The Calgary Flames have claimed goaltender Joey MacDonald off waivers today.

MacDonald was cleared to play today after being out since March 14 due to a bulging disc.

The Flames needed a goalie after started Mikka Kiprusoff sprained his MCL last Tuesday in a game against the Red Wings. He is listed as day-to-day.

MacDonald, who turned 33 last Thursday, went 8-5-1, with a 2.16 goals-against average and .912 save percentage for the Red Wings in 2011-12. He stepped in when Jimmy Howard was injured and won seven games in a row at one point, winning the back-up job from Ty Conklin.

Detroit signed Jonas Gustavsson on July 1 to be Howard's backup. Gustavsson has been out since Jan. 22 with a groin pull. He has been skating on his own the past several days but isn't sure when he'll return. Until then, rookie Petr Mrazek will continue to back-up Howard.

MacDonald is in the final year of his contract, a one-way deal for $550,000. He asked to be traded over the summer, not wanting to spend another season in the AHL, but the club was not able to accommodate his request.