Rockford's Michael Leighton Sets Career AHL Shutout Record

Published on March 5, 2016 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ... Michael Leighton of the Rockford IceHogs set an American Hockey League record with his 46th career regular-season shutout on Saturday night, making 35 saves in a 5-0 win over the Lake Erie Monsters at the BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford, Ill.

Leighton took over sole possession of a record he had shared with Hockey Hall of Famer Johnny Bower, who earned 45 shutouts during 11 AHL seasons between 1945 and 1958.

A 34-year-old native of Petrolia, Ont., Leighton is in the midst of another standout year in this, his 15th professional season. After Saturday's win, Leighton is 27-6-8 in 43 appearances with Rockford in 2015-16, posting a 2.38 goals-against average, a .920 save percentage and five shutouts.

Originally drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in 1999, Leighton has appeared in 439 regular-season AHL contests, earning a career record of 220-163-41 and ranking ninth on the all-time wins list. He is a four-time AHL All-Star (including 2016), was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team in 2001-02 and won the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL's outstanding goaltender in 2007-08.

In postseason play, Leighton owns the AHL records for saves in a single game (98, in a five-overtime loss on Apr. 24, 2008) and for lowest GAA in a single playoff year (1.18, in 2008). He shows a 1.68 GAA and .946 save percentage with five more shutouts in 27 career Calder Cup Playoff contests.

In the National Hockey League, Leighton has played 105 regular-season games with Chicago, Nashville, Philadelphia and Carolina. He reached the Stanley Cup Final with the Flyers in 2010, going 8-3 with three shutouts in 14 games that postseason.

Rockford IceHogs Goaltender Michael Leighton

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