"I knew. I just got undressed and saw Russ (Baumann), (Detroit's assistant athletic trainer) (right) after," Bertuzzi said after Friday's practice at the Belfor Training Center.

DETROIT- Tyler Bertuzzi isn't sure which Edmonton Oiler hit him back on Jan. 22 in Edmonton, but he was aware it wasn't good as he skated to the Red Wings bench.

It turns out Bertuzzi's gut feeling was correct as he was diagnosed with a concussion along with a neck strain, which he confirmed to reporters on Friday.

If there is a fortunate aspect of the injury, it's the pesky forward only missed seven games because the All-Star break and the bye fell within the period of his injury.

"Obviously, the break helped. We probably could have played three or four extra games in there," Bertuzzi said.

Though Bertuzzi proclaimed he's ready to rejoin the lineup on Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia against the Flyers, Detroit head coach Jeff Blashill agreed, but he was also a bit cautious.

"Yeah, Tyler is going to be ready to play tomorrow unless I hear anything different," Blashill said. "My understanding is he'll be ready tomorrow."

Before he was injured, Bertuzzi was on the Wings top line with Dylan Larkin and Gustav Nyquist. On Friday he practiced with the pair and likes the chemistry among the trio.

"I think everything will still be there," Bertuzzi said. "If I can get up to pace quick, I think it's going to take a game or two, but then I should be good. I think the chemistry will be there."

Blashill likes what Bertuzzi brings to that line.

"We liked that chemistry lots. I thought it's a middle drive, net-presence guy that has good hands and hockey smarts and good defensively to play with Nyquie and Larks," Blashill said. "And Nyquie and Larks have had pretty good offensive chemistry together in zone especially, trying to spread the zone, knowing where each other is going to be. We're hoping they can build off how well they played together earlier."

In 49 games, Bertuzzi has 13 goals among his 28 points, is plus-7 and averages 15:34 ice time per game.

His abrasive style coupled with his willingness to go to the net and score greasy goals has won Bertuzzi the admiration of his teammates, coaches and the Wings' hierarchy.

With Bertuzzi back, Detroit will have to sit a healthy forward and it will be a tough decision, according to Blashill.

"I think it'll be a hard decision. There is no clear-cut person that played so poorly (Thursday) night that we're eager to take somebody out," Blashill said. "We won two games in a row. You add a player in, that usually means you could potentially be taking somebody out that hasn't played poor.

"You're picking your 12 that you think is the best fit. Certainly, a hard decision. We've got a number of guys we'll look at. But those are good, hard decisions to make."

The most likely candidates to be a healthy scratch are rookies Christoffer Ehn (2-4-6, +1) or Michael Rasmussen (7-8-15, -2).

Tweet from @DetroitRedWings: Coach Blashill gives an update on Frans Nielsen, Tyler Bertuzzi and looks ahead to this weekend's home-and-home vs Philly. #RedWings pic.twitter.com/elmqNQ3huh

OLD-TIME HOCKEY REVISTED: Detroit and Philadelphia will be taking a step back in time this weekend when they play a home-and-home, back-to-back series beginning Saturday afternoon in Philly and concluding Sunday evening in the Motor City.

Once a staple in the days of the Original Six, playing a team back-to-back in a home-and-home affair led to some intense rivalries and memorable on-ice clashes.

Though the Wings are looking forward to this quirk in the schedule, they don't expect the games to be a blood feud.

"It'll be fun. It'll be a good challenge," Justin Abdelkader said. "Obviously both teams are trying to stay alive so it'll be some good games. It's tough. It's a building that hasn't treated the Red Wings good for a number of years.

"But you know what, just got to make sure we play a smart, simple road game and we got to be better than we were last game (a 3-2 loss on Dec. 18 in Philadelphia), we can't turn the puck over. Starts are always key on the road so that'll be important."

As far as a carryover effect from one game to the next, Abdelkader doesn't foresee it happening.

"You don't really see that anymore. It's changed so much. There's not really any of that going on (shenanigans) It's a combination of the game changes so fast now, the skill, the rules are different.

"Like I said, the game's changed. It's different so you don't see those type of things happen as much. We had a fight last game but fights got to be way down, even from the last few years, I would think.

"It'll just be hockey. It can get physical at times but you can't compare it to the '70s or '80s, for sure."

Blashill is fine with the Flyers series, but it does modify his coaching routine.

"I'm good with it. We play the schedule we're given but I'm good with it. I think from a preparation standpoint it's a little different," he said. "Usually I'd be on the flight home watching the game from Saturday and then preparing for a new opponent on Sunday. But you're preparing for the same opponent so it presents certain opportunities and challenges. We play whatever schedule we're faced with.

"I would say that I think that it's certainly different than it was a number of years ago in terms of some of the real physicality. The game is extremely fast, for sure. Every game takes a life of its own is my belief.

"Sometimes you have a real rough game in one and the next is not the same and vice versa. We'll play tomorrow and see where that brings us and play Sunday and see where that brings us."

Blashill's main concern heading into the Philly games is hoping the Red Wings are a lot better than they were back on Dec. 18.

"Last time we played them I didn't think we played very good at all. I thought we spent way too much time in our D-zone. They really spread us out. I thought it was as poor a defensive performance from a D-zone perspective as we've had all year.

"I think I'd start by getting out of our end fast. Let's break out of our end fast and let's be fast in the D-zone and spend as little time there as possible. I think when we do that, we're a good team because then we're playing downhill, we're putting pucks behind and we're on the forecheck. But it starts by getting out of your end fast."

NIELSEN SITS OUT PRACTICE: Veteran center Frans Nielsen didn't practice on Friday due to feeling a bit under the weather.

"He's not feeling great today, so we'll see his availability tomorrow," Blashill said. "He is coming on the trip. Stomach bug."

Another Red Wing who did practice but didn't stay on the ice for the entire session was goalie Jimmy Howard, but Blashill said Howard is fine.

"Jimmy was out there for the first part and then left the ice. Just more of an energy management thing," Blashill revealed. "We got him a good goalie session, he took the first part of the flow drills but we bring a third goalie out enough when a goalie is going to play two (games) in three days."