DETROIT -- The Red Wings recalled forward Mattias Ritola from Grand Rapids (AHL). He likely will replace struggling Ville Leino in the lineup for Monday's game in Columbus, though coach Mike Babcock said after Sunday's practice that he hadn't decided.



"I don't have any idea what I'm going to do yet,'' Babcock said. "After the game last night we just went through our lineup and thought (Ritola) can help our team, so we called him up.''



Leino has just three goals and three assists in 35 games, but it is his lack of competitiveness that disappoints Babcock.



"Everything here is about competition level for every guy,'' Babcock said. "The way you make sure you play and get as much as you want is you compete every day in practice and compete every time you get a chance. If you do that with your skill set, normally everything looks after itself.''



Ritola practiced on a line with Valtteri Filppula and Drew Miller, while Leino was the odd-man out.



"Anytime someone comes in and moves into the spot you were in and now you don't have a line, I'd say that's a message,'' Babcock said. "But it's not about sending a message anymore. We got to be better. You get so much opportunity and if you don't take advantage of your opportunity, somebody else gets the opportunity.''



Ritola was sent back to the Griffins after playing last Wednesday against Chicago.



"It's a great opportunity for me to play with Fil,'' he said.



Howard starts again

Jimmy Howard will start on Monday, as Babcock will continue to ride the hot hand.



Chris Osgood has played in only six of the last 23 games, three of which he missed due to the flu.



"The way I look at it is real simple: I got a Stanley Cup because of Chris Osgood, so Ozzie's been very good,'' Babcock said. "I don't think anyone likes watching the other guy playing. It's about being the best you can be. He knows all this. He'll get his opportunity and run with it.''



Zetterberg eyes road trip

Zetterberg, who suffered a separated shoulder on Dec. 17, has been skating the last few days and hopes to be cleared to practice with the team this week. He expects to return during the four-game road trip that begins in Phoenix on Saturday.



"It's been getting a little better every day. I've been skating the last few days just to get the conditioning back,'' Zetterberg said. "As soon as I can make a decent pass and shoot the puck a little bit I will probably be skating with the guys.''







