It's been a rough season so far for the last-place Phantoms, but considering the team has endured two 10-game losing streaks, is currently on its third coach of the season and has one of the youngest rosters in the AHL, every win matters and even the smallest accomplishments are noteworthy.

Since head coach Joe Paterson took control on Dec. 20, the Phantoms are 8-5-0-3, an astonishing turnaround from the season's opening months in which wins were few and far between.

In an article in Friday's paper, Paul Post of The Saratogian previews the weekend ahead for Adirondack:

A week from tomorrow the Phantoms could wake up in unfamiliar territory — out of last place.

They’ll take a big step toward that goal this weekend, starting tonight (7:30) at home against Charlotte followed by a Saturday road game at Syracuse – the team directly ahead of them in the AHL’s East Division standings.

Exiting the cellar might not seem like a noteworthy achievement, but considering where the Phantoms came from, it’s huge.

“We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves,” coach Joe Paterson said.

Click here to read Paul Post's article in its entirety