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Pavel Datsyuk will provide a big lift with his two-way play, but he's not going to carry the team.

(Melanie Maxwell | The Ann Arbor News)

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings are adding one of the best players in the world to their lineup Friday, but Pavel Datsyuk doesn’t need to be the savior of a club that has won three in a row.

“Obviously real good player, has an ability to change the game,” Babcock said. “In saying that, we can’t stand around watching him play. We’ve been doing it without him and we’ve got to continue to make sure we’re doing our part.

“We’ve got to guard against saying, ‘Oh, Pav’s going to look after it.’ He isn’t going to look after it; we got to look after it as a group.”

The superstar center will take the ice for the first time in five weeks against the Buffalo Sabres at Joe Louis Arena (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit).

Datsyuk has missed 16 games and 30 of the past 34 due to inflammation in his left knee. Babcock said Datsyuk likely will play on the wing, where he won't have to skate as much, but he hadn't decided if he'll play with Darren Helm and Justin Abdelkader, whom he practiced with on Thursday.

It will be Datsyuk's first game at the Joe since Dec. 23.

Datsyuk lost some of his conditioning but not his sharp wit during his absence.

“It’s been long time no play; I forget I’m hockey player,” Datsyuk said.

Asked if Helm’s speed can help, he said, “I don’t know if his speed helps me, he looks like me, old, slow guy.”

And finally, about his potential linemates: “They play with confidence, they play well, they have speed and they have power. And also they sit on the side of me (in the dressing room). When I need water they can bring it to me.”

Babcock said he hadn’t decided how many minutes Datsyuk will get, but he expects him to be one of the best players in the world.

“He knows how to play with and without the puck,” Babcock said. “When he gets his hands on it, he’s going to be good with it. I’m not sure how much pace he’ll have. We didn’t do a lot of pace stuff today, just because the amount of games we’re playing.

“I saw him out there battling after practice. If it appears he’s ready and feels confident, then I’m sure he is.”

Datsyuk said he feels much better than he did while playing for Russia at the Olympics.

“Knee’s not really bothered me, not too much like before when it was really bad,” Datsyuk said. “(The time off) definitely helped and I feel like I can push now.

“The plan is short shifts, not too much ice, stop and go, and then we see.”

Datsyuk has played so little since Jan. 1 that even Helm needed a refresher on his puck-handling wizardry during practice.

“I forgot how good he was with the puck, trying to get it away from him,” Helm said. “I really didn’t have an opportunity to steal the puck from him too much.”

Helm said Datsyuk looked “awesome.”

“Like he’s got lots of energy, pretty excited,” Helm said. “It looks like he’s having fun out there and he’s going to be a great addition in this lineup.

“He’s a guy that we need. He slows the game down, plays with so much poise, skill, backs the other team’s D off a lot. He’s going to be a good help on the power play as well.”

Until Datsyuk gets his legs back it makes sense to play him with the speedy Helm. They played together, along with Daniel Alfredsson, on Feb. 6 and 8, when Datsyuk first returned after missing 14 games.

“I’m kind of fresh, he’s kind of fresh and Abby is kind of fresh, so it’ll be a pretty interesting line,” Helm said.

Helm, who has been skating really well and creating scoring chances the past three games after recently sitting out eight games with a pulled groin, said it’s easy to play on a line with Datsyuk.

“He doesn’t yap at you too much, he just wants you to play your game,” Helm said. “You can get kind of distracted with how skilled he is and wanting to get him the puck all the time. You want him to have the puck as much as he can, but you can’t be just giving it to him.

“I’m just going to try and play the same way that I have. My eyes will be a little more open for him.”

With the team playing well, there is no pressure on Datsyuk to do too much.

“Hopefully things will continue to roll with him back in the lineup,” Helm said.

Said Datsyuk: “They play really well and I try to be small piece to help.”

He’s not sure if he’ll play on back-to-back nights; the Red Wings visit Montreal on Saturday.

“Long time don’t play and now I just play one game and I see,” Datsyuk said. “I hope I play back-to-back and I play all games that are left.”

Alfredsson not ruled out for Friday

Alfredsson hasn’t skated since Sunday’s game, but Babcock didn’t rule him out for Friday.

“We gave him another day (off),” Babcock said. “He’s had the same thing, the back stuff, so he’s getting it worked out. He could be a go tomorrow though.”

Jimmy Howard will start in goal.