ATLANTA --

is a healthy scratch tonight for the Detroit Red Wings against the Atlanta Thrashers (7 p.m., FSD Plus). Coach

has opted to play both

and

, who had been rotated out the past eight games.

"We know Huds is a very good player. We need him to be an important player for us,'' Babcock said. "I'm going to make a deeper rotation. He's in that rotation. When he plays, he'll play on the power play and on the top three lines. He's got to win his confidence back and he's got to earn his job back.''

Hudler looked like he was turning the corner with a couple decent games but has been held pointless the past three games and has just one goal, four assists and a minus-5 rating in 16 games.

"The bottom line is, you got to find a way to be in every night, that people aren't questioning whether you're in or not,'' Babcock said. "We need him, we need his scoring, his gift of knowing how to play.

"He's played a lot of big games for us, helped us win the Cup. We need that back. That's the challenge for him. he's not going to like this, but that's just the way it is.''

Said Hudler: “Obviously, I’m not happy. We got a great team, four lines can roll. You got to have a lot of good things going for you. I’m not disappointed with the way I played last (few) games. But this is the way it is. See what happens.’’

’s strong play since returning from a rib injury earned him a chance to start tonight's game on a top-two line, with Valtteri Filppula and Johan Franzen.

“I’m not certain he’s that player. We’ll see what happens,’’ Babcock said. “I usually like to start him (on the fourth line) and move him in the other direction. We’ll see how he handles that. Some guys can handle being in that spot. Other guys can’t handle it.''

"Patrick Eaves has played well. He could go in that spot. So could Millsie (Miller).''

Abdelkader had seven points (three goals, four assists) and a plus-8 rating in 10 games.

"Abby's the guy who screwed everything up (in a good way),'' Babcock said. "Abby's the guy who came in and played good, and that's what's supposed to happen.''

Babcock hopes Abdelkader can be the net-front presence for Franzen and Filppula.

"Before, the Mule used to be the net presence. Now, he wants to shoot the puck. You can't blame him for that,'' Babcock said. "So maybe we need a net presence on that line. Maybe Abby can do that.''

Abdelkader, who has developed into a versatile player, was looking forward to a different opportunity.

"Just keep playing the same way I've been playing,'' he said. "Take pucks to the net, be in front of the net -- especially for these guys -- be on the forecheck.''

Here is tonight's lineup for the Red Wings:

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Abdelkader-Filppula-Franzen

Cleary-Modano-Bertuzzi

Miller-Helm-Eaves

Lidstrom-Stuart

Ericsson-Rafalski

Kronwall-Salei

Kindl (scratched)

Howard (starting)

MacDonald

Here is Atlanta's anticipated lineup:

Andrew Ladd-Rich Peverley-Anthony Stewart

Evander Kane-Bryan Little-Niclas Bergfors

Ben Eager-Alexander Burmistrov-Nik Antropov

Eric Boulton-Jim Slater-Chris Thorburn

Tobias Enstrom-Dustin Byfuglien

Johnny Oduya-Zach Bogosian

Ron Hainsey-Brent Sopel

Ondrej Pavelec

Chris Mason