Ted Kulfan

The Detroit News

Detroit — Already without Pavel Datsyuk, the Red Wings appear to have gotten lucky concerning another key player.

Gustav Nyquist, who hurt his knee late in Saturday's exhibition loss against Boston, said Monday morning he was feeling "much better."

"Good signs so far," said Nyquist, after the first of two Red Wings workouts at Joe Louis Arena. "(It feels) much better today. It was a little sore yesterday but feeling good today."

As for his availability to play?

"Still day to day," said Nyquist, who added there remains some soreness.

Nyquist was hurt in a collision with Bruins defenseman Dougie Hamilton in the final minute of Saturday's game.

"The puck was in between Hamilton's skates and I was coming in with speed," Nyquist said. "I tried to get the puck and I hit his knee instead of the puck. So it was knee against his knee."

There was concern the injury could keep Nyquist out of the lineup for a lengthy period, but that's not expected to happen.

"It was scary when it happens to your knee, but it feels better," Nyquist said. "It's improved and that's a good sign."

Nyquist hasn't had an MRI done on the knee and feels there might not be a need for one.

Datsyuk is gone for at least another two to three weeks because of a separated shoulder, while Darren Helm (broken nose) resumed skating Monday morning.

Losing Nyquist, late in an exhibition game (as Datsyuk was lost), would have been another costly injury.

"That's just coincidence," said Nyquist of the late nature of the injures. "Injuries can happen at any time. It just happened to be at the end of the game."