SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Rochester Americans goaltender Tyler Plante has been named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Feb. 27, 2011. In five appearances last week, Plante posted a 4-0-1 record with one shutout and stopped 156 of 165 shots (1.71, .945) for the Americans, who closed to within six points of a playoff spot in the North Division.
Plante began the week on Feb. 21 by making 26 saves and going a perfect 4-for-4 in the shootout as Rochester captured a 4-3 win over Hamilton. Two nights later, he suffered a 1-0 shootout loss to Manitoba despite posting a 32-save shutout through the first 65 minutes, his first whitewash of the season. Plante then won three games in as many nights over the weekend, as he stopped 27 of 30 shots in a 5-3 win over the Moose on Friday; made 31 saves in a 3-2 shootout win over red-hot Binghamton on Saturday; and racked up 40 more stops in Sunday’s 2-1 overtime triumph over Syracuse.
In recognition of his achievement, Plante will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Americans home game.
A second-round draft pick (32nd overall) by the Florida Panthers in 2005, the 23-year-old Plante has started 12 consecutive games for the Americans and shows an 8-3-1 record over that span. On the season, the fourth-year pro and native of Milwaukee, Wis., is 13-10-2 (2.88, .917) with the one shutout, and his 13 victories are already good for a new AHL career high.
Other nominees for Reebok/AHL Player of the Week include Adirondack goaltender Michael Leighton, Binghamton right wing Ryan Keller, Charlotte defenseman Ethan Graham, Chicago left wing Fredrik Petterson, Connecticut goaltender Dov Grumet-Morris, Grand Rapids forward Ilari Filppula, Hamilton left wing Nigel Dawes, Hershey center Keith Aucoin, Houston center Casey Wellman, Lake Erie center Ben Walter, Manchester right wing Brandon Kozun, Manitoba goaltender Eddie Lack, Milwaukee defenseman Grant Lewis, Norfolk center Paul Szczechura, Peoria defenseman Brennan Evans, Portland goaltender Jhonas Enroth, Rockford left wing Jeff Taffe, San Antonio center Randy Robitaille, Syracuse left wing Josh Green, Toronto center Nazem Kadri, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton left wing Tim Wallace and Worcester left wing Jamie McGinn.
Also see: Past winners, AHL Player of the Week
