The Detroit Red Wings are really struggling to get their goalie position sorted out, with Jimmy Howard and Joey MacDonald both injured. There's no timetable for return of the latter, who still has to get more opinions regarding his back injury, while the former is day-to-day with a groin injury. In a Tweet on Wednesday, Helene St. James noted that Howard thinks he could be a backup in goal on Wednesday if needed, but that he doesn't have to.
That's because Ty Conklin has cleared waivers and will be in action on Wednesday night when the Red Wings take on the New York Rangers. It's a good opportunity for Conklin to get back in the team's good graces after he was significantly outplayed by MacDonald when Howard was out with a broken finger.
It's also good because that means Jordan Pearce won't have to start, and will serve as the backup instead. Pearce has never stared a game in the NHL and needless to say, the Red Wings didn't want to make his first come down the stretch leading to the playoffs. Howard is hopeful that he can play Saturday, though.
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