Will Homer be ready for playoffs?
It's beginning to get to the point where the Red Wings are wondering whether Tomas Holmstrom will be ready for the start of the playoffs. Holmstrom will have further tests Wednesday to determine the extent of his abdominal injury. Holmstrom missed his ninth consecutive game (hasn't played since March 5) Tuesday in St. Louis and a setback Monday in practice had him frustrated and concerned. "I felt maybe I could play today (Tuesday) or, at least, Friday and now it's a real setback, it's really tough," said Holmstrom, who got treatment Tuesday but didn't go on the ice. He was visibly frustrated Monday during practice at Joe Louis Arena, slamming his stick against the boards as he walked off the ice. "It hurts, and you're concerned about it when it crops up like that. It's frustrating," Holmstrom said. "I did some battling drills and something happened. It became more and more sore, and I skated, but I felt it was better to come off. "It was beginning to feel good. Now, (it feels) I pulled it again." "You're always concerned when you have an injured player and you're two weeks out (until the playoffs," said general manger Ken Holland said. "We'll wait and see." Coach Mike Babcock said he expects Valtteri Filppula (groin) to play Friday and there's a chance Darren McCarty (ribs) will get his first opportunity to play in his comeback with the Wings.
