Jimmy-Howard-12-5-13

Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard makes a save on the the Flyers' Steve Downie in a game earlier this month.

(The Associated Press)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Detroit Red Wings will welcome back a couple of significant players tonight, as goaltender Jimmy Howard and center Darren Helm return from injuries.

Howard will start against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena (8 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit) in his first appearance since Dec. 10 in Florida, a day before he suffered a sprained left MCL in practice.

“He’s a world-class goalie,” coach Mike Babcock said. “Things haven’t gone the way he wanted (this season); he’s had lots of time off. Mentally he should be real fresh. He’s worked hard with Jimmy B (goaltending coach Bedard). I expect him to be really good.”

Howard talked about the challenges he faces in his first game back.

"Just tracking the puck, that's going to be one of the key things tonight, not losing sight of it." Howard said. "It's one thing to be out there practicing well, there's usually not that many guys in front of the net. Tonight I expect Nashville to have quite a few guys crashing and having a net-front presence.''

Coming back tonight means Howard is good to go for Wednesday's Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"It's good but all along, first and foremost was about tonight, because if there was no tonight there wasn't going to be a Winter Classic (for him) especially the way the temperatures are (supposed to be)," Howard said.

Helm will be making his second comeback this season. This time he returns from a sprained left shoulder suffered Dec. 4 against the Philadelphia Flyers.

"It's a tough game; you miss a few games, a week, two weeks, it's a tough to kind of jump back in there the way you used to be," Helm said. "The first couple of shifts are real important, try to get myself in the game, whether it's just a hit or working hard. Just got to find a way to get yourself back in the action."

It didn’t take Helm long to get comfortable on the ice when he returned on Nov. 2 after a lengthy absence due to back/groin issues.

“He’s a huge part of our team,” Babcock said. “I thought it was going to take Helmer a long time last time and it didn’t. Let’s be honest, Helmer hasn’t played many games in two years. When he does, he’s a real factor for us.

“I don’t know much he can play tonight. We got four real good centers tonight. Whether we end up playing them that way or something changes and we go a different direction … but that’s the way we’re set up.”

Helm will center a line with Justin Abdelkader and Tomas Jurco, at least to start the game.

“They can skate; we’re not a team that skates easy,” Babcock said. “We like guys who skate, it makes it easier for us. Now we have them all on the same line, that’s probably not a great idea, but that’s the way it worked out.”

Here are the Red Wings' anticipated lines and defense pairings for tonight:

Tomas Tatar-Pavel Datsyuk-Todd Bertuzzi

Gustav Nyquist-Henrik Zetterberg-Daniel Alfredsson

Tomas Jurco-Darren Helm-Justin Abdelkader

Drew Miller-Joakim Andersson-Daniel Cleary

Niklas Kronwall-Brendan Smith

Kyle Quincey-Danny DeKeyser

Brian Lashoff-Jakub Kindl

Jimmy Howard (starting)

Petr Mrazek

Patrick Eaves and Mikael Samuelsson are healthy scratches. Johan Franzen (concussion) skated today for the first time with the team since Dec. 15 but has not been cleared to play and said he won't be ready for the Winter Classic.

Goalie Jonas Gustavsson (groin) did not practice today and remains day-to-day.