The Blue Jackets prepared yesterday as if Red Wings stars Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom will play in Nationwide Arena tonight, even though that appeared unlikely.

The NHL was sticking to its guns late last night by requiring Datsyuk and Lidstrom to sit out tonight's game after they missed Sunday's All-Star Game in Montreal, citing injuries.

"I don't believe (they're not playing) yet," Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock said. "I'll believe it when I see it. We're preparing as if they're going to be players.

"If they're not, we can adjust from there."

One report, in the Toronto Sun, had the Red Wings appealing the decision to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

Meanwhile, the NHL Players' Association told Canadian Web site TSN that it will file a grievance on the matter -- not to allow the Red Wings All-Stars to play tonight, but to clear up the league's policy regarding players skipping the midseason gala in the future.

The Red Wings are right up against the NHL's salary cap. So if Datsyuk can't dress, Detroit will likely play with only 11 forwards.

Chimera at center

For the first time in a few weeks, the first topic of conversation with Jason Chimera wasn't his tender right groin.

Chimera, who has played almost exclusively on the left wing during his seven-year NHL career, skated at center yesterday during the Blue Jackets' 1 hour, 20 minute practice.

"I haven't played center since I had hair," Chimera joked.

"It's going to take me some time, for sure. I did play there in junior, and I played there a little in (the minor leagues), too. But it's been a long time and it's going to take some getting used to.

"The reads are different. As a winger, you're skating hard out of the zone, the first ones out. As a center, you have to sort of stay behind the wings and be the support guy. I'm going to have to be patient."

Another issue: faceoffs. Chimera has won 6 of 15 faceoffs this season (40 percent) and 44 of 104 (42 percent) the past four seasons.

Chimera yesterday was flanked by wingers Fredrik Modin and Jared Boll.

"If it works, it looks like it could be effective," Hitchcock said. "He gets tromping up the ice, with that size and speed and skill, and he's effective."

Chimera said that his groin, which has kept him out of the lineup since Dec. 17, felt pretty good yesterday; much better than it did two weeks ago, when he first attempted to return.

"We'll see what he's like (this morning)," Hitchcock said. "If he feels good, we'll get him in there."

Cell phone, always on

With backup goaltender Wade Dubielewicz stuck in Canada because of immigration issues, the Blue Jackets called former Ohio State goalie Mike Betz into action.

Dubielewicz finally got the necessary papers, and he was expected to fly to Columbus late yesterday afternoon.

But for Betz, a 27-year-old grad student studying development economics at Ohio State, it was one more shot at glory. He's served as a practice goalie for the Blue Jackets on a handful of occasions, most recently two seasons ago.

"It's a lot of fun," Betz said. "You never lose the feel for it, but it's hard to get back into it.

"Thirty minutes in, I couldn't feel my stick hand."

Betz, a Pittsburgh native and longtime friend of Jackets center R.J. Umberger, pocketed $100 and went back home to study.

aportzline@dispatch.com