SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Jeff Zatkoff of the Manchester Monarchs has been named the Reebok/AHL Goaltender of the Month for March. Zatkoff made nine appearances during the month and allowed just 14 goals on 276 shots, posting a 5-3-1 record, a 1.55 goals-against average, a .949 save percentage and two shutouts.
Zatkoff made 29 saves in a 3-2 overtime win at Worcester on Mar. 4, and earned a shutout with 26 stops on Mar. 12 vs. Bridgeport. He turned aside 26 shots to lead the Monarchs to a 4-2 victory in Portland on Mar. 13, and allowed two goals on 71 shots in a two-game series at Norfolk to close out the month, including a 35-save shutout of the Admirals on Mar. 25.
In recognition of his achievement, Zatkoff will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Monarchs home game.
Zatkoff, a third-round draft pick by Los Angeles in 2006, has a record of 19-15-5 in 42 games for Manchester this season, with a 2.61 GAA and a .913 save percentage with three shutouts. The 23-year-old native of Detroit, Mich., is in his third professional season and shows a career mark of 30-26-5 in 67 AHL games with the Monarchs.
Other nominees for Reebok/AHL Goaltender of the Month include Binghamton’s Robin Lehner, Bridgeport’s Nathan Lawson, Chicago’s Edward Pasquale, Connecticut’s Dov Grumet-Morris, Hamilton’s Drew MacIntyre, Houston’s Matt Hackett, Lake Erie’s John Grahame, Manitoba’s Eddie Lack, Milwaukee’s Jeremy Smith, Norfolk’s Dustin Tokarski, Portland’s David Leggio, Providence’s Anton Khudobin, Rochester’s Tyler Plante, Rockford’s Hannu Toivonen, San Antonio’s Matt Climie, Syracuse’s Timo Pielmeier, Texas’s Richard Bachman, Toronto’s Ben Scrivens, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Brad Thiessen and Worcester’s Carter Hutton.
