For the first time since Dec. 30, 2010 against the Los Angeles Kings, the veteran goalie recorded a regular-season NHL win.
The victory came Sunday in Leighton's first appearance this season since being recalled from the AHL by the Carolina Hurricanes.
The 35-year-old found himself in an early 2-0 hole to the Florida Panthers, but settled in and made 31 saves on 33 shots to secure two points for the Hurricanes.
Prior to Sunday, Leighton had played approximately 100 regular-season minutes since that last win over the Kings.
Leighton's most successful run in the NHL was with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2009-10, wherein he helped bring the club to within two wins of a Stanley Cup win.
That's now the Arizona Coyotes' record in the past 25 against the Edmonton Oilers after a 2-1 road win on Sunday, extending a run of team-on-team dominance that knows no equal in today's NHL.
The @ArizonaCoyotes have extended their point streak vs EDM to 25 games (21-0-4), the longest current point streak by one team vs. another. pic.twitter.com/CIqUWVDE4s
The Coyotes have picked up a least a point in every game played against the Oilers since Jan. 11, 2011. On that day, Edmonton won 4-3 in regulation, with Dustin Penner picking up the game-winning goal with 22 second remaining in the third period.
Connor McDavid turned 14 two days later, as a point of historical reference.
The Oilers haven't been a tough beat in recent years, although neither have the Coyotes since the team advanced to the Western Conference Finals in 2012.
This season, however, Edmonton sits first in the Pacific Division while the Coyotes have dropped to eighth, meaning this weekend's home-and-home series was a good chance to break the streak.
Despite amassing a 2-0 lead in Friday's game in Arizona, the Oilers fell 3-2 in a shootout before Sunday's regulation loss.
The next opportunity for the Oilers to break the streak will be Dec. 21 in Arizona.
No more imaginary primates will weigh down Jimmy Hayes for the foreseeable future.
The Boston Bruins forward celebrated accordingly after scoring against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday, collecting his first point of the season in his 20th game.
Hayes ended a 35-game point drought dating back to last season, as first mentioned by NHL.com's Amalie Benjamin. He earned a point for the first time since his goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Feb. 24.
It was a span of about six weeks, but somehow, our planet became a far different place between the time it took Ryan Getzlaf to score his first and second goals of the season.
After notching one in a loss to the New York Islanders on Oct. 16, the Anaheim Ducks captain went 15 games without finding the back of the net before scoring the eventual game-winner Saturday night against the San Jose Sharks.
Here are a handful of significant things that happened between Getzlaf's goals:
Twitter kills Vine
One social media giant decided to dispatch with another in late October when Twitter shocked its user base, announcing plans to discontinue Vine in the coming months.
The decision was bad news for sports fans and meme aficianados alike who relied for so many years on Vine's perfect length to share countless highlights and other viral videos.
Cubs end 108-year championship drought
In case it still hasn't sunk in, yes, it really happened.
The Chicago Cubs won the World Series in the early hours of Nov. 3, earning a dramatic 8-7 victory over the Cleveland Indians in a Game 7 that took 10 innings and a rain delay to complete.
It was the Cubs' first title since 1908.
Donald Trump elected president
Less than a week after the Cubs pulled off the improbable, the unthinkable happened in the U.S. presidential election.
Despite having no previous political experience and losing the popular vote by about two million, Donald Trump was elected president. He defeated Hillary Clinton in the electoral college in a result that stunned most of the mainstream media and pollsters alike, several of whom expected a Clinton landslide victory.
Trump has since back-tracked on his proposed Muslim ban, but even a registry could impact the sports world and its diverse group of athletes, staff members, and executives.
'Gilmore Girls' returns
The show that brought mothers and daughters together for seven years in the early 2000s made its triumphant return last week in a Netflix reboot, amid feverish anticipation on social media among fans of the original series and beyond.
While it may not have the same cultural impact as the rest of the items on this list, the return of the former CW cult classic resonated deeply with people of multiple genders, whether or not they all admit it.
