COLUMBUS, Ohio — A slow start, a strong comeback and two more injuries.

This is becoming a trend for the Detroit Red Wings.

Detroit battled back from a two-goal, first-period deficit Friday, but lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 in a shootout at Nationwide Arena.

The Red Wings also lost goaltender Jimmy Howard to a bruised right knee in the first period and forward Tomas Holmstrom to a broken right hand late in the third period.

General manager Ken Holland said X-rays on Howard were negative, but there is some swelling. The club will recall a goalie from the Grand Rapids Griffins, either Thomas McCollum or Jordan Pearce, to serve as Joey MacDonald’s backup in Saturday’s game against the Blue Jackets at Joe Louis Arena.

Holmstrom’s injury is more serious. He will see a hand specialist on Saturday to determine if surgery is necessary. Coach Mike Babcock said it appears the net-front specialist will be out at least four weeks.

“I was battling around the net and I felt something,” Holmstrom said. “I got to the bench I felt like I can’t hold onto the stick anymore.”

The club, which has no extra healthy players, was expected to recall Tomas Tatar from the Griffins.

“That’s just the way it goes,” Babcock said. “Sometimes you get injuries and you just got to fight through them. I’m disappointed, but there’s no sense in whining, what can you do?”

Antoine Vermette scored the only goal in a four-round shootout, beating MacDonald on the backhand. Jiri Hudler, Todd Bertuzzi, Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen all failed to score against Steve Mason in the shootout.

Drew Miller (short-handed) and Hudler scored in regulation for the Red Wings. Zetterberg had his 11-game points streak snapped.

MacDonald was strong in relief of Howard, stopping all 21 shots he faced in 52 minutes, giving his team a chance to win. But the Blue Jackets snapped a five-game losing streak.

“He came up big,” Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. “It’s not easy coming off the bench like that, not prepared to play. But he played real well for us. On that power play in overtime, he made a couple of big saves to get us to a shootout.”

Said Babcock: “I thought Joey did a good job. I thought we pressed them real hard in the third period, weren’t able to get it done in overtime. We had our opportunities and that’s life.”

Howard was shaken up with 7:17 to play in the first period, following a shot by Derick Brassard. The club already is missing Chris Osgood, who is out six-to-eight weeks after having surgery Tuesday for a sports hernia.

“When I went down to Grand Rapids, I played almost every game. It always helps when you’re doing that, especially forced into a situation like this,” MacDonald said. “Getting in the last game helped, too, take some of the rust off. I felt great tonight. Just build from this and go into (tonight’s) game.”

MacDonald also relieved Howard in the first period of Monday’s 5-4 loss in Colorado.

“It’s a little easier getting in the game in the first period. Your warmup’s not quite so far away,” MacDonald said. “It’s tough when your goalie gets hurt because your mind is, ‘What’s wrong with him?’ You’re thinking about him, trying not to do that.”

The Red Wings played much better in the second period, following another slow start.

Miller scored on a nice individual effort while killing a penalty. He made a good move to elude Kris Russell deep in the zone and whipped a shot through Mason’s five-hole at 5:14.

The Red Wings then capitalized on a turnover, as Valtteri Filppula passed to an open Hudler at the side of the net. Hudler scored his fourth goal of the season at 8:05.

“I’d like not to respond after the first (period), I’d like to respond when the puck’s dropped so you’re not down,” Babcock said. “We didn’t skate real good in the first period, skated better as the game went on.”

The Red Wings, who have been plagued by slow starts this season, fell behind 2-0 in the first period.

Jakub Voracek opened the scoring at 4:05. He slipped past defenseman Jonathan Ericsson and banged in a rebound off the back boards following a shot by Rick Nash.

Shortly after that, Ericsson was called for high-sticking, giving Columbus a two-man advantage. Grant Clitsome capitalized at 11:51, blasting a one-timer that deflected off Howard’s glove and into the net.

The Red Wings battled back to salvage a point, but it came at a cost, as Holmstrom joined a list of injured players that includes Pavel Datsyuk, Danny Cleary, Mike Modano, Brad Stuart and Osgood.

“We just have to find a way through it. We can’t start feeling sorry for ourselves, that’s not going to help anyone,” defenseman Niklas Kronwall said. “We have to come together as a team. Some of the younger guys are going to get more ice time, more opportunity.”