Detroit Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg skated with teammates for a half-hour Thursday but is not expected to play until the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, if the Red Wings advance.

Game 1 of their Eastern Conference First Round Series against the Boston Bruins is Friday at TD Garden (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TSN, FS-D, NESN).

"Time-wise we were shooting for Round 2 if everything goes well," Zetterberg told the Red Wings website. "Increase intensity every day and hopefully in a couple days maybe I can do some more battling drills."

Zetterberg had back surgery on Feb. 21 after he was injured during the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Anaheim Ducks goaltender Frederik Andersen is in line to start Game 2 of the Western Conference First Round series against the Dallas Stars on Friday at Honda Center (10 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TSN, RDS (JIP), FS-SW, PRIME).

Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau was asked Thursday if he would again turn to Andersen after the rookie made 32 saves in a 4-3 win in his Stanley Cup Playoff debut.

"There's a good chance," Boudreau said.

Jake Virtanen, a top prospect for the 2014 NHL Draft, scored two goals as Canada opened the 2014 IIHF World Under-18 Championship with a 3-1 win against Sweden on Thursday at Imatra Arena in Imatra, Finland.

Mathew Barzal also had a goal for Canada and goaltender Mason McDonald made 24 saves.

Gustav Forsling scored for Sweden.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs enter their second night, and NHL Live with Steve Mears and E.J. Hradek, at 5 p.m. ET on NHL Network, will have inside looks at all four series to begin Thursday with reporters at each location.

The New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers face off in the postseason for the first time since the 1997 Eastern Conference Final, and Dave Maloney joins us from the Arena Cam at Madison Square Garden to discuss this tradition-rich rivalry.

The St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks face off in the Western Conference in a battle off teams with 100-plus points, and we'll talk to Darren Pang live from Scottrade Center to get the scoop.

The Colorado Avalanche passed both the Blues and Blackhawks late in the season to win the Central Division and will open the playoffs against the Minnesota Wild. Trip Tracey joins us from Pepsi Center to set the scene on Game 1.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are set to begin, and NHL Live with Steve Mears and E.J. Hradek, at 5 p.m. ET on NHL Network, will have an inside look at the three Game 1s to be played Wednesday as well as an overview of all the first-round series.

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets face off at Consol Energy Center, and NBCSN analyst Pierre McGuire will join us from Arena Cam to preview this Metropolitan Division matchup.

In addition, TSN and CBC analyst Glen Healy will be on hand at Tampa Bay Times Forum to provide the inside scoop on the 2-3 matchup in the Atlantic Division between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens.

New York Rangers forward Derick Brassard left practice early Tuesday limping and holding his lower back, apparently sustaining the injury while the Rangers did special teams work in preparation for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Coach Alain Vigneault did not offer any specifics, but believes Brassard will play Thursday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden (7 p.m. ET; TSN, CNBC).

"I would say yes," Vigneault told reporters.

Detroit Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg said Tuesday he's shooting for a comeback in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs if his team can pull off an upset of the Presidents' Trophy-winning Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference First Round.

Zetterberg, who had back surgery and has not played since Feb. 8, seemed to leave open the possibility of returning later in the series, saying the extra two days before Game 1 on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TSN, FS-D, NESN) could make a difference. He hopes to joins the Red Wings at practice Wednesday.

San Jose Sharks coach Todd McLellan has decided on his starting goalie for Game 1 of the Sharks' Western Conference First Round Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings but wouldn't reveal it publicly Monday, and said he may not announce it until just before the series begins Thursday in San Jose (10:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, CBC).

McLellan said he has not informed either of his goalies, Antti Niemi and Alex Stalock, of his decision.

"I'm ready to name him," McLellan told the San Jose Mercury News. "I'm just not going to name him."

Philadelphia Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren declined to comment Monday when asked by the Philadelphia Inquirer if it could be ruled out that goaltender Steve Mason sustained a concussion when he was injured Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Steve Mason

Goalie - PHI

RECORD: 33-18-7
GAA: 2.50 | SVP: 0.917

Mason sustained an upper-body injury Saturday in a collision with Pittsburgh forward Jayson Megna with 3:33 left in the second period. Mason, who made 21 saves on 22 shots to that point, remained in net for the rest of the period but was replaced by Ray Emery to start the third. Mason was scratched from the lineup Sunday against the Carolina Hurricanes with an upper-body injury.

Columbus Blue Jackets rookie defenseman Ryan Murray was held out of practice Monday for a maintenance day but coach Todd Richards said Murray, recovered from a knee injury, will play in Game 1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, CBC) in the Eastern Conference First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Initially expected to miss the remainder of the regular season after having arthroscopic knee surgery in March, Murray returned April 4 and played in five games. He sat out the season finale Saturday against the Florida Panthers as a precaution. The No. 2 pick of the 2012 NHL Draft was hurt during Columbus' 2-1 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 3 and had surgery four days later.

Murray, 20, had four goals, 17 assists and a plus-4 rating in 66 regular-season games. He has one goal and a plus-2 rating in five games since returning.