DETROIT -- The Calgary Flames claimed goaltender Joey MacDonald off waivers Monday from the Detroit Red Wings.

MacDonald has been cleared to play after being out since March 14 due to a bulging disc.

The Flames needed a goalie after starter Mikka Kiprusoff sprained his MCL last Tuesday in a game against the Red Wings. He is listed as day-to-day and might return on Wednesday.

MacDonald gives Calgary an experienced option over Leland Irving, who has appeared in only 10 NHL games.

MacDonald, who turned 33 last Thursday, went 8-5-1, with a 2.16 goals-against average and .912 save percentage for the Red Wings in 2011-12. He stepped in when Jimmy Howard was injured and won seven games in a row at one point, winning the back-up job from Ty Conklin.

Detroit signed Jonas Gustavsson on July 1 to be Howard's backup. Gustavsson has been out since Jan. 22 with a groin pull. He has been skating on his own the past several days but isn't sure when he'll return. Until then, rookie Petr Mrazek will continue to back-up Howard.

MacDonald is in the final year of his contract, a one-way deal for $550,000. He had hoped to be traded over the summer, not wanting to spend another season in the AHL.

MacDonald also was claimed off waivers from the Red Wings in 2007, by the Boston Bruins.

MacDonald is 31-48-13, with a 3.04 goals-against average and .903 save percentage in parts of six seasons with Detroit, Boston, Toronto and the New York Islanders.