Leighton reflects on 98-save game
Goaltender Michael Leighton is slated to be Cam Ward’s backup this season, but he will be hard-pressed to match his performance for the Albany River Rats in the AHL playoffs last season.
His 98 saves, in a 3-2 five-overtime loss to Philadelphia, was believed to be a league record.
“It was disappointing we lost the game but looking back, it’s pretty exciting to be a part of something like that,” Leighton said. “It might be a long time before it ever happens again. I kept the stick and I’m in the process of getting one of the game sheets from the AHL to put on my wall.
“It’s probably something that will never happen to me again: 98 saves.”
Sixty of the saves came in the five OTs before Ryan Potulny’s goal won it for the Phantoms, who got 65 saves from goalie Scott Munroe.
“The game just kept going and going,” Leighton said. “We both got in a groove, like nothing was going to go past us. Guys got tired and the game slowed down.
“It was a good shot (by Potulny). It was kind of a bad-luck play. Our (defenseman) poked it away from their guy and it went right on someone else’s stick. He snapped a tough shot real quick.”
And how about this: Leighton wasn’t the game’s first star. Potulny was. Leighton? Second star.
About the blogger
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is in his second season as the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at chip.alexander@newsobserver.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @ice_chip.
Comments
Leighton
Sat, 09/20/2008 - 12:09 — esteban1949even though Mikey is the " back up"...there have been times and games when he was up here...that his numbers looked better than Cam's figures and stats were...as long as Mikey is happy...and yes...98 saves...and second star !! Horse Hockey!!!!!...he got ripped ! Go Canes !!