Jimmy Howard's Injury Could Yield Unexpected Benefits for Detroit Red Wings

On Saturday night, right about the time Joffrey Lupul's 206 pounds came crashing down on Jimmy Howard's left shoulder, a flash of horror came over me, and likely a few thousand other Red Wings fans.

Howard was clearly in pain after the incident. Given the location and impact of the contact, a torn rotator cuff, dislocated or separated shoulder, or busted clavicle were all possibilities.

For a brief few seconds, I got a glimpse of the Red Wings without Jimmy Howard for the rest of the regular season and playoffs. While it wasn't anything I'd hope for, my thoughts went immediately to Chris Osgood.

Ozzie has stepped in and won a Cup before, he could do it...well wait, Ozzie's already on the shelf and has been out of action for over two months.

My mind's eye scanned deeper down the depth chart in goal for the Wings and saw option number three: Joey MacDonald.

Bear in mind, this all happened in the space of time between Jimmy Howard getting to his feet in obvious pain and him stepping onto the bench.

As MacDonald donned his mask and made his way in net, the possibility that this man may have just become the Wings' new starting goalie for the foreseeable future became startlingly real.

And that's where things got interesting, at least for me.

Because although Joey MacDonald is a career AHL goalie with a whopping 85 games of NHL experience in four years with four different teams, and exactly zero playoff games under his belt, he has proved quite valuable this season.

With a 2.05 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage, MacDonald is, statistically, Detroit's best goalie. Although that doesn't mean he's a better or more worthy starter than Jimmy Howard, having those kind of numbers attached to your third-string netminder is a luxury few NHL teams experience.

As I saw MacDonald save his first shot after coming in relief of Howard, the concerns about Howard's health were still there, but the concerns about the Red Wings' season became less severe.

If we had to make a go with Joey MacDonald in net, then let's get going.

Now, as it turns out, the Red Wings won't be without Jimmy Howard for very long.

An MRI on Sunday revealed no serious damage to his shoulder, and seeing him back in net on Wednesday or Saturday of this week is something his team and fans should all but expect.

Still, tonight, the Red Wings will face their most bitter of rivals, the Chicago Blackhawks.

With the defending Stanley Cup champions clinging desperately to the eighth and final playoff spot and prepared to do whatever it takes for points, stopping the 'Hawks is going to be a tall order for MacDonald and the whole of his team.

Tonight is an important game for both teams, but it is also an important game for MacDonald.

Not only can he play hero by spelling Howard in net with a win tonight, he just might have earned himself a long look from GM Ken Holland come summer time.

With Osgood struggling to recover from sports hernia surgery and already in his final contract year, the idea that he may just hang up the skates for good this summer seems a more-than-likely scenario.

That would make replacing him a top priority for the Wings.

While they could take another run at Evgeni Nabokov (if the Islanders allow it, that is) and though former Wing Ty Conklin could be available, and a solid option at that, Joey MacDonald may prove to be the best option as a No. 2 for the Red Wings.

After all, the Red Wings were the first NHL team he signed with as a free agent in 2002, and though he's spent most of his time since playing in the AHL, primarily for the Wings' farm team, the Grand Rapids Griffins, he may be proving to everyone that he's ready to sign another deal with the Red Wings as a permanent NHLer.

I understand that, right now, the last thing on Ken Holland's mind is who his backup goalie will be next year.

However, when the time comes, Holland may remember this month, and Howard's injury, and realize he already has who the team needs.

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