Red Wings place D Kronwall on IR

Feb 11, 2008 - 6:10 PM DETROIT (Ticker) -- The Detroit Red Wings on Monday placed defenseman Niklas Kronwall on injured reserve and recalled goaltender Jimmy Howard from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League.

Kronwall has been placed on IR retroactive to January 30, when he suffered a left shoulder sprain in a 3-2 win over the Phoenix Coyotes.

Kronwall, 26, has five goals and 20 assists in 48 games for the Red Wings this season.

Howard has played in 39 games for the Griffins this season and has a 17-19-2 record with a 2.61 goals-against average and .914 save percentage.

Howard will serve as a third-string backup behind Dominik Hasek, who remains day-to-day with a minor inflammation of his hip flexor, and Chris Osgood.

With Hasek's status uncertain, both Howard and Osgood are expected to dress for Tuesday night's game at Nashville.