Howard Called Up, Will Start Saturday

The Detroit Red Wings have called up goaltender Jimmy Howard from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins and will start him in Minnesota against the Wild on Saturday.

Chris Osgood, who had been expected to start, will remain in Detroit to work with goalie coach Jim Bedard. Osgood will also be a healthy scratch for Friday night’s match against the Anaheim Ducks, with Howard backing up Ty Conklin.

“Jimmy is playing as well as he has at any point in his four-year (professional) career and it’s an opportunity for Chris to have 10 days (off), get a mental breather and clear his mind,” Detroit general manager Ken Holland said. “We need him to be at his best. Sometimes when you get bad bounces, it just snowballs. The hope is he gets to where he was last year.”