Detroit Red Wings Notebook 3/31

Update (1:17 PM): According to Ted Kulfan, Tomas Holmstrom has been cleared to play Wednesday in Chicago. So, it wasn’t just Homer’s optimism after all. - Matt

Update (12:11 PM): Ansar Khan has more, including quotes from Holmstrom and Stuart. - Matt

Update (11:38 PM): MacLeod has good news on the Holmstrom front. Evidently he's feeling good enough to play this week. He's confident he'll be in the lineup Thursday against Columbus.

Take that with a grain of salt, of course, because it all depends on what the organization wants.

It's probable that they'd prefer he rest. On the other hand, they may want him to get a couple games under his belt before the postseason.

•Dominik Hasek will start Thursday and Sunday. Chris Osgood will start Thursday.

•Mikael Samuelsson (groin) did not skate and no return date has been set.

•MacLeod says Brad Stuart could pass well, but he could not shoot "with any authority." Stuart said he expects to be back next week, which would put his return at the start of the playoffs. - Matt

And briefly:

•Both Bruce MacLeod and Helene St. James are reporting that Brad Stuart (broken finger) practiced today.

According to MacLeod, he was shooting and passing, which is a definite good sign. He says it's possible that Stuart could make it back for Game 1, which, by the way, could be as soon as next Thursday, the 10th.

•Both of them also report that Tomas Holmstrom (abdomen, groin) participated in the skate, which St. James characterizes as "highly optional."

MacLeod promises to try to have an update on Homer's status following practice. St. James writes that it's unlikely he'll be back before the end of the regular season, which comes Sunday.