DETROIT -- The Red Wings will be without one of their top players Tuesday.
Justin Abdelkader, who missed the third period because of a shoulder injury after a hit from Vancouver's Luca Sbisa, did not practice Monday.
Wings coach Mike Babcock said the injury is "two days-to-day" rather than day-to-day.
He also said Abdelkader will be missed.
"He penalty kills," Babcock said. "Blocks shots. He plays hard on offense. He understands you score goals by being at the net so he goes to the net. He's an important player for us. He's a guy that works hard every day in my opinion. He brings most every day, skates good, gets in on the forecheck so we need guys like that."
Abdelkader started Sunday's game with Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg and Babcock liked what he saw from that line.
"I thought him and Z and Abby were real good together," Babcock said. "It was a big loss in the game when Abby goes because he's a good worker, he's at the net for those guys. They don't need another guy to have the puck, they need someone at the net that can get it back for them."
Based on Monday's practice, it looks like Johan Franzen will skate with Datsyuk and Zetterberg.
Joakim Andersson, a healthy scratch the last three games, will likely return to the lineup and play on the fourth line with Luke Glendening and Drew Miller.
