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The Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk played three more shifts after being elbowed in the head by Jared Cowen, but he didn't feel right.

(AP File Photo)

DETROIT – Pavel Datsyuk and Danny DeKeyser joined most of their teammates on the ice today for an optional morning skate, one closer to returning than the other.

Datsyuk will miss his fifth consecutive game tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers due to what he said is his first-ever concussion, but he added that he is now symptom-free.

As for when he might return, Datsyuk said, “I need to talk to doctor and make a decision.”

He said he isn't sure if he's traveling with the team to New Jersey for Friday's game, but he acknowledged the need to get in a few good practices before returning, which likely won't be until next week.

“It helps a lot when I skate with team, pick up speed and everything, then I come back faster,” Datsyuk said.

“But I’m not doing it in one week. Trying to be safe. Need to come back in shape.”

Asked again if he's upset that Ottawa Senators defenseman Jared Cowen wasn't punished for the elbow to the chin that injured him on Nov. 23, Datsyuk said, "I'm upset why I make this happen. I need to be faster and better, care about myself."

Noting the team has gone 4-0 without him, Datsyuk said, “I’m happy to watch us win, but not happy to watch on TV and sitting alone and watching hockey. Some things happen for a reason.”

DeKeyser skated with the team for the first time since suffering a separated left shoulder on a hit from Nashville's Patric Hornqvist on Nov. 19. He is not eligible to come off long-term injured reserve until Dec. 14, but might not be ready by then. He estimated he'll return anywhere from mid-to-late December.

“It’s feeling good,” DeKeyser said. “I’ve got a lot of range of motion right now and it seems to be getting a little bit stronger every day. I’m just trying to rehab it and get stronger as fast as I can.”

He just started to pass the puck but can’t really shoot yet.

In addition to rehabbing the shoulder, DeKeyser needs to skate regularly to regain his conditioning.

“I was off the ice for two weeks, so my legs aren’t where they were before and my lungs aren’t either,’’ DeKeyser said. “I just want to make sure that I’m in the best shape that I can be so when I come back I’ll be ready to play.”

Todd Bertuzzi skated again today but coach Mike Babcock said he doesn’t know if he’ll be available for Friday’s game. Tonight will be the sixth game in a row Bertuzzi has sat out due to an upper-body injury.