DETROIT -- The possibility that he might get his name etched on the Stanley Cup as a member of the Detroit Red Wings this spring blows Darren Helm's mind.
The 21-year-old forward from St. Andrews had never played an NHL game before March 13, yet, here he is strapping on the pads in the Western Conference final.
Manitoba's Darren Helm is congratulated by Jiri Hudler after scoring his first NHL playoff goal on Saturday.
Some Red Wings fans are still wondering who's wearing No. 43.
Wings fans were on their feet celebrating Helm's first NHL goal Saturday night. Helm took a pass from Jiri Hudler, skated into the circle to the right of goalie Marty Turco fired in a wrist shot 5:56 into the game and raised his arms as he circled behind the net
Helm played seven regular-season games but sat out when the playoffs started. He was inserted into the lineup April 18 for the fifth game of the first-round series against Nashville.
"I didn't think I'd be in this spot, so I'm pretty happy I'm here," he said after pulling off his practice sweater and before unlacing his skates.
Helm has jumped the queue in a talent-rich organization, and coach Mike Babcock was asked after the morning skate prior to Game 2 against the Dallas Stars on Saturday how this has happened.
"We didn't have expectations of him whatsoever," Babcock said. "The first time we called him up, I was scared to play him and he was scared to play.
"Then when we called him up again he played really, really well. Now, in the playoffs, he's a player that can play against anybody. He's flat-out fast. He's gritty.
"Finishes checks. Smart. Good defensively. Good in the faceoff circle. A real good player."
The same night he made his playoff debut, Chris Osgood took over from Dom Hasek in the nets. Thus began a seven-game winning streak that the Wings rode into their game Saturday.
"I'm playing pretty well and, hopefully, we can keep things rolling," Helm said.
Helm and Osgood both played major junior hockey in Alberta for the Medicine Hat Tigers.
Helm skated on the fourth line with Jiri Hudler and Kirk Maltby during the 4-1 win over Dallas on Thursday.
"Just using my speed," he replied when asked what he's concentrating on. "It's my biggest asset so I've got to use my speed to be effective.
"Finishing checks, trying to be strong in the faceoff dot, being alive in our own zone, trying to create energy for the team -- that's pretty much it."
Helm's dad, Gary, works in a meat processing plant. His mother, Coriene, works as a cook. They were in Joe Louis Arena on Thursday, had tickets for the Saturday game, and fly back to Winnipeg on Sunday. Helm has two older brothers and "about 24 cousins" in Manitoba.
-- The Canadian Press
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