Pavel-Datsyuk-4-20-14

The Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk avoids Boston's Brad Marchand (left) and Reilly Smith in Game 2.

(The Associated Press)

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings were a little shorthanded at practice today due to the unavailability of a couple of expectant fathers.

Pavel Datsyuk didn’t skate because his wife delivered a girl. Niklas Kronwall’s girlfriend is expecting.

Coach Mike Babcock expects both to be in the lineup for Game 4 of a playoff series Thursday against the Boston Bruins (8 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit). Boston holds a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

“I would assume that they’re both playing,” Babcock said. “They’re not giving birth. Their wives are.”

Daniel Alfredsson, who missed Game 3 due to lower-back pain, did not practice today. Babcock said he had no update on his status.

Henrik Zetterberg filled in for Datsyuk on a line with Justin Abdelkader and Todd Bertuzzi during practice.

Zetterberg, who had back surgery on Feb. 21, called it his first good practice. He and Babcock were vague on his availability for Game 4.

“I’ve been thinking about (Zetterberg’s return) for eight weeks; it doesn’t matter what I think about it though,” Babcock said. “We have doctors here that decide that so they’ll let us know; if he’s available, he’ll be going.”

He added that Zetterberg’s availability hasn’t been discussed.

“We haven’t talked about this at all,” Babcock said. “I put him in there because I thought his number looked real good where Pavel was supposed to be.”

Defenseman Xavier Ouellet was recalled from the Grand Rapids Griffins to take Kronwall's place in practice.

Here are the lines they skated with:

Todd Bertuzzi-Henrik Zetterberg-Justin Abdelkader

Tomas Tatar-Riley Sheahan-Tomas Jurco

Johan Franzen-Darren Helm-Gustav Nyquist

Drew Miller/Joakim Andersson-Luke Glendening-David Legwand

Xavier Ouellet-Brendan Smith

Danny DeKesyser-Kyle Quincey

Brian Lashoff-Jakub Kindl

Jimmy Howard

Jonas Gustavsson