ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Detroit Red Wings defenseman Brian Rafalski will miss his third game in a row Wednesday in Anaheim (10 p.m., FSD) due to back spasms.



Rafalski skated today at the Honda Center and said he feels better. He thinks he might play Thursday at San Jose.





"I think (Thursday) is a good possibility,'' Rafalski said. "It's getting better. I was encouraged by what I was able to do today compared to two days ago.''

Johan Franzen is scheduled to arrive tonight from Detroit, where his wife gave birth to a boy on Sunday. Franzen will be in the lineup against the Ducks.

Here are the lines they skated with:

Hudler-Datsyuk-Cleary

Draper-Zetterberg-Bertuzzi

Filppula-Modano-Holmstrom

Abdelkader-Helm-Miller

Lidstrom-Stuart

Ericsson-Kronwall

Kindl-Salei

Rafalski (out)

Howard (starting)

MacDonald

Osgood (inactive)

Coach Mike Babcock declined to reveal which forward will be scratched in favor of Franzen. Based on the line combinations, it appears Draper will sit out.

The Red Wings, winners of six in a row on the road, are 3-0 against the Ducks. Jimmy Howard has won all three games, including a pair of shutouts.

“We play shorter shifts on the road; we've been a better team for whatever reason,'' Babcock said. "As much as we haven't been great at home, I'm not overly concerned about it. I think we're going to be a good team there.We're a veteran team that's been through this many times and understands what's coming. It's a grind and yet we all want to be playing the best we can going in (to the playoffs).''

Ducks forward Corey Perry is questionable for the game, after leaving practice early on Tuesday.

“He left the ice with a body ailment that I don't really have a description for right now,'' Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "So I'm going to say lower body.''

Carlyle would not say whether center Saku Koivu (groin) will return to the lineup. Newly acquired goaltender Dan Ellis, the former Nashville Predator, is expected to start in goal.

Jonas Hiller (vertigo) practiced Tuesday but said he still doesn't feel good, so there's no telling when he might return.

The Ducks added some more size on Monday, acquiring 6-foot-5, 230-pound forward Brad Winchester from St. Louis for a third-round pick. He'll make his Ducks debut on Wednesday.