Marlies power past Comets
On Superhero day at Ricoh Coliseum, it was perhaps fitting that five of the six goals were scored on the powerplay.
The visiting Utica Comets will consider themselves hard done by, but will also look back ruefully at a number of missed opportunities.
The road team were quick out of the blocks, with Carter Bancks almost scoring in the first few seconds. Recently re-assigned forward Chris Higgins, playing in his first AHL game since 2005, came close to opening his Comets account with a shot on the turn after a pass from Alex Friesen. On the resulting faceoff, Garret Sparks had to be on his toes to deny defenceman Jon Landry’s one timer.
Totally against the run of play, it was Toronto who opened the scoring. Viktor Loov’s shot weaved its way through traffic, generating a rebound for Rylan Schwartz to put home for his first goal as a Marlie.
The home team was buoyed by their opening goal and began to take a foothold in the game. First it Soshnikov with a pair of chances, the second of which drew a fine save from Cannata.
Frederick Gauthier almost found Frattin heading to the net unattended, but the intended pass was deflected out of Frattin’s reach.
Both teams then exchanged a pair of powerplays, with neither able to take advantage.
Andrew Campbell had to be at his defensive best to break up an odd man rush with a diving play as Utica continued to drive the majority of play at even strength.
The road team found themselves trailing 1-0 after 20 minutes despite a 15-6 on the shot clock. Garret Sparks wasn’t forced into any spectacular saves, but he was efficient in denying Utica second opportunities.
The middle frame signalled the start of the onslaught of powerplay goals.
Kasperi Kapanen used his speed to draw a penalty inside the opening minute. Ten seconds into the man advantage, Mark Arcobello fired up and over the shoulder of Cannata with a perfectly-placed shot.
Brendan Leipsic forced the Utica goaltender into a fine save from his backhand effort shortly afterwards at even strength.
After barely avoiding a three-goal deficit, Utica drew within one on their third powerplay of the game. Leading scorer Hunter Shinkaruk fired into an empty cage after Brendan Gaunce’s shot produced a rebound off of Sparks.
Two powerplays goals in six minutes became three in 11 minutes, as Toronto extended their lead once more. T.J Brennan set it up with a measured wrist shot from the point, resulting in a rebound for Kapanen, who scored on the second attempt.
A late push from Utica, including three shots in the last 30 seconds, failed to reduce the deficit as Toronto led 3-1 after 40 minutes.
For the most part, the final period of regulation was nothing to write home about.
Higgins and Friesen combined a minute in, but Sparks smothered the chance. The game seemed to fizzle out, with neither team able to generate much offensively.
It was expected that the Comets would push back after several tight games between these two teams this season, and that began with seven minutes remaining. Friesen was arguably Utica’s best player and he came close after combining with Shinkaruk for some bright interplay.
Utica should have scored a minute later, but Brandon Marino contrived to miss an empty net after Sparks stopped the initial effort from Landry.
The home crowd feared the worst when the Comets earned another powerplay with five minutes to play. They were right to be concerned; Jordan Subban jumped into the play late, and with time to measure his shot rifled home from the right circle past Sparks.
Kapanen took the game by the scruff of the neck with two minutes left on the clock.
Once again using his speed to good effect down the right wing, he made the correct play to shoot, as his bullet of a shot ricocheted off Cannata’s pads to Zach Hyman driving the net. Looking certain to score, the Marlies forward was unable to apply the finishing touch as he was held by Taylor Fedun.
The resulting powerplay with 1:58 to play saw a backhand shot from Arcobello bring a fine save out of Cannata. It was followed by Frattin surging on an end-to-end rush which deserved better than a shot off the iron.
Utica was forced to leave their net empty with 40 seconds left on the clock in search of the tying goal. It would prove fruitless; thanks to some hard work from Hyman, Nikita Soshnikov was given the easiest of tasks to seal the victory by firing into the vacant cage.
It was far from their best performance, but the Toronto Marlies continue to find ways to win.
Post Game Notes
– For the first time this season, the Marlies tallied three powerplays goals in a single game.
– T.J Brennan’s assist took his points tally to the 40-point mark.
– A third straight multi-point game for Mark Arcobello, who has 15 goals and 20 assists this season.
– Kasperi Kapanen drew one penalty, was responsible for another and put up two points, extending his points streak to four games.
– Garret Sparks made 31 saves for the win and looked far sharper in his second start after injury.
– Casey Bailey was responsible for three of the four penalties, with Utica capitalizing twice. Two tripping calls in the offensive zone and a delay of game will not have impressed the coaching staff.
– The Toronto Marlies signed defenseman David Kolomatis to an AHL contract before Saturday’s game. He’s an AHL veteran with over 300 games of experience.
– These two teams go back at it Sunday afternoon, when Connor Brown is expected to make his return from injury.
Leafs Player Stats — Toronto 4 vs. Utica 2
| PLAYERS | Position | G | A | +/- | SH | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campbell, Andrew | D | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brennan, T.J. | D | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Morin, Jeremy | LW | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Percy, Stuart | D | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hyman, Zach | RW | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Schwartz, Rylan | C | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Leipsic, Brendan | LW | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Rupert, Ryan | C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gauthier, Frederik | C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Martin, James | D | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Arcobello, Mark | C | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Findlay, Brett | LW | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Bailey, Casey | RW | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Frattin, Matt | RW | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Kapanen, Kasperi | RW | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Loov, Viktor | D | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Valiev, Rinat | D | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Soshnikov, Nikita | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
