Jimmy Howard is earning his time in Wings goal

Detroit

There was a new goalie at Red Wings practice Monday. Well, OK, maybe not exactly a new goalie, nor a particularly young one.

The second goaltender Monday was goalie coach Jim Bedard, who was subbing for the still sick Chris Osgood.

"I wouldn't mind getting Chris's prorated pay for the day," Bedard joked. "At least maybe a parking pass."

Osgood, who has been battling the flu since Detroit played in Columbus a week ago Wednesday, skated with Bedard and Kirk Maltby on Sunday, but was unable to practice Monday.

Jimmy Howard will start his fourth straight game Wednesday against Dallas.

"Ozzie came in and skated and thought he was on the right track," coach Mike Babcock said. "But today he was a disaster. So, I don't know what is going on there."

Babcock said he would talk to Osgood again Monday night. If he was still feeling ill, the Wings would bring Daniel Larsson back from Grand Rapids to back up Howard.

The plan was to start Howard all along, regardless of how Osgood was feeling. Howard has won his last three starts, allowing six goals, four against Anaheim Saturday. Babcock, though, was impressed by the poise Howard showed Saturday, despite giving up three goals in the third period.

"He gave up a bad goal there, but it doesn't matter. It's about the next save," Babcock said. "It's no different than pitching. You're not going to have your best stuff all the time. You've got to find a way to fight, claw and scratch to get the win and that's what he did."

The plan was for Howard to get 30 starts this season, and he's a little bit ahead of that pace right now.

"I love it," Howard said of the extended work load. "It's easy to play. I just go out and do my thing. I think I've played well and obviously the guys are playing very well in front of me.

"But it's a lot easier, schedule-wise, playing up here than in the American Hockey League. Down there, you play four games in five nights and three games in three nights all the time.

"And then you are taking bus trips everywhere. This is like a breath of fresh air."

Shoot it

Babcock was asked about Niklas Kronwall 's recent offensive surge. Kronwall has seven points in his last three games (three goals, four assists).

"It's amazing," Babcock said. "You tell a guy to shoot, shoot, shoot and he never shoots. Then he scores a goal and all he does is shoot.

"You look at the shots and the guys that shoot the puck all the time score all the goals, yet you can't get guys to shoot the puck. It was great to see him finally shoot it."

Kronwall has put eight shots on goal the last three games.

"We need more guys to shoot the puck," Babcock said.

Zetterberg honored

Henrik Zetterberg was named the NHL's first star for last week. His nine points led the league for the week and he recorded a plus-5.

Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk and Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller (Michigan State) were the second and third stars.

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