HOWARD NAMED AHL GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Griffins goalie Jimmy Howard on Wednesday was named the Rbk X-Pulse/AHL Goaltender of the Month for December 2007.

Howard, 23, posted the best numbers of his career for a calendar month with a 1.72 GAA and a 0.939 save percentage during December, surpassing his accomplishments in March 2006, when he was named AHL Goaltender of the Month for the first time with a 1.80 GAA and a 0.936%.

Detroit’s first pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Howard had a 7-5-1 record with two shutouts during the final month of 2007, leading the Griffins to points in nine of his 13 December appearances. He allowed two or fewer goals in 10 of his 13 starts, while the Griffins totaled only eight goals in his six non-wins.

Howard began December with his first shutout of the season by making 22 saves in a 1-0 win at Milwaukee on Dec. 2, then earned another blanking just five days later with a 26-save performance in a 2-0 whitewash of Syracuse. Howard also stopped 34 of 35 in a 2-1 shootout win over conference-leading Rockford on Dec. 21.

The Syracuse, N.Y., native is 12-13-2 through 27 games, showing a 2.54 GAA and a 0.914% while ranking third in the AHL with 1,630 minutes played and 730 saves. Howard also places among the AHL’s leaders with two shutouts (T5th) and 12 wins (T9th).

In recognition of his achievement, Howard will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Griffins home game.