The Toronto Marlies winning streak was brought to a halt on the road Saturday night in Syracuse.
Although fielding yet another altered lineup, this was a game the baby buds controlled in spells and really should have won in regulation.
The visitors got off to the perfect start just 33 seconds in. Colin Smith was the architect from behind the Syracuse net, with Shane Conacher on hand in front to bang home past Kristers Gudlevskis.
Jordan Hickmott then had an opportunity to make it 2-0 for the Marlies, but Gudlevskis denied the rookie on a breakaway.
Syracuse led after 20 minutes despite the Marlies‘ good start, benefiting from some sloppy play from Toronto. Taylor Doherty was the guilty party on the tying goal as he turned the puck over in front and Jeff Tambellini slid it home.
Toronto’s first powerplay of the game almost resulted in yet another shorthanded goal against this season, but Tambellini’s stinging shot found the iron as the Marlies caught a break. An exciting rush from Rinat Valiev then brought a fine glove save from Gudlevskis as the pace and intensity of the game ramped up.
It felt like a matter of time before a physical altercation broke out, and it came courtesy of Taylor Doherty and Luke Witkowski. The pair dropped the gloves, with Doherty landing the heaviest blows.
When hockey broke out again, Syracuse turned the puck over in a dangerous position but Kasperi Kapanen was turned aside by a yet another fine save from Gudlevskis.
Gifted a partial breakaway, Mitchell Stephens saw his first effort turned aside by Kasmir Kaskisuo, but seconds later the Crunch rookie scored his first professional goal to tie the game on an assist from former Marlie David Broll.
Toronto wasted another powerplay opportunity before the end of the first and trailed despite an advantage in shots and goal-scoring opportunities.
The middle frame took a while to heat up, but the first real shot of note put the Syracuse goaltender in some trouble. A tough angle shot from Tony Cameranesi hit Gudlevskis straight on the mask, eventually sending him stumbling back into the net.
The Latvian was okay to continue, and upon resumption of play Crunch defenceman Slater Koekkoek should have done better than to fire wide from a good position.
Cameranesi looked like he was going to score a tying goal on a feed at the backdoor, but he was hooked on the play and sent his effort wide. A following powerplay generated nothing of note as the Marlies continue to battle inconsistency with the man advantage.
The game turned into somewhat of a duel between the goaltenders at this point, with Toronto’s rookie certainly holding his own. Three good saves on Dominik Masin, Ryan Martindale and Adam Erne kept Toronto still within one goal of the hosts.
Toronto responded through Josh Leivo, but he was stopped by a kick save as the flurry of chances came thick and fast around the midway point of the game.
Tanner Richard was the next to come close on a chance of his own making. Showing off his skating and stick skills, Richard created a good opportunity from nothing but sent his effort wide after all the hard work. Defenceman Anthony DeAngelo followed up with a ringing a shot off the iron.
The best save of the entire game came with under six to play of the second period, when
Gudlevskis’ incredible windmill glove stop robbed the Marlies‘ Tyler Wong of a first professional goal.
It’d be Toronto’s turn to find the iron next as Connor Brown’s shot made its way to Arcobello but his backhand effort clanged off the right post.
After a fourth and final powerplay for the Marlies proved fruitless, Toronto continued to trail after 40 minutes despite maintaining a shot advantage over Syracuse.
Toronto came out with some gusto early in the third, but Kapanen was unable to coral the loose puck with an empty net to fire into.
A pair of stops from Kaskisuo denied Stephens a second goal and should have led to Toronto tying the game up on a rush the other way. Kapanen should have scored despite another top save from Gudlevskis before Doherty somehow didn’t put home the rebound.
A deserved second goal for Toronto came just before the five-minute mark. Willie Corrin’s long-range shot provided a rebound for the Marlies, with Mark Arcobello on hand to tie the game at 2-2.
Toronto were shooting on sight, with a first effort from Connor Carrick nearly providing a second chance for Cameranesi before a second Carrick effort was swallowed up Gudlevskis.
Michael Peca and Tye McGinn almost combined for the lead at the other end, bringing the the best out of Kaskisuo, who also denied Stephens after another turnover.
The Crunch looked the better team as the game entered the final five minutes. Koekkoek’s wicked wrist shot was gloved by Kaskisuo before the Toronto goaltender made a diving pad save to turn aside DeAngelo 60 seconds later.
Still, Toronto had its chances to win the game with seconds remaining — a redirection from Arcobello in front brought a brilliant reaction pad save from Gudlevskis. Regulation time ended with the puck rolling across the Syracuse crease with no Marlie on hand to tap home.
Overtime did not produce a result, much to the frustration of a Crunch team that dominated possession at three on three. Syracuse registered four efforts on net, each bringing a good save from Kaskisuo.
Toronto’s lone effort in the extra frame looked a certain goal, but the puck just stayed out after Carrick drove from right to left across the Syracuse net.
In the shootout, the opening four shots were matched by equally good saves. Tambellini found the iron on his team’s third shot, presenting Connor Brown with a chance to win the game for the Marlies. Gudlevskis kept his team alive, even though he had no clue where the puck was in a save that was more down to instincts and luck.
Kapanen had the Marlies’ second opportunity to secure the extra point, but he fired his shot way over the net in the poorest effort of the shootout.
Syracuse’s Joel Vermin then beat Kaskisuo blocker side, proving the winner after Josh Leivo’s subsequent effort rang off the post.
Post Game Notes
– Tyler Wong, Mason Marchment and Chase Witala all made their Marlies debuts.
– For the first time this season, Toronto did not allow their opponents a powerplay, but they couldn’t convert on any of their own four opportunities.
– It was the Marlies’ first shootout loss of the season after winning the previous four.
– Willie Corrin recorded his first professional point with an assist on the second goal.
– Shane Conacher’s game-opening goal was his second for the Marlies.
– Josh Leivo extended his points streak to six games.
– Mark Arcobello’s 25th goal of the season is now team leading, taking over from T.J Brennan in that category.
– Kasimir Kaskisuo stopped 22 of 24 shots in his second professional start.
Marlies Player Stats — Syracuse 3 vs. Toronto 2 (SO)
| PLAYERS | G | A | +/- | SH | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrick, Connor | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Stanton, Ty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Nielsen, Andrew | 0 | 0 | -1 | 2 | 0 |
| Faille, Eric | 0 | 0 | -1 | 1 | 0 |
| Leivo, Josh | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Conacher, Shane | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Hickmott, Jordan | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 |
| Witala, Chase | 0 | 0 | -1 | 3 | 0 |
| Arcobello, Mark | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Brown, Connor | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Smith, Colin | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Kapanen, Kasperi | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Doherty, Taylor | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 5 |
| Wong, Tyler | 0 | 0 | -1 | 1 | 0 |
| Marchment, Mason | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 |
| Cameranesi, Tony | 0 | 0 | -1 | 1 | 0 |
| Corrin, Willie | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Valiev, Rinat | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
