The Nashville Predators have recalled goaltender Marek Mazanec and returned Juuse Saros according to a press release. Mazanec has appeared in four games this season with Nashville, posting a 0-2-0 record and a .839 save percentage. With AHL affiliate Milwaukee, he’s 12-10-0 and a .910 save percentage. Saros is 5-3-2 with a .910 save percentage in 10 starts for the Preds.
- Fan Rag Sports’ Joseph Nocco reports that the Tampa Bay Lightning have called up Joel Vermin from Syracuse. The Tampa Bay Lightning tweeted the announcement as well. Vermin has 17 points in 27 games with Syracuse. Nocco writes that this will be Vermin’s tenth game with the Lightning, though he has seen ice time sparingly in Tampa when with the big club.
- Jimmy Howard begins his first game in net for the Grand Rapids Griffins tonight in a conditioning stint that will get him one step closer to the Red Wings. Since suffering an MCL sprain in December, Howard told MLive’s Ansar Khan that he hasn’t thought about his knee at all as he prepares to come back onto the ice. From Howard:
“I haven’t given it a second thought, even when I’m out there, so that’s a great sign. Next step here is to see some game action.”
The Red Wings benefited from Howard’s strong play this season, until a groin injury and the MCL sprain bumped him out of the lineup. His numbers outperformed expected starter Petr Mrazek by a long shot. In 17 games, Howard has a 1.96 GAA and a .934 save percentage. If given goal support, Howard might be the catalyst to the Red Wings getting on a roll.