NHL: Wings' Holmstrom to test leg today

PITTSBURGH - Red Wings coach Mike Babcock wasn't about to share any more information about Tomas Holmstrom's injury than was absolutely required by the NHL.

When told he had to provide the type of injury troubling Holmstrom, the big third member of Detroit's top line that features Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk, Babcock bristled.

"There's a thing called HIPAA compliance where you can never reveal anything about the person. How come we have to do it in the league?" he said, creating a room full of laughter. "Oh, anyway, Holmer's got the back of his leg, the hamstring. He's got a little problem there. We think he'll be fine. He's a tough guy."

The mood around the Red Wings was light and fun, maybe because they still have a two-games-to-one lead over the Penguins in the Stanley Cup Finals, or maybe because they were still feeling good from a team-bonding exercise that took them to a resort a few hours outside of Pittsburgh on Thursday.

Some players went fishing; others took turns in the pool and whirlpool or found a host of activities to do.

Through all the levity, there was concern for Holmstrom, injured late in Detroit's Game 3 loss Wednesday. Holmstrom, who has made a career out of standing in front of goalies to provide screens or deflect pucks, said he would test out his leg this morning and decide if he was fit to play tonight in Game 4.

The 6-foot, 203-pound Holmstrom was knocked into the Penguins' net by 6-7 defenseman Hal Gill with less than six minutes left. That kind of abuse is fine with him.

"Oh, I love it. I don't mind it at all," he said. "I was going hard to the net - one leg was up in the air, the other was on the ice. I'll skate [this morning] and see how it feels. If it's like this, I think I'll be OK."

If Holmstrom can't go, Babcock said Dan Cleary would likely move up to the top line and Darren McCarty would reenter the lineup.