Toronto Marlies (0-1) at Albany Devils (1-0):
Game 2, Eastern Conference Semifinal Best of Seven Series
Puck drop: 7:30 p.m. EST | Watch: Rogers TV | Listen: TSN1050
The Toronto Marlies look to bounce back after a close 2-1 loss to the Albany Devils in Game One of Round Two.
Very good news for the Marlies: William Nylander draws back in after sitting out ill, as well as Nikita Soshnikov, who is nursing an undisclosed injury. Antoine Bibeau takes the start in goal.
More good news for the Marlies: The Albany Devils are banged up in the middle. Centers Pavel Zacha and Jim O’Brien are not expected to play tonight.
Albany, perhaps the best defensive squad in the AHL, maintained a New Jersey Devils-themed neutral zone and were disrupting the Marlies‘ attempts to play with their usual speed and tempo in game one. Keys to breaking a neutral zone trap: maintain strict discipline and avoid stretching passes out if they are getting frustrated with a lack of passing or skating lanes available; keep passes short, and be patient for your chances in transition; activate the defence as much as possible to create chaos in neutral zone coverage for Albany. From there, the Marlies should be able to let their offensive creativity take over after gaining the offensive zone.
This is a great early test for the Marlies, as they’ve run into a disciplined team that will give them fits if they start getting impatient. Learning how to win a defensive chess match should provide some valuable teachable moments for a young team.
Adam Proteau writes:
Game 2. Rookie winger Blake Pietila is believed to be making the shift to centre…Albany has killed off all 17 penalties they’ve been assessed in the 2016 post-season, including three Marlies man advantages Wednesday. They also have two shorthanded goals…Goalie Scott Wedgewood improved his individual numbers after the Game 1 win and now has a 1.75 goals-against average and .933 save percentage in five playoff games this spring.
Toronto Marlies Projected Lineup
The lines are projected; official combinations will be updated before game time
Forwards
Leivo – Arcobello – Brown
Kapanen – Nylander – B.Smith
Leipsic – S.Carrick – Hyman
Clune – Gauthier – Soshnikov
Defence
Rinat Valiev – Connor Carrick
Viktor Loov – Stuart Percy
TJ Brennan – Justin Holl
Goal
Antoine Bibeau
