Howard Back On Track

The emergency appears to have passed for the Detroit Red Wings. The pain in Jimmy Howard’s back, which flared up in the warm ups for Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, had subsided by Wednesday and absent of any recurrence of the symptoms, Howard anticipates suiting up as Jonathan Bernier’s back up for Thursday’s game at Carolina against the Hurricanes. “I was able to get treatment last night after my back locked up and then again this morning,… Howard told DetroitRedWings.com. “Everything cleared and released, so I skated for 18-20 minutes before the guys got out there. “I didn’t have any issues, so hopefully I don’t have any more this evening and I’m good to go tomorrow for the pregame skate.… Minus Howard, the Wings suited up emergency goalie Justin Kowalkoski as Bernier’s understudy on Tuesday. A geologist by trade, Kowalkoski, 32, still plays goal in a rec league, and played four seasons of NCAA hockey at Colgate from 2004-08. Bernier chatted with the sudden NHLer a couple of times during TV timeouts. “I tried to talk to him a little when he was on the bench to see if he was enjoying it,… Bernier said. He donned No. 30, Chris Osgood’s old sweater, but it was unclear whether Kowalkoski got to keep the jersey as a souvenir. “You’ve got to ask (equipment manager) Paul Boyer,… Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. “I doubt it. You guys know Paul.… Blashill was just relieved to know that,Howard, his No. 1 goaltender, wasn’t seriously injured and would soon be good to go. “That’s what I thought but you never know,… Blashill said. “Certainly he said he feels much better today. Whoever he saw today really helped him and last night. So our training staff in getting the right people did an excellent job. “It sounds like at the very least he’d be close to backing up tomorrow and probably ready to play a game a soon as Saturday hopefully, so that’s great.… The team will continue to monitor the situation throughout the day and if for any reason Howard suffered a relapse, would then call up a goalie from AHL Grand Rapids. “I’ve got to talk to the training staff,… Blashill said. “If what I heard him say is accurate in taking to the training staff, we’ll probably have him back up. That’s what my gut is today.… Howard seemed unconcerned that there would be anv lingering issues. “It’s nothing long-term,… Howard said. “It happens from time to time. I don’t think I pulled anything. “I think one of my joints in the back just locked up and it just needed to be released and was able to get that last night and this morning.… Follow me on Twitter @asktheduffer