NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Center Darren Helm played Wednesday night in Game 1 of the Red Wings' playoff series against the Nashville Predators.
Helm missed the final 10 games of the regular season after spraining the medial collateral ligament in his left knee March 17 in a collision with San Jose's Dominic Moore. Helm had nine goals and 17 assists in 69 games this season.
The center skated Wednesday morning and said he felt ready to play.
The addition of Helm stabilizes the Red Wings' bottom two lines, although coach Mike Babcock said he wasn't sure how he was going to fill out his fourth line. Even more important, it gives Babcock another weapon to try to slow Nashville's No. 1-ranked power play.
Helm said his goal is to bring his usual mix of energy and speed in his first game back from the knee injury.
"I hope I can be out there and make a difference," he said after Detroit's morning skate.
Nashville defenseman Hal Gill did not play. Coach Barry Trotz said before the game that Gill was a game-time decision with a lower-body injury. Gill blocked a shot by Sheldon Souray last week.
Information from ESPN The Magazine's Craig Custance and The Associated Press was used in this report.
0 comments:
Post a Comment