Pavel Datsyuk of Team Russia takes the first period shot against Team North America during the World Cup of Hockey tournament at the Air Canada Centre on September 19, 2016 in Toronto, Canada. (Getty Images)

TORONTO – If Team Russia wants to get to the semifinal of the World Cup of Hockey, they will have to do so without their first-line center.

Pavel Datsyuk will not play in Russia’s game against Finland Thursday afternoon. Russia said Datsyuk has a “small injury.”

So far this tournament, Datsyuk has been on a line with Alex Ovechkin on one wing and Vladimir Tarasenko on the other. He is tied for the Team Russia scoring lead with two assists.

Losing Datsyuk is a big blow for the Russians as they try to punch their way into the next round of the tournament. Any win by Team Russia means a date with Canada in the semifinal. With a Russian loss to Finland, Team North America will make the semifinal.

If Russia loses, it also could mean not seeing Datsyuk on a North American rink again in his professional career. The 38-year-old Datsyuk left the Detroit Red Wings last summer, with one year left on his contract, in order to return to his native Russia to be closer to his family.

One of the best two-way hockey players in league history, Datsyuk finished his NHL career with 918 points in 953 games. He also won three Selke Trophies.

Datsyuk is currently playing with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL, but came back to North America specifically for this tournament.

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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @joshuacooper

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