Pavel-Datsyuk-11-16-13

The Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk hopes to return on Friday but can't say for sure if he'll be ready by then.

(AP File Photo)

DETROIT – The pain in his inflamed left knee no longer is the issue preventing him from returning, Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk said Wednesday. His conditioning is the main concern.

Datsyuk won't be in the lineup tonight against the Boston Bruins at Joe Louis Arena (8 p.m., NBC Sports Network).

The Red Wings also will be missing forward Daniel Alfredsson, who hasn’t skated the past two days and, according to general manager Ken Holland is day-to-day with an undisclosed lower-body injury.

Datsyuk has skated three times with the team since returning to the ice. There's a chance he could play Friday vs. Buffalo at the Joe, but he wouldn't commit to it.

“I need conditioning more. I can’t do what I do,” Datsyuk said. “I need to pick up pace. I think the two days (of practicing) helped me.”

Out since Feb. 27, Datsyuk said he feels much better, and added, “Would love to play as soon as possible.”

“I feel good but it’s hard to say it’s 100 percent ready to go. I don’t need to be 100 percent but I need to be careful.”

Here are tonight's lines and defense pairings:

Johan Franzen-David Legwand-Gustav Nyquist

Tomas Tatar-Riley Sheahan-Tomas Jurco

Joakim Andersson-Darren Helm-Justin Abdelkader

Drew Miller-Luke Glendening-Todd Bertuzzi

Niklas Kronwall-Brendan Smith

Kyle Quincey-Danny DeKeyser

Brian Lashoff-Jakub Kindl

Jimmy Howard (starting)

Jonas Gustavsson