An undisclosed injury will keep Kris Draper sidelined for Games 1 and 2 of the Columbus series, at least. Draper was hurt during last Monday's game in Buffalo. He tested his injury at the start of today's practice, centering the fourth line, but near the end of the one-hour workout, Draper left the ice.

"This time of year, it's not easy to handle, but it's basically where we're at right now," said a glum Draper. "I just have to deal with this for Game 1 and Game 2 and we'll go from there."

With Draper gone, Darren Helm becomes the fourth-line center with Kirk Maltby and Tomas Kopecky on his wings.

The one problem with that scenario is that Dan Cleary left today's practice injured, apparently hurt by a Niklas Kronwall hit into the boards during an early drill. After Cleary left, Mikael Samuelsson moved up to the second line centered by Henrik Zetterberg and Kopecky moved up to the third line centered by Valtteri Filppula.

Without Cleary and Draper, the Red Wings have 11 healthy forwards.

"Cleary I don't have any idea on," said Babcock after practice.