Game Review: Toronto Marlies 3 vs. Binghamton Senators 2

If ever there was a game where the scoreline failed to tell the true story, it was this one.

The Toronto Marlies dominated their Binghamton hosts throughout much of the game, and were worthy of victory by a far bigger margin.

The Marlies tested rookie goaltender Matt O’Connor early as he did well to hang on to a blast from Scott Harrington.

Opportunities were few and far between, however. Binghamton clogged up the neutral zone as much as possible, trying to deny the visitors the chance to generate much in the way of speed.

William Nylander was frustrated as his weak backhand effort from a decent position was easily stopped by O’Connor.

There were just three shots credited to Toronto at the midway point of the first period, and the first powerplay ended without an effort on target, although a glorious chance did go begging. Carrick, crossing the blueline with speed, seemed to have O’Connor beat as he went across the goaltender, but he failed to hit the net with the backhand effort.

The best shift of the opening period saw deadlock finally broken with just over three minutes to play. Moving the puck with speed from their own zone, Nylander came close on a rebound effort from Richard Panik. The loose puck fell to the boards and should have been cleared, but Nylander did not give up on the play and gratefully received possession from Eric O’Dell before finding Leivo in front. Turning and firing in one movement, Leivo’s powerful shot had just enough juice to force its way past O’Connor.

Clune came close to doubling the score with a nice wrist shot using a B-Sens defenseman as a screen, but Toronto took just a one-goal lead into the middle frame.

Some sloppy play from the Marlies in their own end gave cause for concern in the early going.

Kyle Flanagan was the beneficiary in front, but Antoine Bibeau stonewalled the left-handed forward’s backhand attempt.

Toronto responded with a rush from Ryan Rupert, but O’Connor followed in Bibeau’s footsteps with a fine save.

Before the game slipped away from them in the second period, Binghamton were gifted another great chance to level the game.

Ryan Dzingel and Max McCormick were on the odd-man rush with just Rinat Valiev for company. The rookie defenseman did well to deny the passing lane to Dzingel, and Bibeau did the rest as he turned aside the effort with a flash of his glove.

Ryan Rupert was flying around the ice in this game, desperate to make an impression after his recall. His line with Clune and Rodewald were dominant just before the Marlies scored their second on a tired-looking group of Binghamton players.

Harrington slid the puck across the blue line into the wheelhouse of T.J Brennan, who released his trademark shot. The resulting rebound dropped to the left of O’Connor, and Mark Arcobello showed determination to get to the puck first before showing class to fire top shelf to double the Marlies lead.

There could and should have been more goals in the second period, but wasted good positions and powerplays meant just one more was added to the score line. Zach Hyman was allowed to drift in alone from the right side, and although his initial effort hit teammate Clune in front, the rebound fell kindly for Hyman to put home into an empty cage.

A late shot from Buddy Robinson made sure Bibeau was alert as the buzzer sounded. That was just the 12th shot the Toronto goalie had faced by that point.

The Marlies powerplay was totally ineffective and wasted another opportunity early in the third period.

The penalty kill then had to go to work on two straight occasions. One diving stop to his right from Bibeau was all that was needed to keep the Senators off the board, however.
Despite a lot of possession, Toronto weren’t creating much in the way of quality scoring chances in the period, outside of one sharp wrist shot from Leivo that tested O’Connor.

As the period wound down, inevitably Binghamton became more physical. Clune did a good job to take down noted enforcer Zack Storotini, meaning neither would return for the duration of the game.

Antoine Bibeau was robbed of his shutout bid with just over a minute left in regulation.

Brendan Leipsic was guilty of coughing up the puck, and the resultant play ended with Robinson somehow missing a yawning cage. The puck was kept alive, however, and McCormick scored with a tonne of traffic in front of Bibeau.

The home team pulled their netminder as they sniffed an unlikely comeback. After Leivo missed the empty net with a long-range effort, a second goal was quick in coming. Winning the resulting offensive zone faceoff, Mike Kostka wasted no chance in firing a wicked shot that was tipped home by Cole Schneider for his tenth of the season.

Toronto were able to hold on for the final twelve seconds to ensure their 13th road victory of the season.

Post Game Notes

– Josh Leivo’s goal was his 100th point as a member of the Toronto Marlies — attained in his 140th game. 42 of those points are goals.

– Mark Arcobello registered his tenth goal of the season, his third tally in five games.

– William Nylander recorded his 20th assist of the season on Leivo’s goal, taking his points tally to 34.

– The energy, drive and commitment the fourth line showed tonight meant they were very noticeable every time they hit the ice. Seven shots on net were registered by that line, with Rodewald contributing four of those.

– With a shortage of healthy bodies right now, Clune-R.Rupert-Rodewald could be a combination that sticks together for a while.

Game Highlights

Marlies Player Stats – Marlies 3 vs. Senators 2