The Toronto Marlies may have been dressing a line worth $8.3 million in this game, but we saw something more akin to a bargain basement performance from the second-ranked team in the AHL on the road in St. John’s.
In Milan Michalek’s first game as a Marlie — making his debut alongside Brooks Laich and Colin Greening to start the game — his line and the team at large were largely ineffective in another below-par Marlies road outing.
First Period
The IceCaps nearly had themselves the perfect start 25 seconds in when Brett Lernout blasted a long-range effort on net, but the puck found the right post of Antoine Bibeau’s net and bounced away to safety.
A back-and-forth start to the game made for little quality from either team and a lack of possession time in either offensive zone. Toronto’s first real effort on net wasn’t until 3:45 into the game, when Frederik Gauthier won an offensive zone face-off back to Andrew Campbell, who tested St. John’s goaltender Charlie Lindgren from the right side.
The best opportunities for IceCaps came courtesy of a few avoidable errors by Toronto. Viktor Loov whiffed on a pass, handing possession to Charles Hudon, who dished off to a teammate on his left. What looked like a certain goal was denied by William Wrenn’s full-length dive to block the shot. Bibeau then prevented Max Friberg from opening the scoring on a two-on-one break for the IceCaps shortly thereafter.
The Marlies finally woke up following the big save from their goaltender, creating a chance of their own at the other end. It was all due to the persistence and hard work of Kerby Rychel, who chased a puck down the right wing and won the battle for possession before feeding Andreas Johnsson in the slot, but Lindgren made the first save and the rebound wouldn’t settle down for the Swedish forward.
The IceCaps got off to a first-period lead just before the 14th-minute mark of the game. A long stretch pass from Daniel Audette was chipped around Andrew Nielsen by Hudon, who broke in alone on net. After a fine move left Bibeau flat on his back, an easy tap-in gave Hudon his eighth goal of the season.
Second Period
After improving through the first period, the middle frame proved something of a nonevent as far as the Marlies were concerned. They generated just two shots on net, one of which was a golden opportunity that went begging inside the opening 60 seconds — Lindgren misplayed the puck behind his own net before Gauthier jumped on the error and dished the puck off to Kapanen in the slot, but somehow the winger fired high over the net.
Sven Andrighetto was the next of the next Icecaps to bring the best out of Bibeau, who needed to come up big on the penalty kill after three straight penalties were called against the Marlies, including 85 seconds of a two-man advantage.
To Toronto’s credit, they dug their heels in and made it difficult for a St. John’s powerplay that had been rolling heading into this game. Defensive sticks disrupted passing lanes and shooting lanes were occupied by Marlies bodies, with more than a couple of brave shot blocks made by the road team.
The home fans may have been frustrated by the Icecaps failure to capitalize with the extra man, but they almost celebrated a goal back at even strength with 2:30 remaining. A fine feed from Bobby Farnham found Stefan Matteau alone in front, but Bibeau performed further miracles to ensure the teams were deadlocked at ones heading into the third period.
Third Period
The turning point of the game was the pair of penalties taken by Josh Leivo just 83 seconds into the final frame, for hooking and unsportsmanlike conduct. Toronto paid a heavy price on the subsequent penalty kill. It took just seven seconds for McCarron to win a battle in front and sweep home his first goal of the season. Fast forward 21 seconds and St. John’s were up 3-1 after Andrighetto easily slipped past two Marlies players.
After conceding a pair of powerplay markers, the Marlies were handed a man-advantage opportunity of their own shortly afterward. Despite generating some good looks, the Marlies were wasteful in missing the target and failed to test young Lindgren between the pipes.
Back at even strength, Markus Eisenschmid blew past Marlies captain Campbell and looked likely to make it 4-1, but Bibeau came to the rescue. After that save kept the game alive for the time being, the Marlies created another good opening only for Tobias Lindberg to fire wide of the cage.
Toronto finished the final eight minutes of the third period in the ascendancy, finally finding their feet and playing the kind of game that was required for the whole sixty minutes. Lindberg turned creator with a deft backhand pass that found Byron Froese in the slot, but Lindgren made a fine save to keep the two-goal lead intact.
Offensive zone pressure led to a powerplay and a real chance for the Marlies to make the final minutes uncomfortable for St. John’s. It proved another opportunity wasted, as passes went astray and attempts on net were few and far between.
Sheldon Keefe pulled Bibeau for the extra man earlier than expected, but it was all or naught at this stage. Toronto still generated two late chances, but Leivo fired wide after good work from Kapanen and Rychel’s spin-and-shoot attempt from the hashmarks whistled wide.
An empty net goal from Matteau sealed the victory for the Icecaps, who have now won four of five at home this season. For Toronto, it’s back to the drawing board as they look to find a way to play a more complete sixty minutes on the road.
Post Game Notes
– Sixteen of the Marlies 27 shots came in the third period. They were guilty of not testing Lindgren enough early, and I lost count of the number of times Toronto failed to hit the net from good positions. Toronto’s road record now stands at 1-2-0-1.
– Kasperi Kapanen’s goal was his first of the season on the powerplay.
– Brendan Leipsic’s helper on the lone goal is his eleventh assist of the season, which is tied for tops in the AHL. Seven of those 11 have come on the man advantage.
– Andrew Nielsen now has six points on the powerplay this season, only one behind Brenan Leipsic for the team lead.
– Antoine Bibeau allowed three goals on 18 shots. Those numbers look terrible on the face, but he was not at fault for any of the three goals and made a handful of really good saves.
– Josh Leivo looked rusty, as you might expect, while Michalek showed very little in his Marlies debut.
– Discipline and special teams continue to be a concern for the Marlies, and proved the difference tonight. Toronto has now been shorthanded on 49 occasions in nine games. With a penalty kill operating at 75%, that proved to be a recipe for disaster.
Game Highlights
Sheldon Keefe Post Game
IceCaps 4 vs. Marlies 1 – Game Sheet
| SKATER | G | A | PIM | Shots | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campbell, Andrew | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Valiev, Rinat | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -1 |
| Holl, Justin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -1 |
| Loov, Viktor | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nielsen, Andrew | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -2 |
| Wrenn, William | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Smith, Colin | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Froese, Byron | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Johnsson, Andreas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michalek, Milan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -1 |
| Leipsic, Brendan | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -1 |
| Laich, Brooks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| Kapanen, Kasperi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -1 |
| Leivo, Josh | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Gauthier, Frederik | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Rychel, Kerby | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| Lindberg, Tobias | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| Greening, Colin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -1 |
