The Toronto Marlies will head stateside to face a pair of Atlantic Division opponents for the first time this season.
It will be no easy task for the Marlies, who have struggled to string together consistent performances while on the road and will take on two of league’s in-form teams over the weekend.
Toronto Marlies @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins – Friday, November 11, 7:05 p.m. EST
Toronto will take on the AHL’s first-placed Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Friday night. The teams played each other only twice last season, but the game in Wilkes-Barre was certainly memorable: Toronto recovered from a 0-3 scoreline, tying the game up with three shorthanded goals before prevailing in overtime.
The majority of the WBS Penguins’ success this season has been built on a strong defense and excellent penalty killing. The Mohegan Sun Arena has not been a happy hunting ground for visiting teams, with the Pens 5-1-0-0 — while conceding just five goals against — on home ice.
WBS is again an offensive powerhouse so far this season, and — worryingly for opponents — the production has been spread out with eleven Penguins players having scored two or more goals.
Rookie centreman Jake Guentzel is the leading points producer and goal scorer with five goals and 12 points. Carter Rowney is next best with nine points, while Kevin Porter, Oskar Sundqvist and veteran Tom Kostopoulos all have four goals to their names. Former Amerks defenseman Chad Ruhwedel is enjoying his new surroundings, recording seven points through his first ten games. A recent call-up to Pittsburgh, it’s not infeasible that Ruhwedel could be returned to WBS before Friday’s game having not dressed for the Penguins on Thursday night.
Former Leafs first round selection Stuart Percy is currently with the WBS Pens, but injuries continue to be a major impediment for the former first-round draft choice. He’s only played twice this season and is considered doubtful for the weekend with a lower back ailment.
Pittsburgh’s affiliate has continued to ride young goaltending and it is paying dividends. Sophomore pro Tristan Jarry has taken the majority of starts, piling up a 5-1-1 record and a 0.936 save percentage. The alternative is rookie Casey DeSmith, who has won all three starts while averaging one goal against per game and a .962 save percentage.
The aforementioned penalty kill is performing at a league-leading 92.7% clip, having allowed just three goals on 41 penalties. With a league-leading three shorthanded goals to boot, Toronto will need to be cognizant of the threat the other way while on the man advantage.
The Pens powerplay has been less successful but still sits middle of the pack, producing at a 18.2% clip, and should not be underestimated with the amount of talent on the WBS roster.
Toronto Marlies @ Lehigh Valley Phantoms – Saturday, November 12, 7:05 p.m. EST
Toronto will be traveling straight to Allentown after Friday’s game for a Saturday night tilt with Lehigh. The Marlies won’t be at a disadvantage, however, as the Phantoms also have to take the bus back from Utica — almost double the travel time that Toronto will face.
The Phantoms are packed with offensive talent but, unlike WBS, are having trouble keeping the puck out of their own net. They’re winners of three straight heading into the weekend, but Lehigh has allowed an average of four goals against per game on home ice. A 2-1-1-0 record at the PPL Center is built on the fact they’ve also scored 16 goals, having required six tallies in their last outing to see them past Springfield.
The Marlies will come up against a familiar face in T.J Brennan. Unsurprisingly, he’s second in Phantoms scoring with 10 points including two powerplay goals. 2015 Calder Cup winner Jordan Weal is the team’s leading points producer with 12 points in nine outings.
Greg Carey scored 26 times last season in his first real crack at the AHL level and the 26-year-old is Lehigh’s leading goal scorer so far this year with six, five of which have come on the man advantage.
Captain Colin McDonald has five goals to his name and, alongside other veteran forwards Mark Zengerle and Andy Miele, has added depth to the scoring ranks.
Other players to note from the backend, outside of Brennan, are Will O’Neill and rookie Travis Sanheim, who have 13 assists between them.
The other Phantom forward to watch out for is 22-year-old Scott Laughton, who was sent down by the Flyers this past week. In 47 AHL outings, the former Oshawa General has accrued 16 goals and as many assists.
Laughton will be a nice add to a Phantoms powerplay that has tallied 12 goals at a strike rate of 24.5% (although it’s also allowed three shorthanded markers). His skills may also be required on a penalty kill that’s currently ranked 21st (it has been better of late, giving up one goal in the last three games).
In net, Anthony Stolarz is Lehigh’s clear number one having taken seven of the nine starts so far. The 22-year-old has put together a 5-2 record, one shutout and a .928 save percentage. He’s backed up by rookie Alex Lyon, who is actually older than him. An NCAA graduate, Lyon is yet to record a victory in two starts and has particularly ugly stats early in his professional career.
The Toronto Marlies will have to play some of their most complete hockey of the young season to have any success against these two in-form Atlantic opponents. Special teams have already proved the difference in a handful of games this season, and Toronto’s penalty kill will need to improve on its current 76.8% mark.
