"The biggest surprise during Tuesday's morning skate?

Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk didn't practice.

And, he didn't play against the Islanders, either.

Datsyuk is day-to-day with a "lower-body injury."

"Did it catch us by surprise? Yup," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "I thought he was playing. If we'd have known for sure, we'd have another player."

Detroit, however, didn't have enough time to get a replacement from Grand Rapids to New York in time for the game, so the Red Wings went with 11 forwards and seven defensemen."