Pavel Datsyuk May Be Back Saturday

The daunting task facing the Pittsburgh Penguins may get that much harder when the puck drops for Game 5 on Saturday night. After getting back into the series with back to back 4-2 wins on Tuesday and Thursday, the talk among the Pittsburgh players was that yes they could come back in the series and beat the defending champion Detroit Red Wings. Trailing in the series 2-1, the Penguins, who got a two goal performance from Maxime Talbot in Game 3 and in Game 4 the Pens got Crosby’s first goal of the series and a win to tie up the series at 2-2. Saturday it may get a bit more difficult as they might be playing against a charged up superstar who has been idle the past six games due to a foot injury. There is about an 85 percent chance that a charged up Pavel Datsyuk, who scored 97 points this past season will be playing, which is obviously bad news for the Penguins. “Wing, centre, defenseman, I want to play so bad and I don’t want to watch this game again,” Datsyuk who was injured during game two of the Western Conference Finals against the Chicago Blackhawks said. “This game is 60 minutes and I hope to play 60 minutes.” Datsyuk, who has seven playoff points looked stronger and more agile during Wednesday’s practice and was even stronger during the optional Thursday morning skate. Despite the positive news, the Red Wings were extra cautious and let the two-time Stanley Cup winner sit out one more game. Showing his quick wit Datsyuk who was named as a finalist for the Hart Trophy said “I take in lots of beer,” to combat the disappointment of watching the games on television. The reining Frank J. Selke Award winner for best defensive forward was going all out in Wednesday’s practice skating on a line with Marian Hossa and Valtteri Filppula.

“Yeah, I’m healthy now, but we’ll make a decision (Saturday),“”Yeah, I’m healthy now, but we’ll make a decision (Saturday),” Datsyuk said. “I feel like I’m 18 years young.” That only means bad news for the young Pittsburgh Penguins.