Lebda in for Lilja; Helm might play, too

by Ansar Khan

Update from Wednesday’s morning skate: Looking for more speed tonight in Game 4 vs. Nashville, the Wings made one lineup change and are contemplating another. On defense, Brett Lebda is in for Andreas Lilja. Coach Mike Babcock also said that rookie forward Darren Helm might play, depending on the status of an unidentified player who has a minor injury. Everybody, however, practiced, so it can’t be anything significant. For Nashville, center David Legwand will play his second straight game, after returning from a foot injury. Coach Barry Trotz said he was making no lineup changes.

Said Babcock about Lebda, who’ll be paired with Chris Chelios: “We thought last game we weren’t as quick. Hockey is a simple game, if you spend too much time in your zone, you spend no time in the offensive zone, so they’re wearing on your D intead of you wearing on their D. We feel Lebs can push the puck up the ice.”

He noted that removing Lilja takes away a penalty-killer and the team’s best shot-blocker.

“You sacrifice something to get something and we decided that’s an important one,” Babcock said.

He listed Helm and Justin Abdelkader as 1-A and 1-B as far as the young forwards.

“Abby’s been to a national championship (for Michigan State) and been the best player, Helm’s played in World Junior (Championships) and Memorial Cup, so it’s not like they haven’t been under the gun a little bit,” Babcock said.

Helm will dress for the pregame warmups before a decision is made.

“There’s lots of nerves going through me right now,” Helm said. “There’s lots of pressure I put on myself. Just go out there and do what I can, play as hard as I can, see how things go.”

He said the potential move caught him off-guard a little because “nobody’s really hurt or injured too bad.”

Having played a few games with the Wings late in the regular season will help.

“If I would have played my first game here in the palyoffs I would have been a lot more shaky, but I’m still going to be shaky,” Helm said.

Lebda appeared to be the odd-man out on defense when the Wings acquired Brad Stuart at the trade deadline. But because Lilja has been mistake-prone, Lebda might move back into that sixth defense spot.

“It’s been a tough couple of games just watching, all you can do is be a cheerleader for the guys, it’s hard, but it’s a role I had to accept,” Lebda said.

Having been a regular last year made it more difficult to sit out the first three games.

“That was what was most disappointing about sitting out, this year I was chomping at the bit, really ready to get after it after getting a taste of a long run last year,” Lebda said.

Source: Ansar Khan - Mlive