DETROIT -- Henrik Zetterberg wants to play in the playoffs.
[b]Stitched Flames Jerseys[/b] . "Thats the goal," Zetterberg said Wednesday, speaking to reporters for the first time since he had back surgery Feb 21. The Detroit Red Wings hope to give their captain what he wants, but theyve got work to do. Detroit would be in its 23rd straight post-season if the regular season ended Wednesday, but it is in a logjam for one of two spots in the Eastern Conference wild-card race. The Red Wings, who have 10 games left in the regular season, will play Montreal on Thursday night at home. Zetterberg is aiming to return after the playoffs begin April 16. "I think the timeline is eight weeks without contact," he said. "Thats what the doctors say and thats what were going to stick with, and then well re-evaluate after that." Zetterberg said he felt great when he went to Winter Olympics. After Zetterberg played his one and only game as Swedens captain, he woke up in pain because a lingering back problem became debilitating. He had surgery about a week later in New York. "This had to be done," he said. "We went in, took away two pieces from my disc that were pushing on the nerve. Once this is healed and properly rehabbed, I shouldnt have an issue again." Despite not playing for Detroit since Feb. 8, Zetterberg still leads the team with 48 points. The Red Wings have been resting Pavel Datsyuk since Feb. 27, hoping it will help his left knee heal enough to help the team late in the regular season and the playoffs if they earn a spot. Datsyuk has been skating this week, but it is not known how longer he will be out. Detroits front line has been bolstered recently by the return of Darren Helm and Joakim Andersson. Tomas Jurco, who has been out for two weeks with injured ribs, is expected to play Thursday against the Canadiens. "The big thing is you get them back, but theyre good for one game and then it takes them about three games to get their conditioning up to speed," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. Zetterberg led the team with 16 goals for a while, but Gustav Nyquist has surged into the lead with 25, including two in each of the previous two games and nine during a six-game streak. From Jan. 20 through Tuesdays games, he scored an NHL-high 20 goals -- five more than the leagues second-leading scorer during that stretch. "Hes the hottest player in the league right now and we hope its going to continue," Zetterberg said. Nyquist, who scored four times in 40 NHL games entering the season, has made the most out of his opportunities to play a lot for a banged-up team that has been missing a slew of forwards. Detroits fourth-round pick in 2008 previously scored a lot for the AHLs Grand Rapids Griffins, at the University of Maine and in the Swedish Junior League. "Hes on a roll and feeling good about himself," Babcock said. "You never know until these players play whether they can do it in this league. Hes been a dominant scorer in every league hes ever played in."
[b]Calgary Flames Shirts[/b] . PAUL, Minn.
[b]Calgary Flames Gear[/b] . The club says Fridays surgery was successful. Holiday, a former Eastern Conference All-Star acquired from Philadelphia last summer, has not played because of the shin injury since Jan.WINNIPEG -- Winnipeg Blue Bombers linebacker Graig Newman will miss the entire regular season after suffering a serious ankle injury in a pre-season game over the weekend. Newman will undergo surgery Monday after dislocating and fracturing his ankle in a 23-20 loss to the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday night. "Graig is not only a great football player, but a great person, and our entire organization supports him throughout this process," general manager Kyle Walters said in a release. "We look forward to him beginning rehab and returning to the field as soon as possible." Newman, a six-foot-one 195-pound native of Langley, B.C., had 18 tackles and one sack last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He also had one punt return for seven yards..
[b]Fake Flames Jerseys[/b]. "This is obviously very disappointing as I was really looking forward to being a part of all the new things going on in the Blue Bomber organization," Newman said. "I would like to thank all of my teammates for their unconditional support, including immediately after it happened. "I would also like to thank the clubs medical staff for their efforts and care within the past two days. And lastly, the fans of the Blue Bombers who have sent messages offering their support. This is a great province to play football in, and I look forward to getting back out there as soon as possible." Also on Monday, the Blue Bombers released running back Errol Brooks, receiver C.J. Tarver and linemen Chris Kowalczuk and Kenny Tate. ' ' '
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