Marlies kick off 3-game weekend in Hamilton

by Maple Leafs Hot Stove on October 19, 2012 in Toronto Marlies - 900 Comments

Photo: Marlies.ca

Let’s move on from the depressing CBA talk to the Marlies, whose league isn’t locked out and who play three games in three nights this weekend against Hamilton (B2B) and Grand Rapids. Unfortunately tonight’s game hasn’t been picked up by any of Leafs TV, Sportsnet or TSN Radio, but you can buy a stream to the game over at AHL live for $7, listen in on am820 Hamilton starting at 7:30 p.m., or there’s always the option of following along on Twitter. Sportsnet One is showing tomorrow’s game, Leafs TV has Sunday’s and both will be broadcast on TSN Radio.

We got some good news today on the Matt Frattin front. According to Jon Abbott, he skated in full gear this morning at the Ricoh before the team departed for Hamilton for their first of 12 meetings with the Bulldogs.

Dallas Eakins will go with the same 12 forwards but has four new line combinations up front for tonight’s game after his team was shut out last Sunday against Lake Erie. Hamilton and Zigomanis will flank Aucoin while Kadri shifts onto a line with Colborne and Komarov.

Lines (Clayton Hansler):

FOWARDS

Hamilton – Aucoin – Zigomanis
Kadri – Colborne – Komarov
Ashton – McKegg – Scott
D’Amigo – Acton – Deschamps

DEFENCE (Game Time Decision)

Gardiner – Kostka
Fraser – Holzer
Gysbers – Yeo
Blacker

That line of Kadri, Colborne and Komarov has my interest, as I’m sure it does yours for obvious reasons.

Ben Scrivens will start in net tonight. Dallas Eakins has hinted all three of Scrivens, Jussi Rynnas and Mark Owuya will see action in the Marlies’ first of five back-to-back-to-back weekends.

The Marlies beat the Bulldogs by a combined score of 5-1 in two preseason games earlier this month. Here are a few other matchup details courtesy of  Clayton Hansler (his full preview here):

• Greg Scott scored six goals against the Bulldogs last season, plus the game winner during the preseason
• Toronto’s power play operated at a 20.9% efficiency against Hamilton last season
• Ben Scrivens notched a 6-3 record against the Bulldogs with a goals against average of 2.0 last season
• Toronto has yet to register an even-strength goal, having scored all three on the powerplay so far

Print article