DETROIT -- Detroit Red Wings goaltender

said he was not fazed by the team’s unsuccessful attempt to acquire

.

Howard doesn’t view it as a message sent to him. And, being in the final year of his contract, he doesn’t need any extra motivation.

Much of that can be attributed to the team’s defensive play. Some of it is due to injuries.

The Red Wings recently wrapped up the most grueling portion of their schedule in excellent shape. They’ve managed to stay near the top of the NHL’s overall standings (with 64 points, they were tied for third heading into Sunday’s games) despite missing several key players to injuries.

So nobody is panicking that their defense, goaltending and penalty killing hasn’t been as strong. But they also realize their offense can’t continue to bail them out of trouble.

That’s why general manager

is always looking to improve the team.

Nabokov, a goalie, was claimed on waivers Saturday by the New York Islanders. And while he refuses to play for them, his odds of winding up in Detroit are slim because he must pass through waivers again if the Islanders decide to move him.

“It didn’t bother me one bit,’’ Howard said after Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. “If I had to have someone here push me then I got serious problems. I know where I want to be, I know where I want to go as a player. It’s up to me to do that.’’

Holland said he is not specifically seeking a goalie. But if somebody he likes is available at a reasonable price by the Feb. 28 trade deadline or through waivers, he might make a move.

is expected back by mid-March, but there is no guarantee he will return or that he will be 100 percent following surgery for a sports hernia on Jan. 11.

“It’s part of the game,’’ Howard said. “Whatever Kenny and management feel is best for the team I’m sure the dressing room would have welcomed (a new goalie) with open arms. You could use anyone to help you win.’’

In the meantime, Howard is trying to return to the form that made him a Calder Trophy finalist as NHL rookie of the year last season. He is tied for third in the league in wins (23-8-4), but his goal-against average (2.86) and save percentage (.904) are well off of last season’s level (2.26, .924).

“You got to keep a positive mind frame,’’ Howard said. “You can’t get negative, because things just snowball. Got to continue to push and work hard and things will eventually turn your way.’’

The Red Wings rank 18th in goals against (2.92 per game) and have allowed three or more goals in 16 of their last 20 games.

Their offense has remained productive despite the losses of top-six forwards Pavel Datsyuk, Danny Cleary and Tomas Holmstrom.

“You can’t put that on the offense, on their back to score four goals a night because in this league it’s just not realistic,’’ Howard said. “There’s a lot of good teams in the Western Conference. You can’t expect your team to win on a regular basis if you’re giving up three or four a night.’’

said a combination of factors are responsible for the increase in goals against.

“Our penalty killing hasn’t been as strong as it has to be,’’ Lidstrom said. “We haven’t played as well sorting things out in our own zone, whether it’s finding someone in the slot or being there for rebounds, helping our goalies out.’’