Pronger is eager to return, and Detroit is ready

Five days after the incident, Chris Pronger’s suspension for his hit on Detroit winger Tomas Holmstrom was still a hot topic as the Ducks and the Red Wings practiced Saturday in preparation for Game 5 today at Joe Louis Arena.

Detroit goaltender Dominik Hasek was taken aback when Pronger defended his hard check in Game 3 that sent Holmstrom into the glass, which created two cuts on his forehead that needed 13 stitches to repair.

“It’s a shame because it was clear that Pronger knew what he was doing,” Hasek said. “He was putting Tomas’ head into the glass.”

The play has caused a debate over whether Pronger deserved a suspension and whether one game was enough. Holmstrom said he didn’t care, only that he’s lucky to be playing.

“I’ve seen him do it before, so I’m not surprised that he’d do it again,” Holmstrom said.

When asked whether he thought there was intent behind the play, the Red Wings forward said, “I’m not surprised. For sure, yeah.”

He added, “It’s playoffs and you’re down four or five-nothing, you get frustrated.”

In front of a large media scrum after practice, Pronger did his best to put the play behind him.

“I need to focus on the game,” Pronger said. “I’m not worried about the press, what you guys want and don’t want.”

When asked what he thought of the suspension, the Ducks defenseman said, “I don’t want to get into that. I just want to play the game. I’m not worried about it anymore.”

Pronger, whose average ice time of 31 minutes 4 seconds leads all players in the playoffs, emphasized that he won’t change his physical style.

“I cannot,” he said. “And will not.”

Holmstrom said he isn’t going to back down from any physical challenge.

“I’m going to do my job,” he said. “I’m going to go to the front of the net and he’s probably going to give me a beating again and I’m going to keep coming back.”

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It wouldn’t be a Red Wings playoff game without the tossing of the ceremonial octopus.

At least one unfortunate eight-legged creature will be thrown onto the ice at each game, a nod to the NHL’s past and a ritual that began in the 1950s, when the Gordie Howe-led Red Wings were a perennial Stanley Cup contender.

In the six-team NHL, only eight victories were necessary to win the Cup. Pete Cusimano, who owned a fish market in Detroit with his brother, Jerry, wanted to bring the Red Wings good luck before the 1952 playoffs and figured the octopus and the eight wins were a perfect fit. The first octopus was tossed on April 15, and the Wings went on to sweep both rounds of the playoffs.

Despite security checks, fans seem to manage to get an octopus into the building and hurl it on the ice during the national anthem.

Al Sobotka, manager of Joe Louis Arena, has become a local celebrity by picking the octopus up and twirling it above his head before he leaves the ice.

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It was his first playoff goal on his first shot in his first postseason game. Ric Jackman, taking Pronger’s spot in Game 4, hopes his score in the Ducks’ 5-3 victory won’t be his only moment in this series.

“It was exciting,” said Jackman, a healthy scratch the first three games.

“But it’s a time that’s come and passed. I’m looking forward to [today’s] game, and hopefully I get a chance there. I don’t know what my situation will be. I’ll be ready to play if I’m called upon.”

Pronger will be back for Game 5, but Jackman will be a question.

“We’ve got some ideas on what we’d like to do, but I think it’s a little premature to make any statement of who is going to be in or who is going to be out at this time,” Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle said.

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eric.stephens@latimes.com