Osgood on back on the LTIR, MacDonald recalled, Hudler will play

Detroit Red Wings veteran goaltender Chris Osgood has been placed on the Long Term Injured Reserve after encountering another setback after trying to recover from sports hernia surgery he underwent in early January. Because of this the Wings have recalled goaltender Joey MacDonald back from Grand Rapids and will serve as Jimmy Howard’s backup tonight against Vancouver.  OHL goaltender Troy Passingham who was signed to a one day amateur contract by the Wings will not dress tonight.

Because Osgood has landed back on the Long Term Injured Reserve he isn’t eligible to come off of it until the final two games of the season, April 8-10 vs. Chicago.

“We’re back to square one with him,” Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. “Everybody’s frustrated. When we took him off LTI 10 days ago, the player, the doctor and the trainers all signed off on it. He felt good.

“The first day he had a full practice he felt sore but though he was going to push through it. I think he felt the pressure to come back with the playoffs looming. It’s obvious he’s not anywhere close to playing.”

Ken Holland also stated that Osgood will take the next few days off then try to return to practice.

There is some good news though.

Holland also mentioned that Jiri Hudler will return to the lineup tonight after missing the past three games battling the flu and dealing with shoulder soreness and a stiff neck. Since Hudler will play, the team will go with 12 forwards and scratch a defenseman.

Source: Mlive.com