Jordan Pearce has been returned to the minors. Jimmy Howard is projected to return to uniform from his groin injury on Friday. Pearce didn't see any game action during his stint in the NHL.

The Detroit Red Wings have recalled goaltender Jordan Pearce from Grand Rapids. Pearce backed up Jimmy Howard on Saturday as Joey MacDonald sat out with back spasms. Ty Conklin remained in Grand Rapids to start so Pearce got the call. He will only play if Howard suffers an injury during a game.

Jordan Pearce has been called up by the Detroit Red Wings Pearce is projected to serve as Joey MacDonald's backup while Jimmy Howard is battling a lower body injury. Pearce has a 3.53 GAA and .874 save percentage with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins this season.

Jordan Pearce will be competing for a job with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins next season. Pearce finished his NCAA career with Notre Dame in 2008-09 and was getting ready to go to medical school to become a doctor when the Red Wings offered him a contract. He's primarily served as an ECHL goaltender over the past two years, but last season he ended up beating out former first round pick Thomas McCollum for the AHL starting job. However, he'll have to compete with McCollum again in 2011-12, along with Joey MacDonald, who started the 2010-11 season in the AHL, but was called up to the Red Wings when Chris Osgood sustained a groin injury. MacDonald's promotion helped Pearce secure a job in the AHL last season, but MacDonald will be back in the AHL for the start of the 2011-12 campaign.

Jordan Pearce has signed a two-year contract extension with the Detroit Red Wings. Pearce had a 2.89 GAA and .908 save percentage in 44 AHL contests last season. He also had a 4.13 GAA and .883 save percentage in eight games with ECHL Toledo.