11/3: Marlies This Week

by Alec Brownscombe on November 3, 2011 in Toronto Marlies - 47 Comments

Photo: Graig Abel/Getty Images

Photo: Graig Abel/Getty Images

Toronto is in Texas tonight as Matt Frattin makes his Marlies debut in Joey Crabb’s place on the top line alongside Joe Colborne and Jerry D’Amigo. Here’s your weekly release from the Marlies:

“The Marlies went 1-2-0-0 in their three games last week. Toronto shutout the Abbotsford Heat, 5-0 on Wednesday night at Ricoh Coliseum. Joe Colborne scored two goals and added an assist; while Joey Crabb also recorded a three-point night with a goal and two assists. Ben Scrivens made 23 saves for his first shutout of the season. Greg Scott’s first goal of the season in the first period held up to be the game winner.

On Friday night in Cleveland, the Marlies lost a 2-1 decision to the Lake Erie Monsters. Colborne scored the game’s opening goal, but the Monsters replied with two unanswered tallies. Jussi Rynnas made 31 saves on 33 shots in the loss.

On Sunday afternoon, the Marlies dropped their second straight game to the Monsters, 4-0. Lake Erie scored twice on the power play and Cedrick Desjardins made 29 saves in his first start with the Monsters.

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Notes:

- The Marlies currently rank first in the North Division with a record of 5-3-1-0 for 11 points. Toronto has dropped their first two games on their nine-game road trip. The Marlies next four games are all against West Division opponents.

- Joe Colborne ranks tied for first in the AHL in points with 16 and is second (tie) in goals (eight). Colborne’s plus-8 rating ranks third in the AHL and first on the Marlies. He had his eight-game point streak snapped on Sunday in the club’s 4-0 shutout loss versus Lake Erie.

- Joey Crabb collected three points last week and ranks second on the Marlies with 15 this season. After being named Reebok/AHL Player of the Week, Crabb followed it up with a three-point night against Abbotsford on Wednesday evening.

- The Marlies penalty killing unit ranks third (tie) overall in the AHL with a 87.2% success rate. Toronto has only allowed power play goals in two of their first nine games so far this season.

- Mike Zigomanis has recorded seven points (one goal, six assists) over his past six games. He ranks third on the club in points and is tied for first in assists.

- Greg Scott scored his first goal of the season on Wednesday night in the team’s 5-0 win over Abbotsford. Scott’s goal, which came on the power play, held up to be the game-winner.

- Nazem Kadri was re-assigned to the Marlies last week and skated in his first two games with the Marlies over the weekend against Lake Erie. Joey Crabb has been recalled to the Maple Leafs (scoring in his first game of the season), and Matt Frattin will join the Marlies in his place.

- Jesse Blacker leads all Marlie rookies with four points.

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Upcoming Opponents:

The Marlies travel to Austin, TX on Thursday night to take on the Texas Stars at Cedar Park Center. It will be the first of two meetings between the two clubs. The Stars rank fourth in their division with a 4-5-0-0 record, but own the league’s top power play unit (37.0%). 17 of the Stars’ 34 goals so far this season have come while on the man-advantage.

On Saturday night, the Marlies take on the San Antonio Rampage at AT&T Center. The Rampage rank last in their division and have also lost their last four games. They’ve only scored 17 times in their first 8 games, ranking last in the league.

Toronto travels to Houston on Sunday to face-off against the West Divison’s top team, the Aeros. Houston is unbeaten in regulation time over their past six games; however they are 0-for-3 in games decided in the shootout.

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