Marlies one win away from exorcising Devils
Toronto’s forwards finally finding groove offensively, Game 6 Saturday at Ricoh
Early in the Calder Cup playoffs, a great deal was made about how the Toronto Marlies were getting offence from defence.
But it’s offence from the guys who are supposed to score — the forwards — the Marlies were known for.
It took some time, but most of those guys — Connor Brown, Brendan Leipsic, Josh Leivo, Nikita Soshnikov, Kasperi Kapanen — finally have broken free offensively.
And because of it, the Marlies are up 3-2 in their best-of-seven series with the Albany Devils. Toronto can clinch their second-round series with a victory Saturday at Ricoh Coliseum.
“We’re getting better as the series goes on,” said Brown, who has a goal in each of his last two games. “We have to keep that pedal down, we can’t get complacent.”
Brown has five goals, the only forward tied with defencemen Connor Carrick and T.J. Brennan for the team lead. Soshnikov is next with four, thanks to two two-goal games in Albany.
One forward continuing to struggle though is William Nylander, who has five points in seven games and leads the team in penalty minutes with 21. He was fighting an ailment early and typically is targeted by Albany’s top defenders.
The Marlies’ strength this season has been the team’s ability to score. So when scoring from the forwards went quiet, it was puzzling.
“When you’re playing in a tough series every goal is so big, you’re waiting for guys to loosen up on their sticks and finish their chances,” said coach Sheldon Keefe. “It’s nice to see a lot of forwards contributing. All these guys are on the board for us. That’s really big for us.”
The 294 goals amassed in the regular season was a league high, 19 better than second-place Texas and 82 better than the Devils.
“Scoring is something we’re good at,” said Brown. “We got to the net a bit more, our power play started to click. When you play with confidence, you play better. I don’t think anyone lacked confidence. We just seem to be all getting our goals at the same time. We just have to stick with the process. Can’t get frustrated, can’t cheat for offence, it’s going to come. We were patient.”
The Marlies had an optional practice Friday, about a dozen players on the ice as the players lick their wounds from what has been a gruelling post-season.
Winger Andreas Johnson remains out with a concussion. Winger Matt Frattin is back practising with the team and could be available this weekend. Defenceman Andrew Campbell skated on his own but won’t make it back this series.
“We’re carrying a lot of guys,” said Keefe. “You fully expect you’re going to need them. Every body is going to get in at one point or another, whether you just want to change the look, or injuries and you’re forced to. We’ve had a little bit of both.”
Garret Sparks was the only goalie to take the optional skate. Keefe has settled on Antoine Bibeau as his starter; Bibeau has started six of Toronto’s eight games, including the last three in a row on the road.
“He’s got a lot of swagger in the net,” said Keefe. “At the start of games, we’ve given up some real dangerous chances against and he’s stood tall for us. He’s really taken this opportunity and run with it.”