Rested Brown leading Marlies’ playoff charge

Sophomore forward on a roll after missing two months with a broken ankle

When the Toronto Marlies were on their heels early in Games 1 and 2 in Bridgeport, it was Connor Brown who came through, finding that little bit extra to calm everybody down.

His offence — he scored three times in those two games — is a big reason the Marlies are now up 2-0 in their best-of-five Calder Cup series against Bridgeport, with a chance to sweep the Sound Tigers at the Ricoh Coliseum on Thursday.

“If the first couple of games of the playoffs are any indication, he’s showing he has another level in his game,” Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe said of Brown. “That’s good to see.”

While Brown comes by his offence honestly, he may well have a bit more in the tank at this late juncture of the hockey season than many others around him.

Brown broke an ankle blocking a shot Nov. 1 and missed more than two months of action.

“When he got injured, it was a big loss for us,” said Keefe. “You feel bad for Connor, because you know how hard he worked. He worked hard in the summer, had a terrific training camp with the Maple Leafs.” The time lost meant Brown wouldn’t be able to equal his rookie season, when he played himself up the Maple Leafs depth chart with 61 points in 76 games. Still, 29 points in 34 games — as well as six points with

“If the first couple of games of the playoffs are any indication, he’s showing he has another level in his game.” MARLIES COACH SHELDON KEEFE ON FORWARD CONNOR BROWN

seven games as Leaf — was a fairly impressive sophomore year.

But all that time lost to injury? Well, that kind of forced rest could well be the silver lining to that dark cloud.

“If there was anyone that could use a bit of a breather because of how much he put into the summer, it’s someone like Connor,” said Keefe. “At the same time, if there is anyone who is going to push to come back hard and with a vengeance and want- ing to make up for lost time, it would be Brown.”

Having travelled back from Bridgeport on the weekend, the Marlies took Sunday and Monday off. A nearcapacity crowd is expected at the 8,000-seat Ricoh Coliseum with the Marlies thinking sweep.

“Clearly, you want to win,” said Keefe. “You don’t want to give teams life. You don’t want to give them an opportunity to get off the mat. We’ve got them in a tough spot and we feel good where we are. You’ve got to get it done.

“It’s a big part of being a successful team in the playoffs. You have to be able to have a killer instinct to finish a team’s season. It’s a hard thing to do. Hockey players are proud people. When you’ve got them down, you have to take advantage of it.”