Darren-Helm-12-4-13

Red Wings center Darren Helm battles the Flyers' Sean Couturier Wednesday in Detroit's 6-2 loss.

(The Associated Press)

DETROIT -- Detroit Red Wings center Darren Helm is out for at least the next two games due to a shoulder injury suffered in Wednesday's 6-3 loss to Philadelphia.

General manager Ken Holland said Helm will miss Friday's game in New Jersey (7 p.m. Fox Sports Detroit) and Saturday's home game vs. Florida (7 p.m., FSD). He will be re-evaluated on Monday.

Holland said an MRI revealed fluid in the shoulder, which he said indicates either a sprain or a strain.

The fast-skating third-line center has flourished offensively since returning from back/groin issues, taking advantage of moving up to the second line. He has seven goals and 10 points in 15 games.

Coach Mike Babcock said forward Todd Bertuzzi is ready to return after missing six games with an upper-body injury. Bertuzzi skated on a line with Johan Franzen at center and Gustav Nyquist at the other wing, but Babcock said he isn't sure if that's where Bertuzzi will play against the Devils.

"That’s what I did in practice today; to be honest with you I’m not totally certain what I’m going to do with the lineup,'' Babcock said. "Obviously, we got three centermen that are not available suddenly so that changes the dynamic of your team a little bit so we’ll figure it out. We just got to get a lineup set so we can go in and find a way to win a game.''

Pavel Datsyuk had his best practice since being sidelined with a concussion on Nov. 23. He will miss his sixth game in a row Friday. Neither Babcock or Datsyuk could say whether there is a chance he will play Saturday at home against Florida.

"He skated in practice with us today; obviously that’s a good sign,'' Babcock said. "I can see just by him dripping sweat there that obviously he worked here today. so we’ll see when he’s ready.''

Here are the lines they skated with today:

Gustav Nyquist-Johan Franzen-Todd Bertuzzi

Justin Abdelkader-Stephen Weiss-Daniel Alfredsson (Pavel Datsyuk working in)

Drew Miller- Joakim Andersson-Tomas Tatar

Daniel Cleary-Cory Emmerton-Mikael Samuelsson

Jonathan Ericsson-Niklas Kronwall

Kyle Quincey-Brendan Smith

Brian Lashoff-Jakub Kindl

Danny DeKeyser (shoulder) also skated for about half the practice.

Jonas Gustavsson (starting Friday)

Jimmy Howard