It’s another three-in-three weekend for the Toronto Marlies — one that will feature the unlikely combination of Star Wars and Teddy Bears.
There are two main talking points for the Marlies this weekend.
After riding a hot offense that has rescued them from a few tricky situations this season, it’s time for the team to step up, play a sixty minute game, and be the force at even strength we know they can be.
If last weekend’s two heavy beatings by divisional rivals St John’s failed to focus the mind during practise this week, nothing else will.
If you had predicted in the summer that Jonathan Bernier would be playing for the Marlies come December, albeit on a conditioning stint, you may have been accused of indulging in a beverage or two.
According to Leafs management, Bernier will play two of three games this weekend, which will begin on the road in Rochester.
Toronto at Rochester — Friday, Dec. 4, 7:05 pm EST
It’s Star Wars night in Rochester and the force has been strong with the Marlies when facing the Amerks this season. Toronto have won all three encounters by respective scorelines of 8-2, 1-0 and 5-1. Rochester continue to struggle keeping the puck of their own net, allowing the second most goals against (74) in the AHL.
They have, however, found some recent form, beating Syracuse in overtime and St. John’s in the shootout before a 6-5 road victory in Binghamton.
On home ice, Rochester are unbeaten when facing any team barring Toronto and no doubt will be motivated to turn that statistic around.
Centreman Cal O’Reilly leads the Amerks offense and is on a five game point streak. Phil Varone continues to be the teams top goal-scorer (8) while RW Jason Akeson is coming off a three-point game in Binghamton. Andrey Makarov was outstanding in the 1-0 game between these two teams last month and it’s expected he will receive the start over Nathan Lieuwen.
Manitoba at Toronto — Saturday, Dec. 5, 5:00 pm EST & Sunday, Dec. 6, 3:00 pm EST (ACC)
Saturday will see the Marlies host their own Star Wars night at Ricoh Coliseum, as Manitoba visit Toronto for a pair of games. Sunday’s game will be hosted at the ACC and will feature the annual teddy bear toss, taking place as usual after the home team opens the scoring.
These two teams first met on the opening weekend of the season, with Toronto taking a 5-3 win on Friday evening and then grabbing the extra point in a shootout victory the day after.
The Moose have not been pulling up any trees this season as they only opened their win column on the seventh attempt. With an overall record of 5-12-1-1 for Winnipeg’s affiliate, their issues are evident. They are the league’s lowest scorers with just 34 goals. They fair better on the road, averaging exactly two goals per game, but on the flip side they allow over three against.
Special teams are also their nemesis — their penalty kill among the league’s worst, allowing 16 goals while the powerplay is converting at under 10%.
Just three Manitoba players have hit double figures in points.
JC Lipon (13) is riding a five game point streak, while rookie centre man Chase De Leo (11) has eight points in his last ten games. Brendan Kichton (11) is the last of the three — not surprising as he led all AHL rookie defensemen in scoring last season.
With goaltender Connor Hellebuyck up with the Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba will be relying on rookie Eric Comrie and Jussi Olkinuora, who has been recalled from the Tulsa Oilers.
The Moose will be waiting for the Marlies, not having a game themselves this Friday.
They are travelling from Chicago, where they were unceremoniously thumped 8-2 on Wednesday evening despite outshooting the home team 37-28.
These are three games that look very winnable for the Toronto Marlies, but hockey rarely works that way, as we found out last weekend. If Toronto is able to play to the level we know they are capable of, both these teams will find it hard to live with.
