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Flyers goalie Michael
Leighton has been assigned to the Adirondack Phantoms
and will join the team this week according to Head
Coach Joe Paterson.
Leighton, 29, is in his ninth NHL season, his third
with the Flyers. He played in four games with the
Phantoms on an NHL conditioning stint from December
4-11 going 1-3-0, 2.78, .906. He recorded his first
win as an Adirondack Phantom and first in the AHL
since 2007-08 in a 5-2 decision at the Syracuse
Crunch on December 10.
He has played one game with the Flyers this year,
a 7-4 victory at the Los Angeles Kings last Thursday,
December 30 in which he made 32 saves on 36 shots.
In order to join the Phantoms, Leighton needed
to clear NHL waivers. Flyers General Manager Paul
Holmgren spoke to Joe Siville of philadelphiaflyers.com
about the decision. "It's something that we've
thought about here over the last few days,"
said Holmgren. "There's really two reasons
for doing this. One, it's in the best interest of
the Flyers at this time, and number two, it's in
the best interest of Michael. We need to get Michael
playing at a higher level, and unfortunately when
you have a goaltender situation like we have, it's
hard to do right now."
"We expect (Brian Boucher and Sergei Bobrovsky)
to continue to play well, and we need to get Michael
playing at the level he can play at. It's unfortunate
that it has to come to this, but I think Michael's
understanding of it."
The native of Petrolia, Ontario signed a two-year
contract extension on June 30, 2010. He underwent
back surgery on October 11, a partial discectomy,
performed by Dr. Alex Vacarro at Methodist Hospital
in Philadelphia.
In the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Leighton made
his NHL postseason debut when he entered in relief
of Brian Boucher in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference
Semifinals vs. Boston. He helped lead the Flyers
to the Stanley Cup Final, recording an 8-3 mark
with a 2.46 GAA and .916 save percentage in 14 games.
During the Eastern Conference Final vs. Montreal,
he set a Flyers franchise record by posting three
shutouts in the series to help the Flyers capture
their first Eastern Conference Championship since
1997.
In the 2009-10 regular season, Leighton compiled
a 16-5-2 record to go along with a 2.48 goals-against
average and .918 save percentage in 27 regular-season
appearances, including one shutout. He was acquired
by the Flyers off waivers from the Carolina Hurricanes
on Dec.15, 2009 and went unbeaten in regulation
in his first 10 starts (Dec. 23, 2009 through Jan.
12, 2010), posting a record of 8-0-1 with a 2.16
GAA and .928 save percentage. Leighton was named
the NHL's 'Second Star' of the week ending Feb.
14 after going 4-0-0 with a 1.98 GAA and .925 save
percentage. He went on to set a new career high
for wins in a season (17).
In 103 NHL games with the Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks,
Nashville Predators, and Carolina Hurricanes over
parts of nine NHL seasons, Leighton has a career
record of 34-40-10-4, a 2.94 GAA, .902 save percentage,
and four shutouts.
Phantoms Upcoming Games:
Wednesday, January 5, 7:00pm - Adirondack Phantoms
at Albany Devils
Friday, January 7, 10:00pm - Adirondack Phantoms
at Abbotsford Heat
Saturday, January 8, 10:00pm - Adirondack Phantoms
at Abbotsford Heat
Friday, January 14, 7:30pm - Hershey Bears at Adirondack
Phantoms
Saturday, January 15, 7:00pm - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Penguins at Adirondack Phantoms
Don't be left out! Tickets for all Phantoms games
are on sale now. Discount rates are available for
groups of 15 or more. Save off the individual ticket
price by asking the Phantoms about their great group
rate packages.
The AHL is celebrating their 75th anniversary season
and is the top development league for the NHL. More
than 85 percent of today's NHL players are American
Hockey League graduates and more than 6 million
fans attend AHL games every year.
Come watch future NHL stars and up-and-coming Flyers
prospects with exciting Adirondack Phantoms hockey!
A variety of ticket packages for all the fast-paced
action are on sale now. The Phantoms selection of
discount ticket packages includes 3-packs, 6-packs,
12 and 22 Select Plans, full season plans and Flex
Packs. Choose the plan that works best for you!
Get your tickets at the Phantoms office inside the
Glens Falls Civic Center, online at ticketmaster.com,
or by calling the Phantoms at 518-480-3355.
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