Marlies Set Franchise Mark

January 30, 2009

Marlies Set Franchise Mark with Seventh Straight Home Victory
Stapleton’s three-point night leads Marlies to 4-2 win

(TORONTO) – The Toronto Marlies set a franchise record on Friday night with their seventh consecutive home victory in front of 3,951 fans at Ricoh Coliseum, defeating the Hamilton Bulldogs, 4-2. Tim Stapleton’s two goals and one assist helped guide the Marlies to the win in their first game back since the All-Star break.

Toronto struck just 6:05 into the game after a face-off win in the offensive zone by Tim Stapleton. Richard Petiot fired a wrist shot from the point that was deflected in by Jiri Tlusty who was in front of Bulldogs starting goalie Cedrick Desjardins. The goal was Tlusty’s eighth of the season.

The Bulldogs evened the game at 1-1 when Mile Glumac slid a puck past Justin Pogge. The puck sat behind Pogge for a few moments before anyone realized the puck was free and Glumac tapped home his 20th of the season. David Desharnais collected an assist on the play.

Kyle Rogers didn’t waste much time putting the Marlies back in front 2-1. Rogers found a loose puck in front of the Bulldogs net and slapped home his second goal in the past two games. Darryl Boyce and Phil Oreskovic each picked up an assist on Rogers’ fourth of the season.

On a Marlies power play, Tim Stapleton found the back of the net, making it 3-1 Toronto late in the second period. Tlusty cycled the puck to Staffan Kronwall who fed a one-time pass over to Stapleton who blasted home his seventh of the season.

Stapleton notched his second of the game with a wrist shot that went top shelf on the glove-side of Desjardins. Boyd Devereaux and Ben Ondrus each got assists on the play. Stapleton now has eight points in his past seven games.

Hamilton was able to get the Marlie lead to only two when Bryan Trotter was able to bang home his ninth goal of the season. Mathieu Carle and Ben Maxwell collected assists on the goal.

The Rockford IceHogs come to Toronto for their only visit tomorrow for a 4:00 p.m. tilt against the Marlies. The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a Doug Gilmour bobblehead.

ICE CHIPS: The Marlies come into the game with six consecutive home victories…Coming into tonight’s action the Marlies have only allowed four goals against at home…Bulldogs forward Ryan Russell sits fourth (tie) in the AHL in plus/minus with a plus 19...Bulldogs Yannick Weber ranks first (tie) in the AHL amongst defensemen in goals with 10 and power play goals with seven…Marlies forward Tim Stapleton has nine points in the seven games against the Bulldogs this season.

SCORING SUMMARY

First Period

1. TOR J. Tlusty (8) (Petiot, Stapleton) 6:05

Second Period

1. HAM M. Glumac (20) (Desharnais) PP 10:09
2. TOR K. Rogers (4) (Boyce, Oreskovic) 12:26
3. TOR T. Stapleton (7) (Kronwall, Tlusty) PP 16:54

Third Period

4. TOR T. Stapleton 2 (8) (Devereaux, Ondrus) 9:05
2. HAM B. Trotter (9) (Carle, Maxwell) PP 14:27


Shots

TOR HAM
39 20

THREE STARS
1. TOR: Tim Stapleton
2. TOR: Kyle Rogers
3. TOR: Darryl Boyce

SOURCE: torontomarlies.com