Pavel Datsyuk-Henrik Zetterberg 3-39-15

The Red Wings will play Henrik Zetterberg (left) and Pavel Datsyuk together if Justin Abdelkader isn't ready for Game 1 vs. Tampa Bay.

(The Associated Press)

TAMPA, Fla. - Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg were together again on the same line at practice today for the Detroit Red Wings, and coach Mike Babcock said he'll keep it that way for Game 1 against Tampa Bay if Justin Abdelkader isn't available.

Abdelkader (hand) skated again today, wearing a gray non-contact jersey, but didn't take part in line rushes. His status for the playoff opener Thursday at Amalie Arena (7:30 p.m.) will be determined after the morning skate.

If Abdelkader plays he'll likely be on a line with Zetterberg and Gustav Nyquist while Datsyuk would center Darren Helm and Tomas Tatar.

In any event, the Red Wings are ready for a tough series against an high-powered offense.

"We know who they are. We're prepared for them. We're excited to play them," Babcock said. "It's a good opportunity for us and for them. Playoffs are real simple -- they're short for some teams and long for others. We'd like it to be long for us so, we got to get prepared."

Tampa Bay finished only eight points ahead of Detroit in the Atlantic Division but is a heavy favorite.

"One of our coaches got a text form his daughter and said that we had no votes, 13 to none (by prognosticators on NHL.com) that we couldn't win," Babcock said. "So our job is to prove them wrong. We aren't supposed to make the playoffs, too."

Here are the lines they skated with today:

Darren Helm-Pavel Datsyuk-Henrik Zetterberg

Gustav Nyquist-Riley Sheahan-Tomas Tatar

Stephen Weiss-Joakim Andersson-Tomas Jurco

Drew Miller-Luke Glendening-Landon Ferraro

Teemu Pulkkinen and Daniel Cleary rotated in. Justin Abdelkader skated in a gray non-contact jersey.

On defense:

Niklas Kronwall-Jonathan Ericsson

Danny DeKeyser-Alexey Marchenko

Kyle Quincey-Marek Zidlicky

Brendan Smith-Jakub Kindl (likely scratches)

In goal:

Petr Mrazek (starting Game 1)

Jimmy Howard

Jonas Gustavsson

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