-- Wednesday's practice has just begun and Dallas Drake isn't on the ice. That swollen knee might keep him out of Thursday's game against Vancouver.
-- The Red Wings started practice by getting a loud refresher about the penalty-kill, both in defensive-zone coverage and how to defend in transition at the defensive blue line. Players stood and listened as coach Mike Babcock went over assignments. The coach used nine players as pawns, going over one scenario, then moving the puck or a player to another location for another freeze-frame lesson.
-- Lines at practice are ...
Filppula-Datsyuk-Holmstrom
Franzen-Zetterberg-Samuelsson
Cleary-Draper-Maltby
Hudler-Kopecky-Downey
Ellis worked in on the fourth line.