Checkers goalie Michael Leighton kicked off his fifth career AHL All-Star appearance – the most ever by a goaltender – with a 15-11 win for the Western Conference in Sunday’s Skills Competition.
Leighton, who recently rejoined the Checkers after spending most of the last two months in the NHL with Carolina, clinched the win in the night’s final event by stopping all five shots he faced in the Breakaway Relay. He was part of a dominant performance by Western Conference goaltenders in the event, who came together to stop all 20 shooters.
Leighton, who is the league’s all-time leader in shutouts and is currently tied for sixth in wins, also participated in the Rapid Fire and Pass and Score events.
In the Rapid Fire, a challenge that sees two shooters take turns firing shots at a single goaltender as he pivots from side to side, Leighton stopped eight of 10 to tie Rochester’s Linus Ullmark for the most of any goaltender. In the Pass and Score, which pits three shooters in a freestyle rush against one goaltender, he was credited for one save on three attempts.
The AHL All-Star Classic continues Monday night with a round robin, three-on-three tournament between the league’s four divisions. Leighton will represent the Checkers in the Central Division.