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.”