Red Wings' Howard named NHL Rookie of the Month

NEW YORK -- Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard, who backstopped the Red Wings' post-Olympic surge by recording a 12-2-1 record with a 2.24 goals-against average and .923 save percentage, has been named the NHL Rookie of the Month for March.

Howard edged Toronto Maple Leafs center Tyler Bozak (5-9--14 in 16 games) and goaltender Jonas Gustavsson (7-1-0, 2.06 goals-against average, .923 save percentage), Buffalo Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers (3-10--13 in 16 games) and Atlanta Thrashers right wing Niclas Bergfors (5-7--12 in 17 games) for the award.

Howard finished the month with six consecutive victories and 10 consecutive starts without a regulation loss (9-0-1), highlighted by 33 saves in regulation and overtime plus stops on 10 of 11 shootout attempts in a 1-0 victory at Nashville Mar. 27. Howard improved to 33-15-9 with a 2.27 goals-against average, .925 save percentage and two shutouts in 58 games, becoming just the fourth rookie in Red Wings history to post 30 wins in his rookie season (Terry Sawchuk, Roger Crozier, Glenn Hall). He has started 23 consecutive games, the longest streak by a Red Wings goaltender since Tim Cheveldae (29) in 1991-92 and tops by a Detroit rookie since Roy Edwards (23) in 1967-68.

The 26-year-old Syracuse, N.Y. native was selected by the Red Wings in the second round (64th overall) of the 2003 Entry Draft out of the University of Maine. He spent the majority of the previous four seasons with the Red Wings' AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids before earning a full-time NHL roster spot in 2009-10.


Jimmy Howard in March:

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