After missing Saturday's game, Howard will return to the Wings' cage on Tuesday vs. Montreal. He allowed a single goal on 24 shots in a 4-1 win over the Maple Leafs in his last start. Howie has started the season 2-1-1 with a 1.72 GAA and .934 SV%---he was 1-1-0 against the Canadiens last year.

Howard was placed on 48-hour goalie IR which allowed the team to recall Petr Mrazek to backup Jonas Gustavsson on Saturday night. Mrazek was reassigned to Grand Rapids this morning and Howie is practicing, so it looks like he is good to go and could start on Tuesday vs. Montreal. Howard is 2-1-1 with a 1.72 GAA and .934 SV% in four starts.

After sitting out Saturday's game to nurse a groin injury, it looks like Howard will start on Tuesday vs. the Habs, but the Red Wings have not confirmed that yet. This is good news for the Red Wings and Howard owners because he is off to a great start to the season.

Howard stopped 23 of 24 shots in the Wings 4-1 win over the Maple Leafs last night, but must have suffered some type of groin injury in the process. The move to 48 hour goalie IR allowed the Red Wings to recall Petr Mrazek to backup Jonas Gustavsson tonight vs. Toronto. Howard is eligible to return on Tuesday.

Howard was excellent on Wednesday, stopping 37 of 39 shots in the Red Wings' 3-2 shootout loss to the Bruins. He has a great 1.95 GAA and .927 SV% to go with his 1-0-2 record in the early part of the season. Howie was 2-0-1 with a 1.95 GAA and .930 SV% against the Leafs last year.

Howard allowed three goals on 26 shots, including a last minute goal to Ryan Getzlaf, as the Red Wings dropped their first game of the year, 3-2 to Anaheim on Saturday. Howie looked good despite the heartbreaking loss and should make for a nice start against a Bruins team he has already beaten this season and who are struggling to find twine.

It's so nice when the air is crisp, hockey is back and my coffee is hot! I think it's safe to say Sidney Crosby loves Mike Johnston's system. Sid the Kid already has 6 points in only 2 games which comes out to 246 for the year at that pace.  Does anyone doubt that he could do it?  If anyone can, he could. Who would've thought that Tomas Plekanec would be a point behind Crosby in the scoring race? Sell high, LOL. One thing though about Plekanec, if Alex Galchenyuk has the breakout year that I am expecting, he could have a career year, or at least be a solid bottom end forward on your fantasy squad. Braden Holtby is already putting last year behind him. Barry Trotz' system is going to work wonders for "the Holt". If only Darcy Kuemper could play Colorado every game. You just knew Colorado wasn't going to get off to a great star like last year.  That surprise factor is gone. Alex Ovechkin had 2 goals and 7 SOG in yesterday's game against Boston. That's 11 SOG in 2 games.  He isn't hurting in Trotz' system either. Johnny Boychuk fits right in with the Islanders. He can have a tremendous year playing the point for Tavares.  I think the Boston Bruins will miss Jarome Iginla but not the other way around. I think Toronto needs to find themselves quickly. They can't afford to get off to a poor start like the Flyers did last season if they want to make the playoffs. I guess all those questions about Evgeni Malkin's pre-season status are answered now. The elite veterans like Malkin and Tavares know what the training camp is for, and they know that the regular season is when it matters. I might have been a bit light in my predictions for Patric Hornqvist this year. He had a goal and an assist last night, BUT he had 9 SOG.  If he continues with that type of effort, congrats to all who drafted him. Everyone on Montreal had at least 1 SOG last night except for Malhotra, Prust and Wiese. Those guys you don't expect to have SOG, they play different roles. Although they have given up 12 goals in just 3 games, the Philadelphia goaltending will get better. New Jersey is tied for the league lead in goals by a team with 11, and that in just 2 games. We are talking about the Devils here, right? Wayne Simmonds is a beast! I just love Victor Hedman this year! He's probably my man-crush for the season. Welcome back to the NHL Robin Lehner! We missed you last year.  I think last year is one young Mr. Lehner would soon like to forget. Is Tampa Bay waiting for Jonathan Drouin to ...

Howard was not very busy on opening night. He allowed a goal on the first shot of the game, but closed the door for the rest of the night. He finished the night with 16 saves in the Red Wings 2-1 win over the Bruins. He draws another terrible matchup tonight vs. the Ducks.

Howard had an excellent preseason posting a 1.90 GAA and .943 SV% in three outings. He has said that he is feeling as good as he ever has to start a season and that is great news for the Red Wings, who will need Howie to bounce-back from a disappointing 2013-14. The Red Wings are a young team, but Mike Babcock has them playing a puck possession style that limits chances at the Red Wings' net--thus helping Howard.

Howard had an excellent preseason posting a 1.90 GAA and .943 SV% in three outings. He has said that he is feeling as good as he ever has to start and that is great news for the Red Wings, who will need Howie to bounce-back from a disappointing 2013-14. The Red Wings are a young team, but Mike Babcock has them playing a puck possession style that limits chances at the Red Wings' net--thus helping Howard.