BLACKHAWKS RECALL LEIGHTON, CARRUTH RETURNS TO ROCKFORD
IceHogs goaltender heads to NHL, Blackhawks reassign Carruth
Chicago, Ill. - The Chicago Blackhawks recalled goalkeeper Michael Leighton from the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League, the team announced today. Additionally, goaltender Mac Carruth has been reassigned from the Indy Fuel (ECHL) to the IceHogs.
Leighton has played the entire season with Rockford, posting a 28-8-8 record in 46 starts. He has a 2.44 GAA and a .918 save percentage with the IceHogs and currently ranks third in the league in both saves (1169) and wins. Earlier this season, Leighton recorded his 46th career shutout, establishing an AHL record. Leighton has notched 10 of his 46 AHL shutouts with the IceHogs, establishing a team record for career shutouts as well. He is 221-165-8-33 in 442 career AHL regular-season games over 12 seasons with the Norfolk Admirals (2001-05), Rochester Americans (2005-06), Portland Pirates (2006-07), Philadelphia Phantoms (2006-07), Albany River Rats (2007-08), Adirondack Phantoms (2010-2013) and IceHogs (2014-16).
The Petrolia, Ontario, native has 35 wins (35-41-14), a 2.97 GAA, a .901 SV% and four shutouts in 105 career NHL regular-season games over parts of eight seasons with the Blackhawks (2002-2004), Nashville (2006-07), Philadelphia (2006-07; 2009-13) and Carolina (2007-09). He owns an 8-4 record in 16 Stanley Cup Playoff games and holds the NHL record for most shutouts in a postseason series (3 vs. MTL in 2010 Eastern Conference Final).
Leighton, 35, originally drafted by the Blackhawks in the sixth round (165th overall) of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, appeared in 43 contests over two seasons with the club during his NHL debut, collecting eight wins (8-21-10). He was the franchise’s first goaltender to post a shutout in his NHL debut after doing so on Jan. 8, 2003 vs. ARI.
Carruth, 23, has posted a 0-2-1 record with a 3.32 goals-against average and .882 save percentage in six games with the IceHogs this season. In his last two starts for the Hogs, Carruth is 0-1-1 and has posted a .919 save percentage to go along with a 2.46 goals-against average. With Indy this season, he has gone 12-10-3 and leads the team with a 2.43 GAA and .918 save percentage.
Next Home Game: Saturday, Mar. 19 vs. Chicago Wolves at 7 p.m. The IceHogs conclude a home-and-home series with the Wolves at the BMO Harris Bank Center on Country Night presented by Dusty Boots Saloon. The band South 40 will be playing country music throughout the night. That game is SOLD OUT, but the IceHogs continue at home on Sunday, Mar. 20 vs. the Charlotte Checkers at 4 p.m. The IceHogs and Checkers meet for the fourth time in nine days for Star Wars Night at the BMO! Following the game, the IceHogs will host their annual live jersey auction.