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The final week of the regular season saw the Toronto Marlies claim four of a possible six points.

The two victories ensured Toronto finished tied for the third-best record in AHL history with a 54-16-5-1 record, earning the team 114 points and a .750 points percentage for the season. Toronto finished the 2015-16 season with a winning record in every month, including a 11-1-1-0 record in the month of January.

The Marlies conclude the season with a league-best goal differential of +103 and only six shy of 300 goals for. Toronto’s ability to close out games when leading was superb, with a 21-2-1-0 record when leading after one period and 39-1-2-0 when leading after two periods.

A loss to Hartford on Wednesday broke an eight-game point streak, but Toronto still won nine of their last eleven games, including back-to-back wins over the Rochester Americans to close out the regular season. Toronto dominated Rochester during their season series, finishing with a 7-1-0-0 record. The Marlies‘ final win was their 27th on home ice, equalling their impressive road record this season.

Special teams were in the positive for a second consecutive week. The powerplay was two for 9, while the penalty kill allowed one goal on seven opportunities for opponents.

Home ice advantage had already been secured by winning the AHL regular season title, which the Marlies will hold all the way to the Calder Cup Final should they progress that far.

Hartford Wolf Pack 3 vs. Toronto Marlies 2

With the Maple Leafs season done and dusted, the troops filed back into Ricoh Coliseum. The Marlies were able to field a lineup more akin to their pre-deadline roster only to suffer defeat against a desperate Hartford Wolf Pack team.

Toronto were quick out of the traps as the Carrick’s combined for the opening goal.
Connor’s rush from his own end ended at the high slot before he teed up Sam for his 16th of the season.

After passing up a few chances inside the opening six minutes, Toronto were dominated by Hartford and the Wolf Pack tied it up. The visitors also outshot the Marlies 15-6 and really should have held a lead after 20 minutes.

The Wolf Pack turned their advantage in the run of play into a two-goal lead in the first ten minutes of the second period. A powerplay goal from Connor Carrick with 3:30 to play in the middle frame sparked the Marlies to life, and Toronto could have entered the third period level had they taken one of several late chances.

Toronto were unable to dig themselves out of the hole from the previous 40 minutes, despite controlling long stretches of the final period of play. Magnus Hellberg was superb in net for Hartford, turning aside all 14 shots in the third to earn his team a much-needed two points in their quest for a playoff berth.

Toronto Marlies 3 vs. Rochester Americans 1

Viktor Loov and captain Andrew Campbell returned to the lineup on Saturday, with the latter on hand to accept the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy for his team. With no Josh Leivo, Zach Hyman or William Nylander in the lineup, there were opportunities for many other players to stake a claim for a spot in next weekend’s first playoff game.

Not enough of the guys on the fringe stepped up despite Toronto once again taking an early lead. Frattin, Arcobello and Brown all combined, with Frattin following up the play to put home the rebound for a 1-0 Marlies lead.

To Rochester’s credit, they responded with some good pressure and zone time and could count themselves unlucky to be down after 20 minutes of play.

An odd man rush enabled the visiting Amerks to tie the game up in the second. Justin Bailey teed up Brendan Guhle for his first professional goal, whcih was no less than what they deserved. Rochester would have held a lead after 40 minutes if not for some brilliance from Antoine Bibeau.

Instead it was Toronto who regained the lead with five minutes of the second period to play. T.J Brennan’s powerplay marker through traffic was one of just six shots recorded on net from Toronto during that middle frame.

The Amerks never stopped pushing, however, in what was a creditable performance despite a poor season for them. They outshot Toronto 8-1 in the opening eight minutes of the third period but could not find a way past Bibeau.

Toronto finally found their legs around the midway point, when Nathan Lieuwen made a pair of saves on Sam Carrick and Ben Smith to keep his team in the game.

Rochester’s goaltender could do nothing about the insurance marker when it finally came. Fredrik Gauthier rang his shot off the iron and it rebounded out to Campbell at the point. The captain shifted it right to Rinat Valiev, who fired his effort in off the post with plenty of traffic in front.

A 3-1 final flattered the home team and owed much to the excellent performance of Antoine Bibeau, who made 33 saves for the victory.

Toronto Marlies 4 vs. Rochester Americans 2

The 76th and final game of the season saw the Marlies essentially dress a B-team against Rochester. It mattered not as Toronto prevailed in a shooting gallery of a game, with the teams combining for 89 shots on goal.

Those inside Ricoh Coliseum were celebrating a mere 102 seconds into the game, when Eric Faille banged home a rebound after Jordan Hickmott threw the puck on goal.

A combination of incredible goaltending, missed opportunities and a few struck posts meant we had to wait until late in the second period for a second goal. Hickmott, the beneficiary of a perfect pass from Faille, scored his first professional goal from the slot.

Rochester finally found a way past Sparks with 20 seconds remaining in the middle frame, when a powerplay marker from Cole Schneider halved the deficit.

Toronto began the third period with a pair of powerplays, but they would have given up a shorthanded goal if not for Stuart Percy coming to the rescue by blocking a shot on the goal line.

Back at even strength, Toronto extended their lead as Cameranesi showed terrific speed from the left wing and cut across the crease before squeezing the puck inside the post.
More chances came and went before Rochester pulled themselves within one as Jean Dupuy chipped the puck past Sparks — a goal Sparks said himself he’d like back.

Toronto never really looked like surrendering the lead, however, securing a 4-2 victory with an empty net goal from Eric Faille after an unselfish play from Tyler Wong.


