Michael Leighton breaks Johnny Bower's AHL shutout record
Move along, Johnny Bower.
On Saturday night, goaltender Michael Leighton broke a tie with Bower, the Hall of Famer, recording his 46th career American Hockey League shutout, setting the new standard in the NHL's developmental league.
#Leighton most saves in a shutout:
— AHL Communications (@AHLPR) March 6, 2016
44 - 4/9/04 at BNG
36 - 2/4/05 vs. BNG
35 - Tonight vs. LE
35 - 10/21/11 at POR
35 - 3/21/08 at WBS
Playing for the Rockford IceHogs, the AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, the shutout was Leighton's fifth of the season. He had five last season, as well.
Leighton went into Saturday's game with a .918 save percentage in 42 games. And that number's going up.
Johnny Bower owned a piece of the #AHL career shutouts record for nearly 59 years, after passing Nick Damore on Mar. 10, 1957 #Leighton
— AHL Communications (@AHLPR) March 6, 2016
In 101 career NHL games (93 starts), Leighton, 34, has a .901 save percentage. He had a memorable run with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2009, starting 13 games in the playoffs, recording a .916 save percentage and three shutouts. Oddly enough, the Flyers fell to the Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Final.