DETROIT (AP) The Detroit Red Wings expect captain Steve Yzerman to recover from a knee injury in time for the second half of the season, a team spokesman said Thursday.

Yzerman is expected back in February, "and Steve expects to be back then, if not sooner," spokesman John Hahn said.

The 37-year-old Yzerman had knee surgery for the third time in two years on Aug. 2. The Red Wings said the operation, performed by Dr. Peter Fowler, was a success.

"I want to play, but I accept the fact that if it hurts too much, you get to the point where it doesn't make sense," Yzerman told the Detroit News. "If I get to that point, I won't play. Common sense would take over."

Yzerman, who helped lead Detroit to its third Stanley Cup in six seasons, chose a realignment procedure rather than reconstruction of the right knee.

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