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The Toronto Marlies are heading to St. John’s for the first time this season.

The weekend doubleheader will kick off the last season of the rivalry between the Marlies and the IceCaps, as Montreal will move their affiliate to Laval, Quebec starting in 2017-18.

The Icecaps began their current campaign with three straight losses but now sit 5-4-1-0 after ten games. High-event hockey has been the theme of St. John’s season so far. Their average of 3.6 goals for per game is only a smidge behind the Marlies, but the IceCaps’ problems clearly lie in the 35 goals against.

The St. John’s goaltending situation has unfolded itself in a way that few could’ve predicted. Zachary Fucale has been sent to the ECHL, while veteran Yann Danis has lost both starts and owns a GAA approaching four and a half. The star performer thus far, and most likely to take the start on Saturday, is rookie Charlie Lindgren. The NCAA graduate has won all five starts, registering an impressive 0.932 save percentage in the process.

The IceCaps are full of offensive firepower: Led in points by Chris Terry (11) and in goals by Charles Hudon (7), the pair have been ably supported by Nikita Scherbak (6), Sven Andrighetto (4) and Terry (4). Mark Barberio continues to be the top producer on the blue line and a key cog on the powerplay. Michael McCarron is yet to find the net after scoring 17 last season, but he is contributing with six assists through eight games.

Unsurprisingly, St. John’s owns the top powerplay in the Eastern Conference (28.9%), with eleven of their goals coming on the man advantage. Terry, Hudon and Scherbak account for eight of that total between them.

The Marlies penalty kill is third-worst in the conference, currently hovering below 80% after allowing ten goals through eight games. It is an area the team has no doubt been working hard on this week in practice.

Toronto’s impressive powerplay numbers are a little skewed after battering Utica during the opening weekend of the season, scoring six times on 16 attempts. They should receive enough opportunities with the man advantage against a St. John’s team that has been ill-disciplined in the early stages of 2016-17 (46 occasions shorthanded, tied for most in the league).

A few player notes ahead of the weekend:

– The Marlies may have lost Nikita Soshnikov to the Maple Leafs but they now have the services of Josh Leivo for a week on a conditioning loan. Leivo tallied 48 points in 51 games last season and followed it up with a further 12 in 15 playoff games. He is able to play up to three games with the Marlies as part of his loan.

– With 13 points in eight games, Brendan Leipsic remains the AHL’s leading points producer, though his pace slowed down a little over the past weekend (one assist in two games).

– Kasperi Kapanen will be looking to hit top gear again after going without a point and registering just one shot over the two games last weekend in Albany.

– Kerby Rychel is yet to find the net despite some strong performances and improving chemistry on a line with Colin Smith and Andreas Johnsson. This could be the weekend he finally breaks out.

– Antoine Bibeau is a shoe-in to face Lindgren Saturday night coming off of a fantastic month of October that earned him the AHL goaltender of the month award (5-0-1, 1.64 GAA, .944 SV%).

– Rookie defenceman Andrew Nielsen, second in scoring among AHL rookie defencemen, enters the weekend with two goals and three points in his last three games.

– Milan Michalek is yet to make his Marlies debut and Brooks Laich hasn’t featured since October 22 as Sheldon Keefe continues to give the youth top priority in the lineup.

Weekend Schedule

Saturday, November 5 – Toronto Marlies @ St. John’s Icecaps – 6:00 pm ET
Sunday, November 6 – Toronto Marlies @ St. John’s Icecaps – 2:30 pm ET