Detroit winger Tomas Holmstrom, right, is expected to miss 3-5 weeks. (Chris Carlson/Associated Press)Detroit Red Wings winger Tomas Holmstrom will undergo hernia surgery next week and is expected to miss three to five weeks of action.
Detroit general manager Ken Holland said Saturday that Holmstrom will be operated on Wednesday by specialists in Philadelphia.
The 36-year-old Holmstrom, who suffered the injury last week, underwent a similar procedure after last season's Stanley Cup finals.
"We'll see how big it is when they open me up," Holmstrom told the Detroit Free Press on Friday. "Hopefully, it's a small tear. Last time they said it was a small tear and it turned out to be bigger than I thought.
"But if I do this, I can start skating in two to three weeks and get at least 10 games in before the playoffs."
Holmstrom played through the pain last season when he suffered a similar injury, taking daily shots of painkillers.
"I've had this injury before, and it's no fun," he said. "You can hardly practise and then take shots during the game, and it still hurts. It was bad, so I think this is the best way to do it. "
Holmstrom ranks ninth in scoring for the Red Wings this season with 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists) in 40 games.
