DETROIT – His face is still bruised, his left eye red from a popped blood vessel and his nose broken, but Darren Helm's groin feels much better, enabling him to get back on the ice Monday.

The Detroit Red Wings forward skated with teammates with Joe Louis Arena after missing the previous two practices due to his groin. He's not playing in tonight's preseason game against Toronto but hopes he'll be ready for Wednesday's home game vs. Pittsburgh or on the weekend.

"Skating felt good," Helm said.

Helm suffered facial injuries last Monday in Pittsburgh, when he was hit by Beau Bennett's stick.

"It's encouraging to know that it's not something that will keep me out and I can still play with," Helm said. "It's an ugly face; I'm not too upset about it though.

"Eye is good, nose is broke, just a few stitches, nothing that won't heal over time."

Asked if it was difficult to sleep the first few nights, he said, "It was a little bit first couple days, apparently my snoring's gotten a lot worse, but it's gotten a lot better last couple days."

It's the second time he has suffered a broken nose.

"This is the first time they have had to readjust it and that was not fun at all," Helm said.