Fidel Castro dies
Castro's death wasn't particularly shocking given his status as a nonagenarian, but it was still a significant development that could affect relations between the U.S. and the Caribbean island nation for years to come.
His health was by all accounts in perpetual decline, so much so that his death had been erroneously reported multiple times over the years.
The former president of Cuba took medical leave in the summer of 2006 and officially vacated the role in 2008. He died Friday at the age of 90.
Boston Bruins defenseman John-Michael Liles was helped off the ice by teammates following a scary headfirst collision into the boards Sunday afternoon.
Liles was inadvertently tripped by the stick of Ben Bishop. He was taken to the dressing room and didn't return for the second period.
We're now more than a quarter of the way through the NHL season, so it's safe to begin looking at some of the award favorites.
Some familiar names are the early bets to capture the hardware, while a couple of new candidates have emerged in their respective races.
Here's who deserves each of the six major individual awards through the opening quarter of the campaign.
Hart Trophy - Carey Price
Gold-Smith: We've seen what the Montreal Canadiens are without their franchise goaltender, and it's not pretty. Now, we're seeing once again just how dominant they can be when Price is healthy and locked in.
The 2015 Hart and Vezina Trophy winner is 13-1-1 with a 1.66 GAA, .946 save percentage, and a pair of shutouts in 15 games. He's helped Montreal post the best record in the league, and both he and the club have made some history in the process.
McDavid is making a strong case, but Price has been the most valuable player to his team early on.
Vezina Trophy - Price
O'Leary: It's hardly a debate. The Vezina belongs to Price again.
While Tuukka Rask and Devan Dubnyk are putting up remarkable seasons of their own, it's impossible to ignore Price's impact in the Canadiens' crease.
It's not as if he isn't getting tested, either, as the Habs are allowing 31.5 shots per game - the sixth-highest mark in the league.
Price's Hart Trophy worthiness is debatable, but he's a lock for the Vezina if he continues to play at this level.
Norris Trophy - Brent Burns
Gold-Smith: The bearded one is tied with Canadiens blue-liner Shea Weber for the league lead among defensemen with eight goals, and he leads the NHL among players at his position with 20 points.
Incredibly, he also leads the league - among all skaters - in shots on goal with 91, five more than Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, who's played one fewer game.
Burns has also generated more shot attempts than he's allowed, with a 52.39 even-strength Corsi For percentage through 22 games according to Corsica.hockey.
Weber and Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson have also been excellent in the early going, but Burns is separating himself from the field.
Calder Trophy - Zach Werenski
O'Leary: This season's race for rookie of the year may be the most intriguing we've ever seen.
Auston Matthews emerging from his drought puts him one point behind rookie leader Patrik Laine, but it's a 2015 draft pick that gets the nod right now.
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski has quietly been sublime in his initial pro campaign, registering five goals and 11 assists while logging 22:15 of ice-time - tops among rookies.
The race is wide open, however, as Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and Matt Murray could easily thrust themselves into contention if they keep up their current paces.
Given Werenski's heavy workload and steady production from the back end, he has a legitimate chance to pull off an upset here.
Selke Trophy - Anze Kopitar
Gold-Smith: This award - given annually to the league's best defensive forward - is always the hardest to predict, by virtue of being a largely subjective honor.
One thing we can say is the NHL has a tendency to reward the same player multiple times, most notably with Bob Gainey (four) and more recently with Patrice Bergeron and Pavel Datsyuk (three apiece).
Kopitar was a deserving recipient last season, and he's once again a major reason the Los Angeles Kings have allowed the fewest shots on goal per game in the NHL.
Jack Adams Award - Joel Quenneville
O'Leary: The Chicago Blackhawks have faced question after question regarding their depth, and they've been hit with a slew of injuries, yet there they are sitting in first place.
Typically, coach of the year is given to whoever emerges out of the basement and into playoff contention, but the way Joel Quenneville has maximized the potential of a depleted lineup earns him the nod a quarter through the season.
