Seriously, this is the Phantoms new mascot

The Adirondack Phantoms, the Flyers AHL affiliate, have unveiled their new mascot, as pictured above. What it is and how exactly it is supposed to relate to a Phantom is beyond me. From the crooked teeth to the crossed eyes, just what exactly is this thing supposed to represent? This is just further proof that, besides the Phillie Phanatic, mascots suck.

Leighton clears waivers, gets shipped to Phantoms

You have probably seen the last of Michael Leighton in a Flyers uniform. After clearing waivers today, the Flyers have sent Leighton down to the Phantoms, where he will play the remainder of the season unless the Flyers try to put him on re-entry waivers. Since any team can claim him for half the cost if the Flyers put Leighton on re-entry waivers, there is little chance he will be in the Flyers crease ever again.

For a journeyman goaltender like Leighton, he's back in a familiar position of NHL-limbo. He is likely extremely frustrated after he established himself as a starting goaltender in the playoffs last year but he is unfortunately caught up in a numbers game with the Flyers. Hopefully, at some point, Leighton gets another shot at being a starting goaltender in the NHL, just not with the Flyers.

Phantoms to wear jersey honoring the Broad Street Bullies

The Philadelphia Phantoms, in their final season playing across the street from the Flyers, are honoring their NHL club by wearing a special jersey commemorating the best Flyers teams ever. As we all know, the Flyers won two Stanley Cup in the 70's with a team nicknamed the Broad Street Bullies for the way they beat teams down while they beat them on the scoreboard. The Phantoms will wear a jersey that features an orange and black color scheme along with the name "Broad Street Bullies" across the front for a home game on February 20th. These aren't throwback jerseys, they are jerseys specifically designed for this event.

The idea sounds cool, but I'm not too crazy about the jersey design. The horizontal black and white stripes remind me too much of a prison uniform. It's also interesting they chose to feature Claude Giroux's jersey on the website considering he won't be playing for the Phantoms any time soon. At least it isn't as ugly as the throwback uni's the Canadiens wore a few weeks back:

Flyers lose to Phantoms in final Spectrum game. Wait, what?!?

The home team Philadelphia hockey club won at the Spectrum in tonight's contest. Unfortunately, the home team in the Spectrum is the Philadelphia Phantoms, which means the Philadelphia Flyers lost their final game at the Spectrum to their minor league affiliate. The Phantoms beat the Flyers 4-2 in a game that can be more described as an exhibition than an actual contest.

Exhibition or not, the Flyers should be embarrassed to lose a game to a bunch of minor league veterans and rookies. And, hockey's not like other sports where the back-ups play most of the game. The Flyers back-ups all play for the Phantoms, so the starters got beat by the back-ups.

The most interesting thing about the game was Antero Niitymaki making his return to the ice and playing for the Phantoms. Niity played the whole game and stopped 28 of 30 shots. Martin Biron played 2 periods for the Flyers and stopped 21 of 22 shots while J.S. Aubin played the 3rd period and let in 2 goals. Perhaps this means Nittymaki is already set to return and Aubin can be sent down, or sent away.

Not a great way to end the preseason. Let's chalk it up to the young guys being hungrier and wanting it more and move on to the regular season.

Click here for the game scoresheet.