Red Wings' Howard feeling optimistic about early return from groin injury

Jimmy Howard took to the ice on Monday for the first time since tearing a muscle in his groin, and is optimistic about returning to the Detroit Red Wings lineup earlier than expected.

Injured in a game against the Washington Capitals on Jan. 10, Howard was forced to miss the NHL All-Star Game. He initially feared that the injury was going to keep him off the ice for an extended period of time.

"Yeah, at first because I was in so much pain," he told the team's official website. "But after a week I was able to go up and down the stairs and everything like that again, so it was kind of nice."

Howard traveled with the club for a two-game road trip through Florida, and is optimistic about coming back in the earlier stages of the projected two-to-four weeks.

"We’re just going to keep the process going of treating it and working out and try to up the skating a little more each day," Howard said. "We want to be cautious but at the same time we want to get back out there as quickly as possible."

Howard posted a record of 16-7-7 with a .920 save percentage prior to the injury.