DETROIT – Dave Tippett was asked after Thursday's disappointing 5-3 loss to Detroit if the Stars' have it in them to win in the playoffs.

"Time will tell," he said. "We're going to push until we get the most out of them, but time will tell."

However, the Stars coach added that he believes the return of defenseman Sergei Zubov could make a big difference in games like the one against the Red Wings. Zubov has been hobbled by a sore foot, and a trip to the doctor Thursday indicated he will be hobbled a week longer.

Zubov, who has been out since January with a hairline fracture in his right foot, was hoping to get the green light to skate this weekend. Instead, he was told that he must visit the doctor again next Wednesday and then try to skate next Thursday or Friday

"It's disappointing," Tippett said. "We thought it would be Monday at the latest, but they want to make sure."

Tippett said the Stars are really starting to miss Zubov, especially with three rookies on defense.

"Right now, the one aspect is Zubov will certainly help our team when he comes back," Tippett said. "The kids are trying, but..."

Stars defenseman Stephane Robidas said the Stars can't start waiting around for the return of the team's minutes-played leader.

"We haven't talked about it," he said. "It's unfortunate he's not with us, and we'd like him to be in the lineup. He's one of the best players in the league. But that's just the way it is. We've got to find ways to win hockey games."

Lundqvist breaks out: Joel Lundqvist has had a frustrating season after such a promising playoff performance last season. However, the versatile forward had his best game of the year Thursday as he stepped into the spot vacated by the suspended Steve Ott. Lundqvist centered a line with Loui Eriksson and Jere Lehtinen. He played 14:41, had two assists and finished plus-1.

"He was very good," Tippett said. "That was our best line, by far."

Lundqvist said he needs to continue to work and prove himself to the coaching staff.

"It's the first game in a long time I've played this much," he said. "If you want to play more, you have to prove you can and take advantage of your chances. It's been a tough year, a real tough year. But I know this is my game, I know this is the game I can play. It's working hard and getting chances through hard work."

Briefly: Dallas is 28-4-3 when leading after two periods, with two of those losses in the last two weeks. ... Detroit is 5-10-2 when trailing after two periods. ... The Red Wings have won five straight to clinch their 17th straight playoff berth, the longest current streak in North American sports. ... The Red Wings have tallied 100 points in eight straight seasons, tying the record set by the Montreal Canadiens. ... Toby Petersen was a healthy scratch for Dallas. ... Ott started his three-game suspension for his hit to the head of Colorado's Jordan Leopold.