Wolf Pack goaltender Matt Zaba has been named the REEBOK X-PULSE / AHL Goaltender of the month for February.
Zaba has been absolutely spectacular. He has led the team to its current six game winning streak and posted Lundqvist-like numbers. Over the last month, Zaba was 8-2-0 in 11 appearances for the Wolf Pack and posted a 2.28 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage.
Zaba has made seven consecutive starts from Feb. 18-28, winning six of them while allowing a total of 11 goals on 226 shots (1.35, .951); the only loss in that span was a 1-0 setback to Bridgeport on Feb. 18 in which he made 31 saves. Zaba stopped 36 shots in a 5-2 win at Lowell on Feb. 20, made 35 saves (including 21 in the third period) during a 3-2 win at Manchester on Feb. 22, and denied 39 of 40 shots in a 5-1 win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Feb. 25. Zaba also appeared in his first two AHL shootouts to close out the month, combining to turn away nine of 10 attempts in wins over Manchester (Feb. 27) and Portland (Feb. 28).
In recognition of his achievement, Zaba will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Wolf Pack home game.
Zaba has gone 17-8-0 in 31 appearances for Hartford in 2008-09, ranking fourth among AHL rookies in both goals-against average (2.46) and save percentage (.917). A 25-year-old native of Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Zaba was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in 2003 before playing four seasons at Colorado College. He signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers on Aug. 20, 2007.
The Wolf Pack play their next game Wednesday night when they will host the Worcester Sharks.
*** The Sean Avery Hartford era is officially over and "The Grate One" has been claimed by the NY Rangers…Good Luck with that…
Enjoy Voros and Reitz. You might complain about Avery, at least he can skate and score unlike the million dollar joke, Aaron Voros.
If Voros comes down here with a good attitude, he can help this team. While he might not be able to skate at the NHL level and do things there, this team could sure use him. Reitz has a broken foot so he’s at least a month away from doing anything. Again, these are NHL caliber guys that weren’t cutting it. If they apply themselves at this level, the Wolf Pack just got better.
As for Avery, I’m not the only one that’s glad to see him out of here. He did virtually nothing when he was here and was standing around and had absolutely no bit to his game. He can’t possibly be successful at the NHL level if he’s going to play like he did when he was here. As a Rangers supporter, I hope that he does well…I just don’t see it happening.