Anthony Fenech

Detroit Free Press

Another night, another opportunity.

And Sunday, it was Jakub Kindl's chance.

"It's always an opportunity," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "Each night is an opportunity. You gotta do good things, and, you know, the whole thing about the game is the best guys get to play.

"So if you want to be one of those guys, you have to dig in and make sure that happens."

Kindl made his first appearance in three games during the Wings' 2-1 shoot-out loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday night at Joe Louis Arena.

He played 18:16 with one hit and three shots on goal.

Kindl, Babcock said before the game, has to "go back and get the puck, get it going."

"No problem when you're looking up the ice," he said. "No problem in the offensive zone but in the end, you can't outscore your mistakes."

Kindl was back in the lineup after Xavier Ouellet was sent to Grand Rapids (AHL) for an extra goalie spot, filled by Tom McCollum.

"Here's your opportunity," Babcock said. "What are you going to do with it? Someone must have played the day before Cal Ripken played the next 22 years. Someone must have been in that spot. I don't know who."

His name was Floyd Rayford, and he started at third base for the Orioles the day before Ripken played the first of 2,632 consecutive games, a professional sports record.

The NHL record for most consecutive games played belongs to Doug Jarvis, who played 964 straight from 1975 to 1987.

Kindl has played 25 games this year. He is averaging 15:41 of ice time and has seven points.

■ Injury update: Babcock heard this about starting goaltender JimmyHoward's lower-body injury that forced him from Friday's game against the Islanders and out of the lineup Sunday: "Just that it's not a big deal, I guess, but I hear that all the time with groins. 10 days later, the guy shows up."

Howard is 13-5 with a 2.06 goals-against average this season.

Contact Anthony Fenech: afenech@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @anthonyfenech.