HOWARD RECALLED FROM CONDITIONING

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Friday recalled goaltender Jimmy Howard from his conditioning stint with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Howard split his two starts with the Griffins while showing a 3.35 goals against average and a 0.870 save percentage. He left Wednesday’s 4-1 victory against Manitoba midway through the third period for precautionary reasons after stopping 16 shots and earning the win.

Howard made his first appearance with Grand Rapids since May 6, 2009, during last Saturday’s 5-4 loss to Milwaukee, setting a franchise record for longest time between appearances (2,831 days, or seven years, eight months and 28 days).

The 32-year-old is 5-7-1 in 17 games with the Red Wings this season, and leads the league with both a 1.96 GAA and a 0.934 save percentage. The 6-foot-1, 218-pound netminder has not played in the NHL since sustaining an injury during Detroit’s 4-1 loss at Tampa Bay on Dec. 20.

Debuting with Detroit in 2005-06 and joining the Red Wings full time in 2009-10, Howard has skated in 392 career NHL games, amassing a 194-120-54 record, a 2.44 GAA, a 0.915 save percentage and 22 shutouts. The 12-year pro was selected to the 2012 and 2015 NHL All-Star Games and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 2010.

Howard has played in 48 Stanley Cup Playoff contests and owns a 21-26 mark and a 2.58 GAA.

Detroit’s first choice, 64th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Howard began his professional career in Grand Rapids and played with the Griffins from 2005-09. He ranks among the franchise’s leaders with 188 games (3rd), 10766:40 minutes (3rd), 91 wins (3rd), 14 shutouts (2nd) and 4889 saves (3rd). He became the 74th Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL when he debuted with Detroit on Nov. 28, 2005 at Los Angeles.

As a Griffin, he was named to the 2008 AHL All-Star Classic and was selected to the 2005-06 AHL All-Rookie Team.

A native of Syracuse, N.Y., Howard won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2002 IIHF World Junior Championship in addition to representing his country at the 2012 IIHF World Championship and the 2014 Olympics.

The Western Conference-leading Griffins travel to Iowa to play the Wild tonight at 8 p.m. EST.

Single-game tickets are currently on sale. Fans can secure their full-season, select-season or group ticket packages by calling (616) 774-4585 ext. 2 or visit griffinshockey.com for more information.