Lecavalier likely out vs. banged up Red Wings

DETROIT -- Even though it appears as if the Flyers will be without forward Vinny Lecavalier tomorrow night against the Red Wings, they may still be catching a break.

That's because the Red Wings are scheduled to be without forwards Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg andTodd Bertuzzi and defenseman Dan DeKeyser.

Even without Datsyuk and Bertuzzi, Detroit has still hummed along to the tune of four wins in a row. The Wings announced at Tuesday's practice that Zetterberg, who had played in their absence, will be out with a herniated disc in his back.

DeKeyser, 23, the free agent the Flyers so heavily pursued out of Western Michigan University may actually be the biggest loss for the deep Wings. He has been a rock on the blue line, particularly in his own zone.

Lecavalier, 33, did not skate for the second day in a row. He is hampered by back spasms, something he said never impacted him before in his 14-year career in Tampa Bay. The Flyers originally said Lecavalier would be a possibility to play tomorrow night against the Red Wings (8 o'clock, NBC Sports Network) - but that seems like a remote chance at this point.

Lecavalier could barely pull on a dress shirt in the Flyers' locker room on Monday in Minnesota without wincing in pain.

"It's just something I'm trying to work through with the trainers right now," Lecavalier said Monday.

Defenseman Kimmo Timonen also missed the Flyers' 50-minute practice at Joe Louis Arena, but he is expected to be available against the Red WIngs.

The Flyers have won just once (1-16-3) at the Joe since Nov. 4, 1988. That mark doesn't include the Red Wings' sweep in the 1997 Stanley Cup final and this gut wrenching Darren McCarty goal: