If he does not play Saturday, Nielsen will likely be available for Tuesday's home game against the Vancouver Canucks.
GOOD SIGNS: The Wings have won three games in a row, which has made for a happier dressing room.
"I think they're even-keeled, but I'd also say that it's always a more fun mood when you win," Blashill said. "Everybody's a little more lighter. It's more enjoyable. I think it's just the reality of it. I also think they understand that you'd better go to work. It's the relentless nature of sports. We've got a huge game tomorrow."
The players who have been out have been watching the games and have seen significant improvement.
"I definitely think we're just playing harder, from what I could see," DeKeyser said. "Obviously out watching the games but I just think our compete level is higher and we're batting a lot more. It just seems like we are winning battles more so I think that's helping. Having better determination, shooting pucks on net, getting traffic to the net and getting rebounds, stuff like that. We're also getting a little more puck luck, which is good. That always helps."
Nielsen said he also has seen the team working hard while he's been sidelined.
"It's close games but we found a way and that's really what matters right now," Nielsen said. "We got to get back in it there and hang on. Right now it's all about finding a way every night. It's going to be up and down but right now, it seems to go our way there and hopefully keep rolling that way and be strong in these home games coming up there."
Another positive is that the Wings have found a way to win two straight at home.
With nine of 13 games at home this month, it is a chance to establish a little home ice advantage.
"We struggled the last few years at home," Nielsen said. "If you want to be a playoff team, you have to be a .6-.700 team at home and we haven't even been close to that. That's one area where we can improve a lot so it's good to see we got the last two and hopefully we got three more coming now, we can keep it going."
Last season, their first at Little Caesars Arena, the Wings were 16-16-9 at home.
In the final season at Joe Louis Arena, the Wings were 17-17-7.