points (1-4-5) over the last 5 regular season games vs COL

P. Datsyuk has 38 points (13-25-38) in 37 career games vs COL

H. Zetterberg has 24 points (8-16-24) in 33 career games vs COL

J. Howard is 5-2-1 with a 2.66 GAA and .904 SV% in 9 career games vs COL

DET is 7-4-0 vs the Northwest Division this season (11-6-3 in 2011-12)

Here's the expected lineup:

Forwards
Justin Abdelkader	Pavel Datsyuk	Johan Franzen
Daniel Cleary	Valtteri Filppula	Damien Brunner
Drew Miller	Joakim Andersson	Gustav Nyquist
Patrick Eaves	Cory Emmertom	Jordin Tootoo

Defense
Niklas Kronwall	Jonathan Ericsson
Carlo Colaiacovo	Brendan Smith
Jakub Kindl	Ian White

Goalies

Jimmy Howard

Jonas Gustavsson

Healthy Scratch

Danny Dekeyser

Injured

Todd Bertuzzi (Back)

Darren Helm (Back)

Mikael Samuelsson (Upper Body Bruise)

Kyle Quincey (Cheek)

Henrik Zetterberg (Groin)

Let's Go Red Wings!!!