Michael Leighton may take local ice with Phantoms for two rehab starts

by Travis Hughes on Nov 29, 2010 8:19 PM EST in Philadelphia Flyers News

It looks like Michael Leighton will take the ice at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall this Sunday.

Michael Leighton is preparing to head to the Phantoms this weekend for a few rehab starts, but he won't have to make the long, dreary ride to upstate New York until at least next week. According to Tim McManus of the Glens Falls Post-Star, it appears as though Leighton will be joining the team for their games in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Atlantic City this weekend.

Here's Tim:

The Phantoms loaned goalie Brian Stewart back to Greenville on Tuesday after he served as the backup to Nic Riopel for one game. Since we know Johan Backlund is out for a few weeks, you can read between the lines and assume this means Michael Leighton’s arrival is imminent.

I expected Leighton to make a rehab start or two with the Phantoms next weekend, but I didn’t know if he’d practice with the Phantoms this week or stay in Philly.

No matter where you are in the Delaware Valley, you're likely within an hour or 90 minutes of seeing the Phantoms and Leighton this weekend. They suck pretty badly, but it might be a great chance to go on a mini road trip and see some hockey. Maybe Leights can steal the Phantoms a win or two. Who knows?

Tickets are on sale for the Atlantic City game, and if you're a Jersey-based Flyers fan, it is certainly in your interest to get down to Boardwalk Hall on Sunday and make your voice heard. As we reported back in August, the Devils are looking to extend their reach into the Flyers home territory, and hosting an Albany Devils game or four in Atlantic City is the perfect way to begin doing that.

Ultimately, one of their farm teams could call AC home, which would be a great way for them to get involved in the Southern New Jersey hockey community. That could begin the tide of turning this place from orange and black to the Seventh Circle of Hell (I mean red), and that's not what any of us want to see.

If you live in Atlantic, Ocean or Cape May counties in particular, as I do, and you want this place to stay as Flyer orange as possible, buy some affordable tickets and get loud on Sunday. (Sure, the money goes to the Devils, but how embarrassing would it be if their team played in front of a giant orange crowd?)

It's a home game for the Devils, but we can make the boys from Adirondack feel like they're home instead.

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I’m gona start this a little OT then go into my thoughts on this: Did they stop doing the moustache thing? I noticed some of them shaved and they stopped doing the updates on the website thing after the first week. on topic now:

How come there aren’t any interviews with Leighton? It’s kinda like he fell off the radar after he got hurt, with Bobs and all. Is he going to be starter? Backup? Boosh’s back up? Honestly, I’m not expecting him to be good. He isn’t a starter, he is a very very good backup who got hot at the right time.

DCCGDP 13,28,36

by Cillo stache on Nov 29, 2010 9:02 PM EST reply actions

Most injured players don’t speak with the media.

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by Travis Hughes on Nov 29, 2010 9:07 PM EST up reply actions

Take it easy on the dreary comments, eh? Anyway this is disappointing to say the least, I missed Ray Emery last year…I was hoping to see Leighton.

by ryan1 on Nov 29, 2010 9:04 PM EST reply actions

Not saying Glens Falls is dreary… but that ride blows.

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Broad Street Hockey - SBN's Philadelphia Flyers blog. 2010 Eastern Conference Champions.

by Travis Hughes on Nov 29, 2010 9:07 PM EST up reply actions

It’s not that bad, in my opinion, since it’s a straight shot. It may not be an exciting 5-5.5 hour drive, but it’s an extremely easy drive. It’s certainly better than the hours of flying that the Sharks, Kings, and Ducks have to deal with.

by DragonGirl0583 on Nov 30, 2010 8:49 AM EST up reply actions

I’m a write a hair metal song called “5-5.5-Hour Drive” and then Sammy Hagar can sue me for ripping off “I Can’t Drive 55.”

I’ll be poor and famous! And Sammy Hagar will still be in Chickenfoot.

Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?

by mikefive on Nov 30, 2010 10:30 AM EST up reply actions

Haha, there you go.

by DragonGirl0583 on Nov 30, 2010 11:24 AM EST up reply actions

Not too worried about the Devils trying to extend their reach into the Flyers territory. They don’t have any fans in North Jersey so I don’t see how they are going to make any ripples in South Jersey.

Formerly known as "flyrsfrk05"
@Mitchman88 on Twitter

by Mitchell Green on Nov 29, 2010 9:19 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

It really is pretty silly.

This is how I like to imagine that meeting.

Devils Marketing:
Hey, we know a way to get more fans. Let’s have our minor league team that no one cares about play a few games in Atlantic City to try and turn the Flyers fans. One of the games will even be against their minor league team! They totally suck! Once people see how much they suck, they’ll want nothing to do with the Flyers. Then, they can not watch the Devils on TV since they don’t get the channel that broadcasts our games. Then, they can not hear about the Devils in the news since they only talk about the Flyers down there. BUT, they’ll be able to pay extra to watch us online or get center ice on cable, or they can drive 2-3 hours to see them live. There’s always seats available! Especially the $250 a piece club seats!

Devils Brass: BRILLIANT!

Entire Flyers Organization and Fanbase:
/are you serious faces
/point and laugh

by Asher12 on Nov 30, 2010 9:21 AM EST up reply actions

The Phantoms are 3-21 so I don’t think that the ride’s worth it.

by Phuck The Penguins on Nov 29, 2010 9:22 PM EST reply actions

I’m still planning to go and rock a bright orange jersey. It’s about sending a message to Lou more than anything, for me personally; getting to evaluate Leighton for myself would be a bonus.

by DragonGirl0583 on Nov 30, 2010 8:50 AM EST reply actions