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Bibeau shuts down Devils in Albany

These two teams endured an epic battle during a seven-game playoff series last Spring and both had begun the season strongly with matching 5-1 records.

Scott Wedgewood was incredibly good during the aforementioned series but he had an off-night as Antoine Bibeau outplayed the more experienced goaltender en route to making some franchise history.

First Period

The first period gave no indication of what was to follow, with Toronto heavily on top after the opening skirmishes. Andrew Nielsen had to be alert in the first few seconds to break up a 2-on-1 rush for the home team, and shortly after Kerby Rychel made a brave dive to block a rasping shot from just above the hashmarks.

Toronto’s first shot came courtesy of Justin Holl just over two minutes in, but Wedgewood hung onto the puck through traffic.

Albany garnered the best chance thus far after a misplay from the visitors at the Devils blue line. Joe Blandisi was left to head in on net alone, but Bibeau came up with the right pad save to deny the Albany centreman.

Rookie Miles Wood, a constant thorn in the Marlies side with his impressive speed, blew by Holl on a rush down the right side but failed to test Bibeau after cutting to the net.

The opening goal, timed at 5:34, was something of an anti-climax and one that Wedgewood certainly wanted back. Colin Greening picked up a pass from Travis Dermott but was forced wide heading into the Albany zone. With nothing else on and little in the way of support, Greening chose to shoot and was pleasantly surprised to see his effort sneak through the goaltender and trickle into the net.

Albany tried to respond a couple of minutes after allowing the first goal but they were denied by Travis Dermott. Wood showed yet another burst of speed to set up an odd-man rush, but Toronto’s rookie defenseman made a diving play to cut out the danger.

Just 15 seconds later, Andreas Johnsson showed his speed beating Seth Helgeson to a stretch pass but Wedgewood was equal to the resulting attempt. The Marlies were fully on top at this stage, holding possession for long stretches, and came close through Nikita Soshnikov and Kerby Rychel.

The Marlies were thankful to Bibeau one last time before doubling their lead, however. A redirect from a Ben Thomson pass-come-shot was met by an excellent reflex stop by Toronto’s goaltender.

A Marlie powerplay that has been running hot so far this season tallied 20 seconds into the first man advantage. Soshnikov’s perfect feed from the right boards found Tobias Lindberg in the slot, where he redirected the pass through the legs of Wedgewood.

A 2-0 lead after 20 minutes could have been doubled if not for Wedgewood. Johnsson and Rychel were turned aside, as was Frederik Gauthier on a wraparound effort after creating a turnover behind the Devils net.

A second powerplay to end the period created a number of opportunities, but there was no puck luck for the Marlies, with Byron Froese ringing his effort of the short-side post from the right circle.

Second Period

Toronto’s domination was evident on the shot clock, where they held a 17-5 advantage, and the Devils set about clawing their way back into the game early in the second period.

Earning a powerplay a mere 26 seconds in, Bibeau was forced into a pair of saves to keep Albany off the board. Ben Sexton sniped a one-timer from the slot but saw his effort gloved by Toronto’s netminder, who was also well positioned at the top of his crease to snaffle an effort from defenseman Karl Stollery shortly after.

Surviving that initial push back from the home team, Toronto created two great opportunities to increase their lead. Brendan Leipsic jumped off the bench to instigate his own breakaway but lost control at the last second, making Wedgewood’s job a little easier. The line of Smith-Johnsson-Rychel has proved a revelation so far, and the former two combined with swift passing to tee up Rychel, who was once again frustratingly denied from opening his Marlies account.

Soshnikov was unfortunate to be called for interference at the midway mark of the game, but Toronto held firm during the penalty kill despite significant zone time for Albany.

The remainder of the middle frame was all about scoring chances for the Marlies and some dropping of the gloves. The combination of Smith-Johnsson-Rychel set up Nielsen jumping into the play at the back door, but with a whole net to score into the rookie defenseman contrived to fire his effort against the inside of the left post.

