Penguins’ Curry takes weekly award

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass.
… The American Hockey League announced today that Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins goaltender John Curry has been named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Feb. 8, 2009. Curry was 3-0-0 in three appearances last week, stopping 80 of 84 shots (1.30, .952) and running his personal win streak to eight games.

Curry made 21 saves on Tuesday night at Philadelphia, holding down the fort long enough for the Penguins to score three third-period goals and earn a 4-1 win. On Friday, he made 27 stops as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton pulled out a 4-3 overtime win over San Antonio. And on Sunday evening, Curry turned aside all 32 shots he faced in a 5-0 victory over Norfolk, his third shutout of the season.

In recognition of his achievement, Curry will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Penguins home game.

Curry (19-7-0) is tied for fourth in the AHL in wins and ranks among the top 10 in goals-against average (2.40) and save percentage (.919) through 27 appearances with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season. In 2007-08, Curry was named to the AHL’s All-Rookie Team and backstopped the Penguins to the Calder Cup Finals. The 24-year-old native of Shorewood, Minn., is 43-19-3 with six shutouts in 67 career AHL games, and he made his NHL debut with Pittsburgh earlier this season, going 2-1-0 in three outings.

Other nominees for Reebok/AHL Player of the Week include Albany defenseman Mark Flood, Binghamton center Josh Hennessy, Bridgeport center Ben Walter, Chicago right wing Joey Crabb, Grand Rapids right wing Darren Haydar, Hamilton goaltender Marc Denis, Hartford right wing Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau, Hershey right wing Graham Mink, Houston left wing Krys Kolanos, Iowa goaltender David LeNeveu, Lake Erie goaltender Tyler Weiman, Lowell right wing Matt Halischuk, Manchester center Marty Murray, Manitoba right wing Guillaume Desbiens, Milwaukee center Cal O’Reilly, Norfolk goaltender Riku Helenius, Philadelphia left wing Patrick Maroon, Portland left wing Tim Kennedy, Providence right wing Mikko Lehtonen, Quad City forward Kyle Greentree, Rochester right wing Michal Repik, Rockford defenseman Tim Hambly, San Antonio left wing David Spina, Syracuse goaltender Sebastian Dahm and Worcester left wing Jamie McGinn.

Also see: Previous winners, Reebok/AHL Player of the Week