Return to Red Wings' lineup still riles nevers for future Hall of Famer Mike ... - The Ann Arbor News - MLive.com

This full rss is powered by Adsense Id DETROIT -- And even after 21 NHL seasons and nearly 1,500 games, Detroit Red Wings forward Mike Modano was tossing and turning Monday night, thinking about his next game, which could always be his final game.

Coach Mike Babcock called Modano the night before to tell him he was playing in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks.

"It was tough last night sleeping, knowing that I was playing and there was no mystery about it," Modano said. "It wasn?t coming here and waiting and seeing after warmup or whatever. In some sense, that?s good. In some sense, that?s bad.

"I mean, you get kind of restless sleep, but then again you have time to really think about what you want to do and what?s expected of you."

Johan Franzen was scratched because of a sore left ankle that has hampered him since Game 2 of the first round against Phoenix.

"This time of the year, for Mule to do what he did, it?s pretty honorable," Modano said. "Everybody?s trying to suck it up for your teammates to win and eventually move on from series to series. He did what he could, he played hard, but I?m just excited to get an opportunity."

Modano played 9:01 in his team?s 3-1 victory. He started the game on a line with Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom. He took some of the faceoffs for Datsyuk, who has been bothered by a sore wrist, and won 6-of-9 draws. He also played on the point on the second power-play unit.

Modano?s only other postseason appearance was in Game 4 against the Coyotes.

"It?s all you look forward to all season long, to be involved in some sense and be on the ice with these guys and competing -- knowing they?re going through some physical and mental abuse out there and to kind of help lighten that load."

Modano?s teammates said it?s a nice luxury having a player of his experience waiting in the wings.

"He played real well in Game 4 (vs. Phoenix)," captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. "I thought he skated real well and I expect him to do the same thing for us again."

Said Danny Cleary: "It?s not an easy situation to deal with, considering his career. He?s a Hall of Fame player, one last shot and hasn?t been able to get in kind of his groove.

"He?s got good hockey in him. He?s a good player, passes, shoots well."�Sharks missing leading scorerForward Ryane Clowe, the Sharks? leading playoff scorer, didn?t make the trip because of an upper-body injury.

Sharks coach Todd McLellan said the injury wasn?t caused by the big open-ice hit Niklas Kronwall delivered on Clowe during the second period of Game 5.

"It had nothing to do with the hit that Kronwall laid on him," McLellan said. "He finished the game. We think with this injury, he?ll be able to play as we move forward. But we have to wait and see when we get back."

After jumping Justin Abdelkader during a faceoff at the end of Game 4, Clowe said he wished Kronwall were lined up against him. He was upset about Kronwall?s hit on Dany Heatley in Game 3.

"Obviously, you don?t want him to be too badly hurt," Kronwall said. "I don?t think it has anything to do with that hit whatsoever.

"He?s an honest player, works hard, plays hard. He?s a good player."

Clowe is a physical catalyst and emotional leader for San Jose. He had five assists in the first five games of this series and four goals and 13 points in 11 playoff games.

"Very much like Franzen, a big guy who takes up a lot of space, but he?s got great hands," Modano said. "He?s been very effective at both ends of the ice. That?s a big hole for them. But when good teams lose good guys, they seem to find a way to rally around it."

The Sharks weren?t downplaying Clowe?s absence.

"You can?t replace your top point-getter in the playoffs," Logan Couture said. "Clowie?s been great all year and in the playoffs, too."

Said Joe Pavelski: "He?s a big part of our team, he?s done a lot for us throughout this postseason, so obviously you miss a body like that. Throughout the playoffs, you know there?s going to be an injury or two along the way. There?s no excuses for us."�Hudler replaces Draper in lineupJiri Hudler returned to the lineup for Game 6, replacing Kris Draper. Hudler had no points and no shots on goal in 10:22.

Hudler was scratched in Game 5 after being held without a point in the first four games. Draper had played the past three games. Draper?s line, with Darren Helm and Patrick Eaves, provided a spark and accounted for a pair of goals.

"Whatever the team needs to win, everybody is OK with it," Hudler said before the game. "This is playoff hockey. There is not time to be frustrated or shocked or things like that. You?ve just got to go with it and be prepared to jump in whenever Babs need you in the lineup."?

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