Pavel-Datsyuk-11-23-13

The Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk celebrates scoring a goal against Ottawa on Nov. 23 with teammate Gustav Nyquist, as Jared Cowen looks on.

(The Associated Press)

OTTAWA – Ottawa Senators defenseman Jared Cowen said he feels bad that his errant elbow injured Pavel Datsyuk and said he hopes the Detroit Red Wings star returns to the action soon.

“I feel bad he got hurt; I didn’t mean to (injure him),’’ Cowen said Saturday, after practice at the Canadian Tire Centre. “It was one of those quick plays where you just want to get a bump on him before you go back to the net.

“Obviously, caught him on the chin. I didn’t feel like it was that hard, though. I never really hit a guy in the face with an elbow before, so I felt bad. But at the time, I didn’t really mean to hit him in the face.’’

Concussion-like symptoms will keep Datsyuk idled for a fourth consecutive game Sunday, when the Red Wings visit the Senators (5:30 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit Plus). He is listed as day-to-day but has skated only briefly (for 10 minutes on Wednesday) since that game.

Datsyuk was injured with 7:48 remaining in the third period of Ottawa's 4-2 victory in Detroit on Nov. 23. He played three more shifts but didn't feel well after the game.

“I think I hit him right in the button … just by chance it got him right in the spot,’’ the 6-foot-5, 228-pound Cowen said. “It’s too bad. I hope he’s back, but at the same time, (it was an) accident.’’

That's how the NHL saw it as well, since Cowen was not fined or suspended. Cowen, who didn't receive a penalty on the play, said he was just trying to slow down Datsyuk.

“You just try to get your bumps on those kind of (skilled) guys, don’t let them have free range out there, get speed and do what they want,’’ Cowen said.

Cowen might be a healthy scratch Sunday, as he was in the Senators’ 5-2 loss to Vancouver on Thursday. He skated extra during practice and was the last player to leave the ice. He said he doesn’t know if he’s playing.