Howard will be the home starter for Friday's game versus the Predators, Dana Wakiji of the Red Wings' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Howard is looking to snap a five-game losing streak (0-4-1), where he sported a .896 save percentage coupled with a 3.20 GAA. It'll be difficult to shift the tide against the rising Preds, who have scored 13 goals -- three on the power play -- in the last three games.

Howard will be on puck patrol versus the visiting Flames on Wednesday, Helene St. James of the Detroit Free-Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

Howard has the unenviable task of slowing down a Flames team that put the puck San Jose's Aaron Dell a whopping eight times in a New Year's Eve barnburner. With further consideration to the fact that the Red Wings won't have three veteran defensemen available for the upcoming contest due to injuries, poolies may want to consider fading Howard on the six-game daily slate.

Howard turned away 24 of 27 shots in Monday's 4-3 shootout home loss to the Panthers.

EDGE Analysis

Howard didn't see much of Jonathan Huberdeau with Florida's top-line left winger only managing one shot in regulation, but the seventh-year skater out of Quebec provided the only goal for either team in the shootout stanza. While Howard performed well enough to net his team a point in the standings, he's probably reeling from the fact that he squandered a 3-0 lead and ended up on the wrong side of the skills competition.

Howard led the Red Wings out to the ice for pregame warmups Monday, Dana Wakiji of the Red Wings' official site reports. As a result, he'll be the home starter versus the Panthers.

EDGE Analysis

Howard will post up between the pipes for this New Year's Eve contest facing a divisional foe that the Wings desperately need to beat. Detroit is two points behind Florida in the standings (36 vs. 38), and there hasn't been much faith in either Howard or primary backup Jonathan Bernier due to the team's minus-24 goal differential. The Panthers will counter with the ageless Roberto Luongo in this New Year's Eve clash.

Howard allowed four goals on 39 shots in Thursday's 5-2 road loss to the Penguins.

EDGE Analysis

Howard experienced a particularly rough second period that included three unanswered goals, including a pair of power-play play tallies from Phil Kessel. Even though there's not much hope that the veteran goalie will skate away with a win on a given night -- Howard's on pace for only 21 victories through 50 games -- he is rumored to be among the Red Wings most likely to be dealt by the Feb. 25 deadline. In that case, he'd assuredly move to a contending team, and a corresponding bump in fantasy value would follow.

Howard will start in goal Thursday against the Penguins, Dana Wakiji of the Red Wings' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Howard has lost his last three starts and is 10-8-4 on the season with a 2.66 GAA and .922 save percentage. The Red Wings' netminder will be in tough facing a Penguins team that scores the seventh most goals per game in the league (3.28) and has won three of their last four games at home.

Howard permitted two goals on 23 shots in Saturday's 2-1 home loss to the Panthers.

EDGE Analysis

This must have been a frustrating game for Howard and his allied skaters. After all, the Wings had six more high-danger scoring chances -- not to mention a plus-25 Corsi differential -- facing a Florida team that was in last place in the Atlantic Division coming in. It initially appeared that Howard would be preserved for Sunday's game against the Maple Leafs, but we're not so sure that'll be the case since traditional backup Jonathan Bernier didn't draw in against the Panthers; coach Jeff Blashill rarely starts a given netminder on back-to-back days, either.

Howard -- not Jonathan Bernier -- suited up for the Red Wings in Saturday's matinee against the Panthers.

EDGE Analysis

A previous report stated that Bernier would draw a second consecutive start with Howard being reserved for Sunday's game against the Maple Leafs, but it appears there was a late change. Howard surrendered a goal to Mike Hoffman just over three minutes into the game, so we'll see if the veteran can at least go 60 minutes. At this point, it's unclear who will start Sunday against the Leafs.

Howard will work between the pipes Sunday evening against host Toronto, David Hogg of NHL.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Red Wings reportedly will start Jonathan Bernier on Saturday against the Panthers, while saving Howard for the much tougher matchup against a Leafs team that boasts a terrific plus-34 goal differential. Howard sustained a minor back injury and was only available as the backup for the most recent game, so with consideration to that nugget and the daunting matchup that looms, fantasy owners are advised to take a wait-and-see approach with the veteran goalie in fantasy.

Howard (back) expects to be healthy enough to serve as the backup for Thursday's road game versus the Hurricanes, Dana Wakiji of the Red Wings' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Howard was scheduled to face the Flyers on the road Tuesday, but the veteran explained that his back "locked up" during warmups, hence the reason why Jonathan Bernier subbed in and ultimately took a 3-2 loss. Fortunately, if this was a serious injury for Howard, there's almost no chance he'd declare himself fit to serve as the No. 2 option for the upcoming contest.