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Detroit’s MacDonald gunning for that No. 2 spot

Joey MacDonald

Detroit Red Wings goalie Joey MacDonald celebrates the Red Wings’ 3-1 win over the Dallas Stars in an NHL hockey game in Detroit, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012. Detroit set an NHL record with 21 consecutive home victories. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

AP

Joey MacDonald knows he wants to be in Detroit next season.

Last season, the Red Wings goalie didn’t spend as much time in the Motor City has he would’ve liked -- most of his time was with AHL Grand Rapids -- but injuries to Jimmy Howard and Ty Conklin in early February gave MacDonald a shot at starting, and he replied with an 8-5-1 record, 2.16 goals-against average and .912 save percentage.

That brief spell pushed MacDonald into setting a goal for 2012-13 -- to be the full-time No. 2 behind Howard.

“My goal is to be the backup next season,” he told the Detroit Free Press. “I’ve got a contract for next year, and that’s my focus.”

MacDonald as the backup would make sense for Detroit, especially since he’s already on the books for $550,000 and played well in relief last season, far better than Conklin. That said, the Wings might make a move for Washington’s Tomas Vokoun, a guy they targeted last season but couldn’t match the Capitals offer for (namely, the shot at a starting gig.)

Vokoun is now 35 and seemingly more suited for a backup role, so the Wings could come calling again.