1/5: Marlies This Week
Your weekly Marlies release:
“Last Week:
Notes:
- The Marlies are currently (0-0-0-1) on their nine game, 21-day road trip. It began on New Years Eve with a 2-1 shootout loss to the Grand Rapids Griffins.
- Toronto posts a record of 10-6-0-4 away from Ricoh Coliseum so far this season. Their 10 road victories rank seventh (tie) in the AHL. Last season the Marlies finished with an 11-22-3-4 road record.
- The Marlies penalty killing continues to be strong, ranking sixth in the AHL with an 84.8% success rate.
- Christian Hanson has notched goals in three straight games. In 30 games this season, the second year forward has posted 10 goals, which ranks second on the club.
- Marcel Mueller is currently on a four game assist streak.
- Last week the Marlies recalled forwards Robert Slaney and Matt Caruana from the Reading Royals. Slaney skated in his first game of the season last Friday night in Grand Rapids.
- Ben Scrivens made 40 saves in the Marlies 2-1 shootout loss on December 31 and was named the game’s third star. In six games with the Marlies, Scrivens has posted a 2-1-2 with a 2.73 goals against average and a 0.914 save percentage.
- Darryl Boyce recorded his first NHL point and goal last week with the Maple Leafs. On December 30 he posted an assist and the following game against the Ottawa Senators, Boyce scored his first career NHL goal.
- Goaltender James Reimer made his first career NHL start and earned first win with 32 saves on 33 shots on January 1 at Ottawa.
***
Upcoming Opponents:
The Marlies play the Chicago Wolves twice this week at Allstate Arena. The Marlies dropped a 3-2 game to the Wolves in a shootout last week. The two matchups this week will be the final two times the clubs will face each other this season. Toronto is 0-1-0-1 against the Wolves so far this season.The Marlies will open up their new year with a contest against the Wolves on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. EST in one of four games this week as they continue their nine game, 21-day road swing.
Toronto travels to Rockford to take on the IceHogs on Friday night at the MetroCenter. The game will be the first of two meetings between the two teams this season. Rockford ranks last in the West Division with a record of 15-14-1-4 for 35 points. Former Leafs prospect, Chris DiDomenico has recorded one assist in 19 games with the IceHogs.
On Saturday night the Marlies face-off against the Admirals in Milwaukee. The Admirals rank fourth in the West Division, posting a record of 20-11-2-4 for 46 points.
***
North Division Standings:
| Team | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | PTS |
| Hamilton | 36 | 20 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 45 |
| Manitoba | 34 | 19 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 42 |
| Toronto | 37 | 17 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 40 |
| Grand Rapids | 37 | 16 | 16 | 1 | 4 | 37 |
| Lake Erie | 37 | 15 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 37 |
| Abbotsford | 37 | 16 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 36 |
| Rochester | 37 | 16 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 36 |
****
Marlies Points Leaders:
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts |
| Justin Hodgman | 31 | 8 | 13 | 21 |
| Mike Zigomanis | 29 | 5 | 15 | 20 |
| Christian Hanson | 30 | 10 | 9 | 19 |
| x Joey Crabb | 34 | 11 | 7 | 18 |
| Matt Lashoff | 37 | 3 | 15 | 18 |
| x Darryl Boyce | 35 | 6 | 10 | 16 |
| Marcel Mueller | 35 | 10 | 6 | 16 |
***
Reading Report:
The Reading Royals currently rank first in the Atlantic division with a record of 20-9-1. The Royals have won 18 of their past 22 games, and have picked up points in five straight contests. Their 20 wins this season rank third in the entire ECHL. The Royals are back in action on Friday night when they travel to Toledo.”
