GROSSE POINTE WOODS - Detroit Red Wings defenseman Brendan Smith said he hopes to return to the lineup Saturday at Nashville.
He has been out since Jan. 4 with a knee injury.
"I think we're going to shoot for Saturday, see how things go next two days," Smith said Thursday, following practice at McCann Arena. "But I'm excited to get back. It's been kind of a long road here, so it's kind of that time where it's now or never. We got to kind of pick up our game and get going, kind of buckle down, so hopefully I can help in that area.