Will the Toronto Marlies finally be able to solve the puzzle that is the St. John’s IceCaps?
This will be the first time the baby buds have travelled to Newfoundland since the infamous 9-8 overtime victory.
The IceCaps have held sway this season, losing just once to the Marlies in regulation while taking nine points from the six games contested thus far.
St. John’s have consistently been the only team to trouble Toronto, but Montreal’s affiliate will not enter this weekend with much confidence. Since defeating Toronto on December 27, the IceCaps own a 1-5-0-1 record, including a season-high four straight defeats at Mile One Centre.
They’ve allowed 17 goals against in those four home defeats, but that doesn’t entirely tell the story. Beaten twice in the past week by Wilkes/Barre-Scranton Penguins, it appears that goaltending might well have been the difference between the two teams. A 2-1 reverse, wherein Matt Murray made 33 saves for WBS, was followed by a crazy 6-4 defeat in which the IceCaps outshot their opponents 40-19.
St. John’s led 2-0 and 4-2, but Zach Fucale was pulled after allowing six goals on 16 shots in just 45 minutes.
Goaltending might be where the Marlies hold the edge as they have in-form Antoine Bibeau in their ranks as well as the returning Garret Sparks. St. John’s may turn to Eddie Pasquale, who has won both his starts against Toronto this season.
The home team will have almost their full roster available, with the biggest absentee being defenseman Mark Barberio. None of their top four points producers, bar Captain Gabriel Dumont, are in the greatest offensive form, but Daniel Carr and Sven Andrighetto are back with the team and both are very dangerous at this level.
Montreal will be assigning new acquisition John Scott to the IceCaps, but he won’t be available Saturday.
Toronto enters this weekend having won six straight games, three of which have been decided by a single goal and one in shootout.
Mark Arcobello was injured in Toronto’s win on Wednesday, but is expected to be fine for Saturday night. Among those who could make a comeback are Rinat Valiev, Scott Harrington, and perhaps even Connor Brown. Sam Carrick is in doubt, Justin Johnson is out long term, and Rich Clune is with the Leafs.
Rob Madore has returned to Orlando, but staying up are forwards Brett Findlay and Jack Rodewald.
One of Toronto’s biggest issues against St. John’s this year has been discipline.
They’ve often let the IceCaps throw them off their game with physical play and St. John’s have made them pay on the powerplay. The Marlies‘ penalty kill is number two overall and first on the road, but the Ice Caps’ powerplay is running at 29% when these two rivals meet.
Toronto has had some powerplay success themselves, though, converting at 20% against St. John’s, which is better than their season average.
As the Marlies have learned, you have to play a full 60 minutes to get anything from the IceCaps. That, allied with discipline and special teams, will be the keys to the pair of games this weekend.
Game Schedule
Saturday, January 16, 6:00 pm EST — Toronto at St. John’s
Sunday, January 17, 2:30 p.m. EST — Toronto at St. John’s
