Nicklas Lidstrom won't play on Friday and Sunday because of a deep bone bruise to his ankle. "He is out for the weekend," GM Ken Holland said. "We'll re-evaluate on Monday." Lidstrom sustained a swollen ankle when he was struck by a puck last Saturday and he hasn't skated since.

Nicklas Lidstrom did not return to practice on Thursday from his ankle injury. Coach Mike Babcock said that his status for Friday night's game will be better assessed after the morning skate and that the defenseman's ankle was still sore. The team's equipment staff altered a skate for Lidstrom on Thursday to help with his sore ankle, but it's uncertain when he'll be available to return.

Nicklas Lidstrom (ankle) could return to action as early as Friday. Lidstrom was injured on Saturday after taking a puck off his ankle. He sat out Tuesday but could play Friday. He has 10 goals and 31 points in 62 games this season. Get ready to put him back in your lineup.

A sore ankle will keep Nicklas Lidstrom out of the lineup tonight at Columbus. The future-HOF defenseman took a puck to the ankle Saturday against Colorado and soreness has persisted. It will be the second game Lidstrom will miss this season as he missed one game in January due to the flu -- an absence that snapped his 213-game playing streak. The 41-year-old is 10-21-31 in 62 games this season.

Nicklas Lidstrom is questionable Tuesday because of a sore ankle. Lidstrom was struck in the ankle by the puck during Saturday's game. "It got real sore after the game," Lidstrom said. "It was very swollen (Sunday). It got better but not good enough to skate." He had X-rays done on Monday, which did not reveal a break.

Nicklas Lidstrom registered his 20th assist of the season on Tuesday. It was also Lidstrom's 30th point, making it the 16th consecutive season he's reached that mark. Lidstrom is also currently tied for 13th in the NHL for points by a blueliner. He also ranks fourth in the league with a plus-26 rating.

Nicklas Lidstrom surpassed Alex Delvecchio to claim sole possession of second place in Detroit's all-time games played list. The only player who has worn a Red Wings uniform in more games is Gordie Howe, who still beats Lidstrom 1,687 games to 1,550. Lidstrom isn't expected to surpass Howe's record, but the way Lidstrom has been playing, he probably could if he really wanted to. Lidstrom will turn 42 in April, but he still has 10 goals, 29 points and a plus-26 rating in 56 contests this season. He's tied for 14th place among blueliners in points and if he wants to put off retirement for another season, we're sure Detroit would be happy to ink him to another one-year deal.

Nicklas Lidstrom will tie all-time Red Wing great Alex Delvecchio for second place in games played for Detroit on Friday. Lidstrom will play in his 1,549th game as a member of the Detroit Red Wings, tying Delvecchio for second place behind Gordie Howe who played 1,687 games for the Wings. "I can't think of a better person than Nick," Delvecchio said. "He's done real well with the Red Wings, been a great leader. He's a real cool cookie out there, shall we say. He's just an all-around All-Star hockey player."

Nicklas Lidstrom returned to action on Tuesday January 31.

Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom said it took him a few days to get over the flu that caused him to miss last Wednesday's game at Montreal. It was the first game the future Hall of Famer had missed since the 2008-09 season. "I got off the ice before the skate was over and it got worse and worse that day," he said. "It took me a few days to get over it. I guess the break came with pretty good timing."