DETROIT – Detroit Red Wings center Darren Helm won't play in Saturday's season opener at St. Louis due to a pulled muscle in his back that has kept him off the ice for a week.

Coach Mike Babcock said Helm won't be available this weekend but should be ready to go right after that.

“(Helm) said he could touch his toes,'' Babcock said. "He’s not going to play this weekend. I would expect him after that.”

Right wing Mikael Samuelsson (sore groin) skated Thursday morning, when the team returned to Joe Louis Arena, and said he believes he can play Saturday.

“It feels good,'' Samuelsson said. “If you ask me, yes (he will play).''

“First, it's got to feel good on the ice. After that I don't think I will have a problem. But the day after (skating) also is important, especially if you go twice here today. So far, so good.''

The players will practice again tonight at 7 p.m. at the Joe. It is open to the public free of charge. There is a public skate afterward.

The Red Wings returned to the ice at the Joe after spending the first three days of training camp at Compuware Arena and then taking Wednesday off. It is the first time they have skated in their home rink since the lockout ended.





“It’s just good to have opportunity to be here and around the guys,'' Babcock said. "I thought we had a good day (off) yesterday, gave us an opportunity to get better here in the next two days, and obviously we start the year with three in four and no opportunity for any rest.''

They wanted to get into a game-day routine.

"We’re trying to skate as much as we possibly can and go through the details of our play,'' Babcock said. "Basically, I have a lesson and I keep crossing off the details and I expect the guys to absorb it and pay attention to it and the bottom line is you have a way better chance to look good if you all know what’s going on.”

Defenseman Jakub Kindl (sore groin, day-to-day) did not skate today.

Meanwhile, goaltender Joey MacDonald (bulging disc) said he feels better after having a cortisone shot recently and he expects to be on the ice next week, not for a practice, but just skating on his own.

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