Howard missed the last four games with a knee injury that he suffered last Monday against the Blues. Before getting inured, Howard was playing his best hockey of the season. In three and a half games he had stopped 143 of 150 shots (.953 SV%) winning two out of three and leaving early in the 4-1 loss to St. Louis. The Red Wings are decimated by injuries, so Howie will need to re-gain that top-form on Friday.