| HISTORY |
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2001-02:
- Spent season with U.S. National Development Program (26 GP, 1.89 GAA and .933 SPCT).
- Set US national program record with .933 save percentage.
- Won gold for Team USA at 2002 under-18 world championship (6 GP, 1.33 GAA, .954 SPCT).
- Rated 19th among North American goalies by Central Scouting at midterm, but didn't opt into draft.
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2002-03:
- Maine business major enjoyed school record 187:43 shutout string early in year.
- Split time with Frank Doyle and made impact as 18-year-old, rare at the NCAA level.
- Posted 12-1 record, 1.52 GAA and .947 SPCT over first half.
- Difficult second half to finish with 2.45 GAA and .916 SPCT in 21 starts (14-6-0).
- Became first Black Bear to win Hockey East's Rookie of the Year award since Paul Kariya.
- One of 12 finalists for the Walter Brown award (best American-born college player in New England).
- Backed up Robert Goepfert at WJC (79 minutes action, 6.05 GAA, .800 SPCT).
- Bad game against Russia at WJC (5-1 loss) seemed to rattle Howard for rest of season.
- Drafted in the second round (64th overall) by Detroit.
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2003-04:
- Split time with senior Frank Doyle at Maine and earned nomination for Walter Brown award.
- Missed more than a month with MCL strain after slipping on puck at early-December practice.
- Named to Team USA for WJC, but knee injury forced him to miss gold medal-winning experience.
- Won starting job from Doyle with five shutouts (six total) in final 14 games of season.
- Made 63 saves in 2-1 triple-overtime win over Massachusetts in Hockey East championship.
- Pulled after allowing four goals on 33 shots in two periods against Harvard at the Frozen Four.
- Bounced back but fell in NCAA championship game to Denver 1-0 despite 19 saves.
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2004-05:
- Battled mono early in year at Maine, posting 2.27 GAA and .901 SPCT in 16 first-half starts.
- After Christmas, posted 1.58 GAA and .940 SPCT in 20 starts including playoffs.
- Made 36 saves in 2-1 double-overtime loss to Boston College in Hockey East semifinals.
- Made 37 saves in 1-0 overtime loss to Minnesota in opening round of NCAA tournament.
- Finished seventh in country with 1.92 GAA and .924 save percentage, and second with six shutouts.
- Signed three-year contract with the Red Wings in the off-season.
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2005-06:
- Started season in NHL with injuries to Chris Osgood and Manny Legace (four starts, 2.99 GAA).
- Demoted to Grand Rapids, splitting time with veteran Joey MacDonald.
- Took over No. 1 job in March after Joey MacDonald suffered season-ending back injury.
- Posted 12-game winning streak in March and won 15 of 16 games during remarkable stretch.
- Finished fourth in AHL in wins (27) and ninth in goals-against avarage (2.58).
- Briefly called up to Detroit during NHL playoffs after injury to Chris Osgood, serving as backup.
- Numbers dipped in AHL playoffs (3.46 GAA, .885 SPCT).
- Pulled after allowing four goals on 23 shots in Game 7 of AHL quarterfinals, an eventual win.
- Stopped 86 of 96 shots as Grand Rapids lost 4-0 in AHL semifinals to Milwaukee.
- Rated NHL's 47th-best prospect in The Hockey News Future Watch.
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2006-07:
- Struggled in first half of season (11-12-1, 3.00 GAA, .899 SPCT) up until end of December.
- Missed five weeks with ankle injury in January and early February.
- Returned and played strong hockey (9-9-2, 2.46 GAA, .921 SPCT) to help Griffins make playoffs.
- Posted four shutouts in nine starts from Dec. 31 to March 9.
- Grand Rapids went 37-32-6-5, grabbing Western Conference's eighth and final playoff spot.
- Overall numbers (2.70 GAA, .911 SPCT) compared to rookie totals, despite on much weaker team.
- Compiled a franchise record six shutouts (tied for second in AHL).
- Shootout success rate of 69 percent (27 saves on 39 shots) put him seventh in AHL.
- Started every minute in first-round, seven-game playoff loss to Manitoba (1.93 GAA, .927 SPCT).
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2007-08:
- Came to Red Wings' training camp more than 10 pounds lighter and in the best shape of his career.
- Appeared in five NHL pre-season games before assignment to Grand Rapids (AHL).
- Endured slow start but was AHL's goaltender of the month in December (1.72 GAA, .939 SPCT).
- Earned four-game NHL call-up in February (2.13 GAA, .926 SPCT) after playing in AHL All-Star Game.
- Struggled down stretch after returning to Grand Rapids, winning just four of his final 15 starts.
- Finished with 21-28-0-2 record, two shutouts, 2.83 GAA and .907 SPCT.
- Didn't crack top 20 in any AHL statistical category, but non-playoff team (31-41-2-6) didn't help.
- Called up to Detroit to serve as Black Ace (spare who doesn't play) during NHL playoffs.
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2008-09:
- Led Red Wings in goals-against average (1.20) and save percentage (.947) in NHL pre-season.
- Suffered broken fingertip in pre-season and missed more than a week.
- Lost out to Ty Conklin for backup job to Chris Osgood and was sent to Grand Rapids (AHL).
- Went 21-18-4 in Grand Rapids while splitting regular-season time with Daniel Larsson.
- Finished 19th in AHL in GAA (2.54), T13th in Sv% (.916), T18th in wins (21) and T7th in shutouts (4).
- Called up to Detroit for one game, allowing four goals on 28 shots in a loss to Minnesota.
- Started every playoff game as Grand Rapids lost in AHL second round (4-6, 2.41 GAA, .900 Sv%).
- Called up to Detroit to serve as third-string goaltender for NHL playoff run.
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