Shockingly, three Stanley Cups and a Presidents' Trophy during his tenure in the Windy City hasn't warranted Quenneville - the second-winningest coach of all time - a previous Jack Adams Award, but if Chicago cruises to another playoff berth, he has to be considered.
Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.
Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Sunday, November 27 (games starting prior to 6 p.m. ET are not included; all advanced stats courtesy of Corsica.Hockey):
Triple Threat
C Kevin Hayes (41K), LW J.T. Miller (50K), RW Michael Grabner (32K), Rangers (vs. Senators): The well-rested Rangers and their league-best offense will catch the Sens on their second game in as many nights. There's a chance Ottawa will rest G Craig Anderson, but even if they don't, 35-year-old goalies playing back-to-back nights isn't a recipe for success.
C Sean Monahan (42K), LW Micheal Ferland (25K), RW Troy Brouwer (41K), Flames (at Flyers): Ferland and Brouwer don't have a ton of offensive upside, but their physicality (combined 103 hits) give them high floors. The trio could muster together a couple of goals with G Anthony Stolarz making his NHL debut in net for the Flyers.
C Claude Giroux (62K), LW Michael Raffl (26K), RW Jakub Voracek (70K), Flyers (vs. Flames): If Stolarz struggles in his NHL debut it could make for a high-scoring game considering Brian Elliott (.882 SV%, 3.43 GAA) is projected to be between the pipes for Calgary. Giroux and Voracek can do the heavy lifting, with a chance Raffl lucks in with a phantom assist or garbage goal.
Bargain Plays
D Radko Gudas, Flyers (vs. Flames): Gudas isn't known as an offensive defenseman, but he surprisingly has seven points in 16 games this season. This production won't last but what will hold true is his 68 hits and 45 blocks, giving him an exceptionally high floor in Squad Up with a minimum price tag.
C Travis Konecny (30K), Flyers (vs. Flames): Konecny is enjoying a stellar rookie campaign with 12 points in 22 games. He has great value in Squad Up thanks to his 37 hits and 29 PIMs.
G James Reimer (77K), Panthers (at Hurricanes): Reimer is expected to start in the cage for the Panthers. He has struggled this season which is why his salary is hovering around the minimum. However, he has a .931 SV% and a 2.13 GAA in 12 career games against the Hurricanes.
Top Fades
C Derick Brassard (49K), Senators (at Rangers): Brassard is bound to start producing at a higher level considering his shooting percentage is just 5.3 and he is getting more iSCF60 (individual scoring chances for per 60 minutes) at 5v5 this season compared to last. Yet, don't bank on a turnaround against his former team as long as Henrik Lundqvist is in goal.
D Dougie Hamilton (45K), Flames (at Flyers): In Squad Up you're better off investing in an elite defenseman like Erik Karlsson, who costs only 55K, or settling for someone like Gudas, who has a high floor and a minimum salary. Someone like Hamilton, who has just 10 points in 23 games, doesn't provide much intrigue.
G Craig Anderson (85K), Senators (at Rangers): As mentioned, Anderson is a 35-year-old goalie who will be playing on back-to-back nights if he gets the call. The Rangers lead the league in goals by a wide margin, but they also rank first in PDO (sum of Sh% and SV%), third in xGF (expected goals for) and second in SCF60.
Contrarian Options
C Aleksander Barkov (47K), Panthers (at Hurricanes): Barkov has been a fantasy bust so far this season, so his Squad Up ownership will likely be down Sunday, just like his salary. However, his 5.3 shooting percentage is bound to progress and only three of his 10 assists have been secondary helpers. If Cam Ward starts, it'll be his second game in as many nights.
D Erik Karlsson (55K), Senators (at Rangers): Karlsson will be left almost unowned against the Rangers, but his salary is comparable to a mid-tier forward, despite his top-tier forward-like production. The Rangers play a bit of a run n' gun type game, which is right up Karlsson's alley considering his transition game is second to none.