Gauthier, continuing to show far more confidence in possession, danced past two Albany players to gain entry into the offensive zone and dropped the puck back for Greening, whose shot forced a good save from Wedgwood. That play brought about the first altercation, with Helgeson engaging Greening, but it proved a folly as the Toronto man pounded him in a one-sided tilt.

20 seconds later came a second fight after Blake Coleman took umbrage with Andrew Campbell. It was much ado about nothing, and all it really accomplished was disrupting the flow of Albany’s performance in the second period.

In the dying moments of the second period, a Devils player’s stick somehow got stuck in the Zamboni door, enabling Toronto to gain possession. Soshnikov was the benefactor but Wedgewood was able to keep him off the scoresheet to keep the game within two.

Third Period

Sheldon Keefe would not have been impressed by his team’s performance in the third period, but some credit is due to an Albany team that threw everything at the Marlies in the final 20 minutes.

A minute and 40 seconds in, Nielsen coughed up the puck at the Devils blue line and yet another breakaway ensued for the home team. Max Novak was challenged by Bibeau and consequently fired his effort wide of the cage.

John Quenneville and Viktor Loov dropped the mitts at the three-minute mark with the Toronto man getting the worst of the altercation — another fight for no good reason that did not to the benefit the home team, who required a response on the scoreboard.

After more strong play from Gauthier behind the Devils net drew a penalty, Toronto created little in the way of goal scoring opportunities despites some good puck movement. Upon killing that penalty, Albany was on a powerplay of their own but Bibeau was rock solid on the Marlie penalty kill.

A third goal was a dagger in the heart of the Devils, especially given the way it came about. After Toronto chipped the puck in, Wedgewood went behind his net and attempted a ring around the boards. Trevor Moore was in quickly on the forecheck and blocked the goaltender’s clearance attempt; a bounce off his shin pads dropped favourably, enabling the rookie to net his first professional goal.

Another slightly dubious call sent Albany back on the powerplay but Bibeau came up big again for the Marlies. A fabulous right toe save denied what appeared a certain goal for Blandisi on a rebound attempt.

The only question left to be answered was whether Bibeau was going to record his second shutout of the season. Gauthier almost unwittingly gifted one to Albany with a clearance across Bibeau’s crease, but the netminder was alert to the danger.One last power play for the home team with 2:30 remaining certainly didn’t make life easy for the Marlies, especially when Wedgwood was pulled for a

One last powerplay for the home team with 2:30 remaining certainly didn’t make life easy for the Marlies, especially when Wedgwood was pulled for a 6-on-4 advantage. To a man, Toronto scrapped and fought for their goaltender, who came up with one last big stop to ensure his duck egg after the puck pinballed around in front of him.

It was Bibeau’s 37th save of the game and capped his finest performance of the young season.


Post Game Notes

– Antoine Bibeau now holds the Toronto Marlies franchise for shutouts with nine.
His second clean sheet of the season propels his save percentage to a sparkling 0.951.

– Travis Dermott recorded two assists and now has five in seven games.

– Tobias Lindberg scored for the second straight game and he is relishing his role as the net-front presence on his line and on the powerplay.

– Nikita Soshnikov put in his best performance of the season and looks to be 100% healthy now.

– Rinat Valiev dropped out of the lineup and was replaced by debutant William Wrenn. The former San Jose draft selection played a solid game and did no harm to his chances of further ice time.

– Milan Michálek was a healthy scratch.


Game Highlights


Marlies 3 vs. Devils 0 – Game Sheet

SKATERGAPIMShots+/-
Campbell, Andrew00701
Holl, Justin00220
Loov, Viktor01531
Nielsen, Andrew00010
Wrenn, William00201
Dermott, Travis02021
Smith, Colin00000
Froese, Byron00010
Johnsson, Andreas00030
Clune, Richard00002
Leipsic, Brendan00030
Soshnikov, Nikita01230
Kapanen, Kasperi00000
Gauthier, Frederik00010
Rychel, Kerby00040
Lindberg, Tobias10020
Greening, Colin10732
Moore, Trevor10032