DETROIT -- Detroit Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg skated for about 15 minutes prior Thursday's optional practice.

It was an encouraging sign, but he is not close to returning due to a left knee sprain.

Publicly, the team continues to list him as day-to-day. Privately, the club has ruled him out for the first five games of the opening-round playoff series against the Phoenix Coyotes.

“I feel better today than I did yesterday,'' Zetteberg said. "It was fun to be out there, feel the puck again. I didn't do any serious stuff, just go out and stick-handle a little bit and have some shots.

"I didn't expect that a few days ago, even though I didn't do basically anything out there.''

The earliest the team believes Zetterberg can return is Game 6 on April 24. Ideally, the Red Wings hope they can win the series without him and have him ready for the start of the next round.