D Aaron Ekblad (33K), Panthers (at Hurricanes): If you can't afford Karlsson and want a contrarian on the back end, consider Ekblad. He has just five points this year, all coming via goals. The 20-year-old logs over 23 minutes a game and is bound to luck into a few assists here and there. It's strange considering he had 48 assists in his first two seasons.
The organization would not confirm the length of the suspension, nor the reason for it, but Sparks did use violent, sexist language in a Facebook thread earlier in the week.
“(Garret) was sent home for some team-policy reasons when we were on the road trip there (in New York),” Marlies head coach Sheldon Keefe told TSN's Kristen Shilton after Saturday’s win over the Utica Comets.
“I’m familiar with the circumstances, but we’re not going to comment any further from there. Management handled the situation.”
Sparks didn't dress for the Marlies on Friday or Saturday.
The online comments apparently came in a Facebook group created for goaltenders for which Sparks is an administrator, and the 23-year-old lashed out at one of the users for mocking a disabled person.
Keefe didn't have a timetable for when Sparks would be welcomed back, but told Shilton that the netminder's status would be reevaluated in the coming week.
Sparks has been limited to four games for the Marlies this season due to injury. He appeared in 17 contests with the Maple Leafs in 2015-16.
We've all heard the line. It's a statement usually opined by the older generation as it reflects upon the differences of the modern game and hockey's sluggish days of hooking and clutching.
The league is brimming with younger players as teams' nuclei are now filled with not veterans but uber talented teenagers. And with fitness regimes being what they are, the game has never been played with such speed.
Of course, with that, many players are on a whole other level and mystify fans, not necessarily with dazzling moves, but by sheer quickness.
Here are the five fastest skaters in the NHL today:
Connor McDavid
It's his No. 1 asset.
Sure McDavid can shoot the puck, has insane vision and offensive awareness like no other, but what is most obvious about the exceptional talent is his blistering speed.
Load up a highlight reel of McDavid and you are certain to see footage of him sidestepping defenders en route to a breakaway goal.
Just admit it, there is nothing the kid can't do.
Michael Grabner
Grabner for years has been known as a speedster, generating a plethora of breakaway chances because of his foot speed, but usually with little finish which in the past he's been very open about.
However, this season things appear to be going Grabner's way as he is on pace to hit a career-high 44 goals, thanks to 12 goals in his first 22 games.
Whether that pace holds up, who knows, but if his numbers prove anything, it's that his speed continues to give him countless chances.
Dylan Larkin
Winning the fastest skater award at the All-Star Game is surely a good way to get yourself and your wheels noticed.
However, after Larkin broke the NHL record as a rookie last season, it's quite evident that he's more than worthy of a top-five vote.
Larkin shattered the record set by Mike Gartner at the 1996 installment of the skills competition, completing his lap in 13.172 seconds. This is great news for the Detroit Red Wings who could be lacking speed as they currently boast the third-oldest team in the NHL.
Carl Hagelin
Teaming up with Nick Bonino and Phil Kessel last spring, Hagelin helped comprise one of the fastest lines in recent memory. The trio was able to do it all and quickly.
While Hagelin boasts competent offensive talent, what makes him so valuable is he forces his linemates to keep up with him as well as putting defenders at bay with his potential breakaway speed.
Since the 2014-15 season, Hagelin has been flipped from the Rangers to the Ducks to the Penguins. He's been a hot commodity and his speed is precisely why.
Erik Karlsson
Very few defensemen in the league harness the ability to join on an odd-man rush and be the first man back when the play turns around, but Karlsson can.
The Ottawa Senators captain has uncanny offensive abilities, but those equate to more than just good hands and a heavy shot. Karlsson can jump up into plays, can create rushes on his own, and yet never completely takes himself out of the play.
These are all just little things that have helped the 26-year-old capture two Norris Trophies.
