Tomas-Jurco-Lightning

Red Wings forward Tomas Jurco has no goals and two assists in 12 games this season.

(The Associated Press)

DETROIT - One good way to boost a young player's confidence is to put him on a line with Pavel Datsyuk.

That's where Tomas Jurco skated on Wednesday, when the Detroit Red Wings returned to practice after a day off. Whether Jurco remains on Datsyuk's line for Friday's game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Joe Louis Arena (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit) - or is even back in the lineup -- remains to be seen.

"I haven't decided on what we're doing; I would like to (play Jurco)," coach Mike Babcock said. "Contrary to belief, that I took him out because he wasn't playing good, I took him out because I thought we needed a change. I thought his last two games were two of his better games.

"I thought he had a good practice today, gets an opportunity for a good practice tomorrow and then I get an opportunity to decide who's in the lineup."

Jurco, 22, has been a healthy scratch the past three games after producing no goals and two assists in 12 games. He is preparing as if he will play Friday.

"It was a great practice," Jurco said. "Hopefully it's going to stay like this until Friday. I don't know if I will be playing but it looks like I am. It's a good chance for me to get back into it and get it going."

Datsyuk missed the past two games with a sore groin but has skated well this week. He said his status will be determined after Thursday's practice.

"Tomorrow is another skate and so far it feels good, and we'll see," Datsyuk said.

Jurco is anxious for the opportunity to skate with Datsyuk.

"He's obviously one of the best players in the league -- in the world, too," Jurco said. "Obviously it's great and it's a big opportunity for me to maybe score some goals and just break that bad luck and get going."

Justin Abdelkader was their other linemate. He can vouch for how nice it is to play alongside Datsyuk.

"Pav just slows the game down so well," Abdelkader said. "He's just really good with the puck and when you're playing with him, he just makes everyone around him better."

Jurco said he's a little frustrated by his start. He had 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in 36 games as a rookie.

"It's sport. It's always like this; sometimes you're up, sometimes you're down," Jurco said. "So I didn't have the best start. I think if I would have scored a couple goals, it would be all different but unfortunately none of those shots and chances went in for me."

Abdelkader said Jurco has the ability to succeed in the NHL.

"With Jurcs, he knows how he needs to play to be successful," Abdelkader said. "He's a really good skater, he gets up and down the ice real well. He's a proven scorer wherever he's been. I know he's struggled to score here, at least at the start.

"I think as a young kid in this league, it's a tough league and you can have success but once that success goes and maybe you go through a little rough stretch where pucks aren't going in or you're not getting points like you want to, it's going to be tough on your game. But I think that's when you really need to get back to the basics and just find your game step by step, put your work in front of your skill and I think everything is fine in the end."

Once Stephen Weiss (groin) is cleared to play, the Red Wings will need to clear a roster spot. They might assign Jurco to the Grand Rapids Griffins since he is the only player on their roster who doesn't need to clear waivers.

"I don't think of what could happen," Jurco said. "I just try to work hard and stay focused and maybe gain a little more confidence back since I had a little slower start. Hopefully one lucky bounce is going to go in and it's going to break."

Here are the lines they skated with today:

Gustav Nyquist-Henrik Zetterberg-Johan Franzen

Justin Abdelkader-Pavel Datsyuk-Tomas Jurco

Tomas Tatar-Riley Sheahan-Darren Helm

Drew Miller-Luke Glendening-Joakim Andersson

Daniel Cleary, Andrej Nestrasil and Stephen Weiss (groin, IR) were in gray jerseys usually worn by players who'll be scratched the next game.

On defense:

Jonathan Ericsson-Niklas Kronwall

Kyle Quincey-Danny DeKeyser

Brendan Smith-Jakub Kindl

Brian Lashoff

In goal:

Jimmy Howard (starting Friday)

Tom McCollum (backing up Friday)

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