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– Reinforcements came from the NHL and ECHL this week. Returning from the Leafs were Andrew Campbell, Frederik Gauthier, Garret Sparks, Sam Carrick, T.J Brennan, Tobias Lindberg and William Nylander. Up from Orlando to bolster the ranks were Brenden Miller, Brett Findlay, Patrick Watling and T.J Foster.

– The AHL handed out its individual accolades this week, with T.J Brennan again capturing the Eddie Shoe Award, becoming the seventh multiple-time winner in league history. It’s the second time in three seasons that Brennan has been named the AHL’s most outstanding defenseman. Brennan finished the season with 25 goals and 43 assists for 68 points, leading AHL defensemen in goals, assists, points and powerplay goals. Brennan’s lone goal this week was his 25th of the season, tying a career high set in 2013-14.

– Antoine Bibeau recorded his 28th win of the season on Saturday and has certainly shown more consistency down the final stretch. He’s 7-1-0-0 through his last eight games, recording a .9.37 save percentage and two shutouts.

– Garret Sparks returned to play his first game since February 26. He made 45 saves on Sunday and, one bad goal aside, was superb in his Marlies reappearance.

– Connor Carrick recorded his first multi-point game in Wednesday’s game vs. Hartford with a goal and an assist.

– Eric Faille scored his sixth and seventh goal of the season, adding an assist for a three-point game, an AHL high for him. Faille has ten points through 15 regular season games for Toronto.

– Kasperi Kapanen left the game after blocking a shot late in the second period of Sunday’s game and did not return.

– Released from ATO contracts were Jordan Hickmott, Tyler Wong, Willie Corrin, and Tony Cameranesi as the Marlies trim down their roster for the playoffs. Hickmott registered two points on Sunday, Cameranesi his second goal, and Tyler Wong his first professional point.

– Mark Arcobello finished as the Marlies leader in points per game with a 1.20 mark, with William Nylander a close second at 1.18.


Toronto Marlies 2015-16 Regular Season Player Stats — Final

PlayerPosGPGAPTSPts/G+/-PIMPPSHGSOGSh/GSH%
T.J. BrennanD692543680.993453901692.4514.8
Mark ArcobelloC492534591.201922821693.4514.8
Colin Smith (total)C772036560.73437311582.0512.7
Brendan LeipsicLW652034540.831655511692.6011.8
Josh LeivoLW511731480.941414501583.1010.8
William NylanderC381827451.18710301122.9516.1
Zach HymanRW591522370.633124041342.2711.2
Sam CarrickC521618340.651190301132.1714.2
Tobias Lindberg (total)LW561123340.611220301272.278.7
Matt FrattinRW711321340.48351201311.859.9
Connor BrownRW341118290.8510831752.2114.7
Connor Carrick (total)D521118290.562552411132.179.7
Nikita SoshnikovLW521810280.542618321202.3115
Kasperi KapanenLW44916250.577840651.4813.8
Richard CluneLW49816240.492014622440.9018.2
Stuart PercyD58420240.4134700661.146.1
Andrew CampbellD66915240.36397200871.3210.3
Rinat ValievD60419230.38323001590.986.8
Colin Smith (TOR)C23715220.968410431.8716.3
Justin HollD60516210.35321500931.555.4
Frederik GauthierC56612180.32181000510.9111.8
Brett FindlayC39611170.449600541.3811.1
Ben Smith (total)RW19124160.842441492.5824.5
Viktor LoovD55312150.27144000771.403.9
Tobias Lindberg (TOR)LW2266120.5521230602.7310
Ryan Rupert (X)C2966120.41111410301.0320
Eric FailleRW1573100.675210281.8725
Ben Smith (TOR)RW54261.203010163.2025
John Kurtz (total)LW393360.1503800310.799.7
James MartinD170550.2911300191.120
John Kurtz (TOR)LW141340.295000151.076.7
David KolomatisD231340.1712800241.044.2
Connor Carrick (TOR)D51230.60221091.8011.1
Shane ConacherRW72130.432000152.1413.3
Frank CorradoD70330.43320071.000
Taylor DohertyD120330.257200090.750
Scott HarringtonD171230.1841400201.185
Jordan HickmottRW31120.67100062.0016.7
Chase WitalaLW30220.67200051.670
Willie CorrinD40220.50460051.250
Andrew NielsenD50220.40-200051.000
Tony CameranesiF62020.33200050.8340
Tyler WongRW30110.33000051.670
Ty StantonD40110.25100030.750
Rylan SchwartzC51010.20-100061.2016.7
Jack RodewaldRW70110.14140071.000
Justin JohnsonRW80110.130360050.630
Mason MarchmentLW30000.00000051.670
T.J. FosterRW30000.00-120041.330
Tylor SpinkC20000.00000010.500

Toronto Marlies 2015-16 Regular Season Goalie Stats — Final

GoaliesGPMinsWLSOLSOGAGAASVSSV%
Ryan Massa159:56:00100011160.941
Rob Madore4240:00:00400151.25990.952
Jonathan Bernier4239:43:00300351.25910.948
Garret Sparks211211:33:0014403472.336020.928
Alex Stalock3180:32:00120082.66780.907
Kasimir Kaskisuo2125:00:00101052.4480.906
Antoine Bibeau402353:44:00289031062.710640.909
Ray Emery3178:29:00210082.69700.897
Totals764616:00:0054161101902.4720680.916