Pavel Datsyuk out against Blackhawks with illness

Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog and Wings Pavel Datsyuk meet up for a wrestling match, with Landeskog taking Datsyuk down outdoors.

Detroit Red Wings centre Pavel Datsyuk will not play against the Chicago Blackhawks Sunday after coming down with an illness.

The Russian forward will be replaced by Teemu Pulkkinen, the team announced.

The Red Wings come into Sunday’s contest in the first wild-card spot in Eastern Conference. The Pittsburgh Penguins at 74 points hold the second spot, with the Philadelphia Flyers three points out coming into Sunday.

Datsyuk has already missed 15 games this year, though when healthy he’s managed to put up 36 points (13 goals, 23 assists).

Pulkkinen, 24, has six goals and six assists in 32 games.

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