"Ty Conklin needed to show the Red Wings he could come through for them Saturday night -- and didn't. That cast further doubt on the backup goaltending situation as the trade deadline approaches in three weeks.

With Jimmy Howard sidelined by a fracture in his right index finger, the Wings looked to Conklin to handle duties against the Oilers. When he stumbled -- and minor-leaguer Joey MacDonald stood tall -- Babcock made clear Detroit's backup job is up for grabs.

"Oh, absolutely," he said. "Someone's got to win games. We've got to win games."

The Wings could pursue the Islanders' Evgeni Nabokov -- they signed him last year at this time only to lose him on entry waivers -- but the price could be off-putting, given that it's a seller's market."