The Detroit Red Wings just got scarier.
Star forward Pavel Datsyuk will return to the Red Wings’ lineup Friday, when the team faces the Buffalo Sabres.
Datsyuk, who has been out of the lineup since Feb. 27 with a knee injury, will centre a line with Darren Helm and Justin Abdelkader.
The "Magic Man” has played just four games for the Wings since the Winter Classic on New Year’s Day. He has missed 37 games in total this season.
In 39 games played, the 35-year-old has 15 goals, 33 points and is minus-2, which marks his lowest plus/minus rating since the 2003-04 season.
Hot off Wednesday’s 3-2 victory over the NHL-leading Boston Bruins, the Red Wings will take a three-game winning streak into Joe Louis Arena Friday. With 86 points, Detroit has a three-point lead on Columbus for the first wild card in the Eastern Conference and a likely matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the opening round of the playoffs.
Detroit is still playing without captain Henrik Zetterberg and defenceman Jonathan Ericsson, who recently had surgery on a broken finger.
