DETROIT – Darren Helm got a bit of good news about his back that flared up prior to Sunday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
An MRI revealed no damage to his lower back.
“They put him on some anti-inflammatory medication,” Wings general manager Ken Holland said.
Helm won’t play Tuesday and is questionable for the weekend.
“I’d say maybe by next week, we’ll see how the next 4-5 days go,” Holland said.
Helm has played one game this season, last Friday against the Minnesota Wild.
He missed the Wings’ week-long training camp and the first three games of the season with a back injury, which was the first of his playing career.
He hit by a puck on Nov. 2 during an informal skate in Troy, breaking an orbital bone.
On March 17, he missed the final 10 regular season games with a sprained MCL. Then, in his first game back, the playoff opener against Nashville, he had tendons in his forearm sliced by a skate.
The Wings have missed Helm’s speed and last season coach Mike Babcock called him the best third-line center in the league.
