PITTSBURGH -- Pavel Datsyuk was not in the Detroit Red Wings lineup for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final Thursday night.
Datsyuk hurt his foot in Game 2 of the Western Conference final and has missed all seven of Detroit's games since. He skated 40 minutes longer than the rest of the Red Wings regulars at Thursday's morning skate, leaving much doubt as to whether or not he would play tonight.
"I think I'll go for the pregame skate, and then make a decision for sure after that," Datsyuk said in the morning.
He did so, but the Red Wings' leading scorer, a Hart Trophy and Selke Award finalist, was deemed not ready to play.
Kris Draper made his long awaited return to the Detroit lineup after missing all but four games in this postseason. Rookie Justin Abdelkader came out of the lineup.
Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma made no lineup changes for Game 4.
