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For a Toronto Marlies team loaded with talent, the majority of their losses last season were the result of incomplete efforts over 60 minutes and often times poor discipline.

It was somewhat fitting, then, that the first defeat of 2016-17 was due to a repeat of those issues for another young, talented Marlies club.

First Period

The opening period featured just ten shots on net — three of those by the hosts, who really should have opened the scoring inside the opening four minutes: Cole Schneider failed to hit the target with a one-timer from the slot after Toronto failed to clear their own zone on multiple occasions; Hudson Fasching and Evan Rodrigues were the next to waste opportunities in front of the scrambling Garret Sparks, and Schneider fired wide on a giveaway before taking the first penalty of the game that sent the Marlies to the powerplay.

Toronto created just one chance on the man advantage, when Andreas Johnsson was denied by Linus Ullmark on a broken play.

Alex Nylander, the eighth overall selection by the Sabres in the 2016 draft who is starting the season in Rochester, was unable to emulate his brother on this occasion, firing wide while looking to go short-side from a good position.

A second straight Marlies powerplay proved unsuccessful, although Nikita Soshnikov should have hit the target from the bottom of the left circle as Ullmark went untested through 120 seconds of 5v4.

The remaining minutes of the opening period were mostly dominated by the Marlies, but they were unable to cause the Amerks goaltender many issues and Rinat Valiev’s late penalty halted the charge.

Second Period

Toronto killed their first penalty of the game and created the opening chance of the second period — Byron Froese teed up Tobias Lindberg at the hash marks, but the winger fired high over the net.

The opening goal wasn’t long in coming, timed at 4:14. Freddie Gauthier picked up a pass from Valiev and drove down the left wing toward the net. Drawing players toward him, the big centreman dished the puck off to his right and Kasperi Kapanen was left with the easiest of tap-ins to break the deadlock.

The momentum was with Toronto now, but they weren’t clinical when it mattered. On a powerplay following the goal, Colin Smith had an open net to fire into but a weak shot enabled Rochester’s Tyson Strachan to block the effort. Brooks Laich, making his Marlies debut and first AHL appearance in ten years, fanned on his attempt from the slot with Ullmark scrambling to get across his net.

It was more of the same for Toronto at even strength, with Colin Greening and Valiev unable to test Rochester’s goaltender, while Johnsson’s backhand effort hit the post at the 8:30 mark.

During a second straight man advantage, Kapanen should have done better than to fire wide on a rebound effort before the powerplay was cut short due to a tripping penalty taken by Soshnikov.

Toronto took two further penalties upon the completion of the Russian’s forward penalty, and ultimately it led to the home team tying up the game. Colin Greening was unable to join his teammates in time before Taylor Fedun released a booming shot from the left circle that flew past Sparks and tucked inside his right post.

Brendan Leipsic was arguably Toronto’s best player last weekend, but with four minutes remaining in the middle frame, he floundered in front of the net in a one-on-one with Ullmark. Guilty of being a little too fancy, the winger lost the handle and the chance passed him by.

The final two minutes of the middle frame and opening 60 seconds of the third period altered the course of the game. Toronto was controlling the puck in Rochester’s zone before rookie Andrew Nielsen misplayed at the blue line, allowing Fasching an uncontested breakaway. Sparks stayed deep in this crease and the Amerks right winger had little trouble giving his team a 2-1 lead.

Third Period

A too-many-men penalty meant the Marlies entered the final 20 minutes on the penalty kill. They soon found themselves down by a pair of goals after a high wrist shot from Fedun was tipped in front by Justin Bailey. It could quickly have been a fourth for Rochester if not for a smart poke-check by Sparks to deny Dan Catennaci.

Toronto bounced back to create two good chances. Kerby Rychel, on a breakaway, saw his backhand attempt bring a fine pad save out of Ullmark. Some good teamwork from the Marlies forced Rochester into a cheap turnover in front of their own net, but Kapanen had seemingly lost his scoring touch at the crucial moment.

The Marlies finally pulled within one thanks to a simple play from their captain. Andrew Campbell put a high wrist shot on net from the right side of the blue line that Froese was able to deflect by Ullmark.

Colin Smith, having one his poorer games in front of the opposition’s net, fired wildly high when presented with a chance to tie the game.

Even on the penalty kill — and the Amerks sixth straight powerplay of the game — it was Toronto who orchestrated the best scoring opportunity. Justin Holl was sent away on a breakaway, but Ullmark turned aside the defenseman’s backhand effort.

The Amerks were looking to cling onto their lead and almost encouraged the visitors to push on. Nielsen and Laich both hit the target but were denied, while Smith’s troubles continued as he failed to convert on what was the Marlies’ 30th effort on net.

The Marlies’ lack of discipline came back to bite them as they took a penalty with 4:17 remaining. However, as Rochester sat back even with the extra man, it almost looked as though it was Toronto were on the powerplay, creating some half-chances for themselves.

When the Amerks finally decided to push back offensively, the game was done as a contest. Casey Nelson found the net with a one-timer from the right circle, killing any comeback aspirations for the Marlies.

Sparks was sent to the bench for the remainder of the game to no avail, as the salt was rubbed into the wound with an empty net goal. A 5-2 final for Rochester flattered the home team, but they punished Toronto for their mistakes and were rewarded with the two points.


Post Game Notes

– Toronto out-shot Rochester 36-21.

– Special teams proved vital as Rochester were 3/7 on the power play while Toronto went scoreless on four occasions.

– Travis Dermott and Frederik Gauthier were the only skaters not to register a shot on net, while Justin Holl and Brendan Leipsic led the way with five apiece.

– Brendan Leipsic’s lone assist was his sixth point in three games. He’s tied for the Marlies lead in scoring with Kasperi Kapanen, who tallied his second goal of the year.


Game Highlights


Americans 4 vs. Marlies 2 Game Sheet

SKATERGAPIMShots+/-
Campbell, Andrew01010
Valiev, Rinat01411
Holl, Justin00050
Loov, Viktor00220
Nielsen, Andrew0002-1
Dermott, Travis00001
Smith, Colin0003-1
Froese, Byron10020
Johnsson, Andreas00220
Leipsic, Brendan01050
Laich, Brooks00010
Soshnikov, Nikita0021-1
Kapanen, Kasperi1004-1
Gauthier, Frederik01000
Rychel, Kerby00030
Lindberg, Tobias00011
Greening, Colin00210
Timashov, Dmytro00020