DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings will continue to ride the hot hand, while giving the goaltender with dinged up hand some more time to heal.

Coach Mike Babcock said today that Joey MacDonald will make his seventh consecutive start in goal Sunday against the San Jose Sharks at Joe Louis Arena (12:30 p.m., NBC), when the Red Wings look to extend their NHL-record 22-game home winning streak.

Jimmy Howard, out since Feb. 2 with a broken right index finger, is ready to play and will start Tuesday at Chicago.

“MacDonald is playing too good. I'm going to give Howard two more days,'' Babcock said. “The other guy (MacDonald) is playing great. It gives (Howard) two more days to practice. Why would I rush it when the other guy's playing good?''

Howard practiced today at Joe Louis Arena while the rest of the team, except for Pavel Datsyuk, participated in an outdoor practice at Detroit's Clark Park.

Datsyuk has a sore throat but Babcock said he will play Sunday.

Danny Cleary (sore knee) practiced again today and said he is aiming to return on Tuesday.

MacDonald has won five games in a row, allowing only eight goals in the process. Overall, he is 5-1-1, with a 1.61 goals-against average and .933 save percentage, since being recalled from the Grand Rapids Griffins.

“It feels great the coaching staff has the confidence in me to throw me out there again against another great hockey team,'' MacDonald said. "I’ve just got to keep building on them (the wins) and take advantage of the opportunity.”

Howard said he could have played if needed but will utilize two extra days of rest.

"It's getting better,'' Howard said. "The X-rays we had last week are showing improvements, the bone is healing.''

Cleary also reported improvement.

“It’s feeling better,'' he said. "Now I just hope the swelling stays out of it and we’re shooting for Tuesday in Chicago.”