GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Friday recalled goaltender Jimmy Howard from the Grand Rapids Griffins, who in turn signed netminder Joel Martin to a professional tryout.

Howard shows a 15-13-4 record in 33 appearances for the Griffins this season, ranking among the American Hockey League’s leaders with a 2.46 goals against average (T9th), a 0.916 save percentage (11th) and three shutouts (T7th).

After receiving his first call-up of the season, Howard is expected to back up Ty Conklin tonight when the Red Wings host Anaheim at 7:30 p.m. and make his first NHL start of the season on Saturday when Detroit visits Minnesota at 8 p.m. EST. In eight career appearances with Detroit, he is 1-4-0 with a 2.56 GAA and a 0.915 save percentage.

Summoned from the International Hockey League’s Kalamazoo Wings, the 26-year-old Martin currently leads that circuit with a 2.75 GAA and a 0.919 save percentage to go with his 13-7-0 record. A sixth-year pro, he played in four AHL games with Cleveland, Norfolk and Syracuse from 2005-07, posting a 2-1-0 mark with a 3.47 GAA and a 0.874 save percentage.

Martin will be in uniform tonight when the Griffins host the North Division-leading Manitoba Moose in a 7 p.m. start at Van Andel Arena.