TOP PICKS RETURN

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins on Saturday welcomed back goaltender Jimmy Howard and left wing Cory Emmerton on assignment from the Detroit Red Wings.

Howard, 24, made his fifth trip of the season to Hockeytown after backstopping the Griffins to a 6-1 win over Lake Erie on Wednesday. After dressing for the Wings’ 4-3 overtime loss to St. Louis last night, he shows a 0-2-0 record, a 2.13 goals against average and a 0.926 save percentage in four games with Detroit this season.

In 49 games with the Griffins, Howard owns a 20-25-2 mark with a 2.74 GAA and a 0.910 save percentage. His next game played will establish his AHL career high and make him the seventh goalie in franchise history to log at least 50 games in a single campaign.

The 19-year-old Emmerton, Detroit’s first pick (41st overall) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, made his pro debut with the Griffins during the 2007 Calder Cup Playoffs, going scoreless in two games. He split the 2007-08 season between Kingston and Brampton of the Ontario Hockey League, totaling 61 points (25-36—61) in 54 outings, and recorded career highs with four goals and six points in Kingston’s 7-3 win at Belleville on Nov 7, 2007.

Both players will be available tonight when the Griffins host the Rochester Americans at 7 p.m.