Detroit Red Wings call up Gustav Nyquist again

Detroit — Gustav Nyquist is getting yet another chance.

The Grand Rapids Griffins forward was recalled by the Red Wings for the fourth time this season Wednesday with forward Patrick Eaves unavailable because of a jaw injury.

Nyquist made the most of it, scoring his first goal of the season Wednesday in a 4-2 loss to the Wild, giving him two points in five games with the Red Wings this season.

Nyquist and the Griffins played in Peoria, Ill., Tuesday, so returning to the Red Wings this time was a bit of a mental test.

"He played a game last night; give him a six-hour bus ride, let him sleep for a bit and we'll let him play tonight to see how mentally tough he is," said coach Mike Babcock, tongue planted firmly in his cheek. "It's all part of the training to be a Red Wing."

Nyquist leads the American League in scoring with 60 points (23 goals, 37 assists). But in his brief looks with the Red Wings, he has yet to grab hold of a spot in the lineup like fellow call-up Joakim Andersson, or Tomas Tatar did for a while before being sent back to Grand Rapids.

"He's (Nyquist) got skill, he's obviously a real good player that's led everywhere he's played in scoring," Babcock said. "The problem with the NHL is you have to come up and grab hold of something.

"We called Andy (Andersson) up for a game and he's still playing, just because he grabbed hold of something. That's what Gus has to do.

"Patty (Eaves) has hurt his jaw, so if you're Gus and you're going in tonight and you do great things, guess what happens?

"Cal Ripken (the former Baltimore Orioles great) played shortstop for something like 22 straight years (actually 16 years, 2,632 consecutive games), or something, didn't he?"

Colaiacovo close

This has been a frustrating stretch for defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo, who has been rehabilitating a left shoulder injury.

But Colaiacovo saw his personal doctor in Toronto about 10 days ago and feels this is the closest he has been to returning to the Red Wings lineup.

"Seeing him and getting a second look and a different opinion really helped," said Colaiacovo, who was hurt Jan. 21, the second game of the season, in Columbus. "We saw some things that were of some concern and I've dealt with them and treated them and I've been getting myself to the point where I'm 100 percent.

"I was still having some issues that were of some concern physically and mentally and I wasn't at the point where I was confident enough to be out there.

"It's been a frustrating battle, but I'm at the point now where I'm feeling better than ever and I'm real close now. I'm just taking it day by day."

Ice chips

Eaves has a sore jaw after taking a deflected puck off his stick during Tuesday's practice. His availability is day to day.

…Jonathan Ericsson didn't participate in the morning skate, Babcock calling it a personal day.

…Babcock said Nyquist would be plugged into Eaves' spot on a line with Andersson and Daniel Cleary.

ted.kulfan@detnews.com

twitter.com/tkulfan