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Joakim Andersson hopes to play for the Red Wings tonight after missing six games with a broken foot.

(AP File Photo)

DETROIT – Darren Helm plans on playing for the Detroit Red Wings in tonight's rematch against the Minnesota Wild and Joakim Andersson thinks he can join him in the lineup at Joe Louis Arena.

Jimmy Howard will start in goal.

Helm missed eight games with a concussion before returning for Saturday's 3-2 victory in Minnesota. He took part in today's morning skate and reported no setbacks after playing more than 12 minutes vs. the Wild.

There was some question whether Helm could play in back-to-back games.

"Everything felt good last night and this morning," Helm said. "I had a good warmup and I feel good. I was happy yesterday and how everything went, especially with this back-to-back today. The 12 minutes was perfect for me.

"We'll see how tonight goes. It's going to matter how I play and how the team plays as well. Whatever is needed, I'll be there."

Coach Mike Babcock is planning on having Helm in the lineup as the Red Wings try to build on their 8-0-2 home streak.

"We've got no one else," Babcock said. "I didn't see anybody else hanging around here so he must be in.

"Right now, he doesn't have speed. Tonight, he ought to be breathing through his eyelids. If he can get back and gets playing, he's a dominant player for us."

Andersson has missed six games since breaking his left foot March 9 in a 3-0 loss to the New York Rangers.

He thinks he's ready to play and doctors have told him he can't do additional damage.

"Yeah, I think I could," Andersson said. "It's getting closer. It still hurts a little bit but I can do it.

I hope so. We'll see."

Andersson will likely test his foot in warmups before a decision is made.

"We talked about doing that the other day," he said. "Take warmups at least. We'll see what they say.

"It feels good. I can skate hard. I can do everything out there. It's getting better and better and better and I'm hoping that I can play soon.

"It's healed enough to protect it right now. It's the pain tolerance."

Babcock sounds like somebody who is counting on having Andersson back today.

"I think Andy is going to be back right away," Babcock said. "I thought Andy might play today actually. I assume he's back pretty quick. I guess he couldn't stop and start yesterday because of the pain in his foot.

"I thought he was playing but then they told me he's not."

As for Howard, he has won three straight games for the first time all season after making 28 saves against the Wild.