Tomas Jurco 12-31-14

Red Wings forward Tomas Jurco has been out since Jan. 6 due to lower back pain.

(The Associated Press)

DETROIT - Detroit Red Wings forward Tomas Jurco joined his teammates on the ice at the morning skate Tuesday and is getting closer to returning to the lineup.

"Sometime after All-Star break," Jurco said. "Can't tell you an exact date, but it's getting closer."

Jurco, out since leaving after two periods Jan. 6 in Edmonton due to lower back pain, will accompany the team on its trip to Florida and Tampa Bay next week.

"It's huge progress since Day 1 when I couldn't really move," Jurco said. "Right now I'm skating so it's way better, but it's not 100 percent ready yet."

He said his back has been bothering him for a few months.

"I could still feel it in games, but it wasn't that bad that I couldn't play," Jurco said. "So I just played with it and all of a sudden in Edmonton after second period it started being really, really sore."

Gustavsson also nearing return

Goaltender Jonas Gustavsson also expects to return shortly after the break. He's been out since Nov. 5 with a dislocated shoulder but has been on the ice for several weeks.

"I feel like I'm getting closer," Gustavsson said. "I don't worry or think about my injury as much.

"I still have some progress that needs to be done, but the way it's going I feel if I

just get those days healing at the same speed that it is now, it should be good somewhere after the break."

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