"The prognosis on how long goaltender Jimmy Howard will be out has changed — gotten longer, that is, rather than shorter.

Howard, who has a broken right index finger, acknowledges the first report of only missing the last two games on this Red Wings road trip was "optimistic."

So, now, Howard is thinking it's going to be weeks. Let's say somewhere between two games and four-to-six weeks — maybe two weeks.

But even Howard isn't sure if that's accurate.

"Let's cover all the bases," Howard said after Saturday's morning skate.

Howard said Vancouver doctors, after Thursday's game, told him the finger would take four-to-six weeks to heal.

"No chance," said Howard of that time frame, saying he's played with broken fingers before."