Henrik-Zetterberg-2-8-14

Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg, in the last game before the Olympic break, runs into Tampa Bay goaltender Ben Bishop, as J.T. Brown defends.

(The Associated Press)

DETROIT – Henrik Zetterberg leads the Detroit Red Wings in goals, assists, points, plus-minus rating and shots on goal. He’s their best defensive forward, matched up against opponents’ top threat.

On top of that, he brings many elements as captain and emotional leader.

He can’t be replaced.

But everyone can do a little more to help compensate for his loss. Having a healthy Pavel Datsyuk would help. So would getting contributions from Johan Franzen and Stephen Weiss, who’ve been out with injuries.

The Red Wings’ post-Olympic playoff push begins Wednesday at Montreal. With 24 games remaining and 11 teams competing for the final six playoff spots in the Eastern Conference, the Red Wings must overcome the absence of their indisputable MVP.

“It’s a substantial loss, let’s not kid ourselves,” assistant coach Bill Peters said. “It’s your captain, it’s your leading scorer; he’s a point-a-game player. His leadership in the room as much as anything is going to be a loss.

“But now we’ll get our head wrapped around it and move on and find a way that we’re going to have to play to be successful. We’ll do that as a group.”

Zetterberg had surgery Friday to remove part of a disc which was rubbing against a nerve, causing severe back pain. The club said his status will be evaluated after eight weeks, so he's likely done for the regular season.

Zetterberg (16 goals, 48 points in 45 games) had formed good chemistry with Gustav Nyquist (nine goals in his past 10 games) and Justin Abdelkader.

“We’re just going to have to rally with the group within,” Abdelkader said. “I think we’ve had a really good push with the young guys of late. Hopefully, Pav comes back and he’s close to healthy; he’d be a big lift. Franzen would be another lift.”

Datsyuk played well for a disappointing Russian team at the Olympics (six points in five games), after missing 14 of the final 16 games before the break due to a knee injury.

Franzen has missed 22 of the past 23 games with a concussion, but after practicing four times during the break he believes he'll be ready to play Wednesday.

“He’s a hungry player and I think we’re going to have a real good player down the stretch with Johan,” Peters said. “Physically, he’s worked hard and looks real good, and I know he wants to get back in the lineup sooner rather than later.”

Franzen was playing his best hockey of the season, with 17 points in 17 games, before getting injured on Dec. 15.

“Everyone’s got to chip in,” Franzen said. “I think we have a good system. When we buy into that we’re a hard team to beat. We got to treat every game like it’s a playoff game, pretty much the rest of the way.”

Weiss -- the Red Wings' second-line center at the start of the season -- might return Wednesday, or shortly thereafter, following surgery on Dec. 23 for a sports hernia.

Weiss has had a miserable start (two goals, four points in 26 games) but was productive the past six seasons in Florida. The Red Wings need that player to resurface.

“Obviously, Z is a huge loss,” Weiss said. “I’m not thinking about coming in and replacing him. I got to do my own thing and play my game, but we’re going to need guys to step up and fill that void. I definitely put some of that onus on myself.”

He’s looking at the final seven weeks as a fresh start.

“Absolutely, I hope so,” Weiss said. “I haven’t been able to show my best yet so I’m looking forward to hopefully getting back and having a strong push at the end.”

A strong push at the end last year extended the franchise’s playoff streak to 22 seasons. The catalyst for that push, Zetterberg, is gone. But it’s an opportunity for others to seize the moment.

“We have to embrace this as an opportunity, continue to prove we can win under any circumstance,” assistant coach Tom Renney said. “What that requires is extraordinary effort by everybody. I don’t think it’s anything that’s beyond them.

“But every single day we have to make sure we’re dialed in and prepared to do whatever it takes to get wins. If it’s trying to win 1-0, then so be it. I don’t think we’re as decimated as some would like to believe.”