Justin Abdelkader has grown into a top-six forward.
Abdelkader's physical play in the main reason he's moved up in the depth charts, but he also has some offensive upside. He had two goals and three points in five games in the first round. If he can continue to get top-six minutes next season, he'll be a candidate for a breakout season.

Justin Abdelkader will rejoin Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg on Detroit's top line.
Abdelkader was suspended and thus forced to miss Detroit's previous two games. Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said getting Abdelkader back would be "huge." Abdelkader doesn't put up a lot of points, but he'll create space for Datsyuk and Zetterberg. "I think he makes Z and Pav way better," Babcock said. "That'll really help."

Justin Abdelkader has completed his two-game suspension.
Abdelkader is eligible to return to the Red Wings' lineup on Friday. He was punished for his hit on Anaheim's Toni Lydman, which left Lydman with a head injury.

Justin Abdelkader, who received a two-game suspension Sunday for his hit on Anaheim's Toni Lydman, said Monday that he didn't want to hurt the Ducks defenseman.
"With the hit Saturday, there was no intent to injure," he said. "I don't mean to injure anyone, or put them in harm. I have respect for everyone in this hockey league. You know, it's a privilege that we get to play in the NHL. I play a hard game, I play physical. You know, it's a fast game. Things happen really fast out there." Abdelkader leads the Red Wings with 11 shots and seven hits during these playoffs, so his presence in the lineup will be missed. He won't be eligible to return until Game 6 on Friday, but Detroit will have to win at least one more game to make that meeting possible.

The NHL handed Justin Abdelkader a two-game suspension for his hit on Toni Lydman from Game 3 of the Red Wings-Ducks series, according to MLive.com.
That's the same punishment Eric Gryba received for his hit on Lars Eller. Some might have expected more considering the circumstances, but the NHL generally plays by its own arbitrary set of rules when it comes to discipline.

The NHL's disciplinary people plan on giving Justin Abdelkader a call about his game-misconduct for charging on Lars Eller from Saturday.
That means Abdelkader cannot be suspended for more than five games. It's unfair to say that his hit cost Detroit the game yesterday, but the five-minute major did open the door for the Anaheim Ducks' first goal of that contest.

Justin Abdelkader is looking at a possible suspension after his hit to the head on Toni Lydman Saturday.
Abdelkader will likely be getting a phone call from Brendan Shanahan asking him to explain his charge and leaving his feet while making contact with the head of Lydman. "Obviously, (Abdelkader) is a big guy and he hit him hard," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "To me, it was a hard check. Now, I'm not involved in the next part of the process. We'll have to see what they decide." Look for Abdelkader to get at least one game based on suspensions to Andrew Ference and Eric Gryba earlier in the week.

Justin Abdelkader was booted from Detroit's 4-0 loss for charging Anaheim's Toni Lydman.
Abdelkader appeared to leave his feet and make contact with Lydman's head. The game was scoreless when Abdelkader delivered the hit and the Ducks turned the tide during the subsequent power play.

Justin Abdelkader scored a goal in Detroit's 3-2 shootout loss Thursday.
Abdelkader has matched his career-high goal total of eight despite the fact that this is a shortened season. All the same his fantasy value has been limited this season with just 10 points in 40 contests.

Center Justin Abdelkader has five goals in his past three games -- including a three-goal hat trick in the Detroit Red Wings' 5-1 over the Ducks in Anaheim Friday night -- after not scoring a goal in 23 games to start the season.
"Sometimes the puck will find you, or follow you, and maybe that was the case in this game," Abdelkader said. "We had a good team game, and give those guys (linemates Pavel Datsyuk and Johan Franzen) all the credit. Pav and Mule, they've done a tremendous job. I'm just trying to do my part, just keep going to the net and keep it simple and when I get the puck make good plays with it."

Justin Abdelkader scored a hat trick and topped off the night with another assist in Detroit's 5-1 win over Anaheim Friday night.
With just one goal through 28 games this season, Abdelkader has gone absolutely mad with five goals in his past three games. His deuce last week against Vancouver came after injuring his foot and requiring 10 stitches the previous day. His tri on Friday brings the 26 year-old just two goals shy of surpassing his career high of eight.

Justin Abdelkader scored his first goal of the season Thursday in the Red Wings 3-0 win over Edmonton.
While he'll never be mistaken for Steve Stamkos, Abdelkader usually pops in the occasional marker so he must have been gripping his stick a little more tightly until he ended the drought in this game. Jakub Kindl and Cory Emmerton also found the back of the net for Detroit in the win.

Justin Abdelkader scored his first goal of the season Thursday in the Red Wings 3-0 win over Edmonton.
While he'll never be mistaken for Steve Stamkos, Abdelkader usually pops in the occasional marker so he must have been gripping his stick a little more tightly until he ended the drought in this game. Jakub Kindl and Cory Emmerton also found the back of the net for Detroit in the win.