Sunday, October 24, 2010

Griffins Swoop Down on Ricoh for 6-3 Win Against Marlies

Filppula, Raedeke, Mursak Score 2 Each as Griffins Double Marlies 6-3
Canadian Press
October 24, 2010
TORONTO - Iiari Filppula, Brent Raedeke and Jan Mursak each scored twice for the Grand Rapids Griffins in a 6-3 win over the Toronto Marlies in American Hockey League action Sunday.

Justin Hodgman had two goals and Darryl Boyce had the other for the Marlies (1-4), who were just 1-for-11 on the power play.

It was a great night for the Griffins special teams. They went 2-for-4 with the man advantage and added two short-handed goals.

Grand Rapids' Thomas McCollum made 25 saves for the win, while Jussi Rynnas looked shaky in goal for the Marlies, stopping just 19 of 25 shots for the Marlies. The Finnish netminder has lost all three of his starts this season.

The Griffins got off to a great start scoring the first four goals of the game.

The Griffins (4-2-1) got it going on the power play less than three minutes into the first period. Filppula took a cross-ice pass from Francis Pare and one-timed the puck past Rynnas before he could get over to make the save.

Filppula then got his second of the game at 6:24. He picked up the puck inside the Marlies' blue-line on a partial breakaway and slipped it through Rynnas' legs.The Griffins made it 3-0 at 11:30 with the teams playing 4-on-4. Raedeke screened Rynnas in front and tipped in a point shot from Derek Meech.Raedeke made it 4-0 with the Griffins shorthanded. He blocked a point shot, went in alone on Rynnas and deked him through his legs for his second of the night, bringing jeers from the sparse crowd of 2,294 at Ricoh Coliseum.

Hodgman finally got the Marlies (2-4-0) on the board with a power-play goal at 14:34, snapping a wrist shot up high past McCollum who was making his second straight start.The Griffins made it 5-1 at 5:07 of the second period. With Jay Rosehill off on a double minor for high sticking, Mursak took a pass from Filppula in the slot and beat Rynnas high glove side.Hodgman cut the lead to 5-2 at the end of a power play. Ryan Hamilton made a pass from the corner to Hodgman who drifted into the slot uncovered and backhanded the puck high over McCollum's right shoulder.Mursak got his second of the night shorthanded midway through the third period. Marlies coach Dallas Eakins pulled Rynnas to get a 6-on-4 power play, but the gamble didn't pay off as Mursak scored into the empty net.

Boyce got a short-handed marker for Toronto at 14:10 to make it a three-goal game.The Marlies next play in Hamilton on Friday where they won their only road game of the season. They then host Lake Erie on Saturday before embarking on a 10-game road trip Nov. 3 to 19.

Notes: Marlies' Matt Lashoff and brother Brian on the Griffins played against each other for the first time in their professional careers. . . Rosehill returned to the Marlies' lineup after missing three games to injury. . . Brayden Irwin and Nazem Kadri are ranked among the top five in AHL rookie scoring leaders with six and seven points respectively. . . The Marlies were 2-3-1 against the Griffins last season.

Marlies Bury Barons 5-2

Nazem Kadri Scores Twice as Toronto Marlies Beat Oklahoma City Barons 5-2
Canadian Press

October 23, 2010

TORONTO - Nazem Kadri re-discovered his scoring touch with two goals, including one for the highlight reels, in the Toronto Marlies' 5-2 win over the Oklahoma City Barons in American Hockey League play Saturday.

Kadri, a former star in the Ontario Hockey League and the Maple Leafs' highly-touted prospect, added two assists in Toronto's (2-3-0) first home win of the season.

James Reimer was solid in net making 31 saves for his second win of the year. Bryan Pitton stopped 28 in just his second start for the Barons (3-4-1).

Joey Crabb also had two goals and Justin Hodgman added a single for the Marlies, but it was the Kadri show Saturday night. He was moved to left wing with Brayden Irwin and Crabb, and the line showed chemistry all game.

After Liam Reddox opened the scoring for the Barons in the first period, Kadri tied the game on a slick solo effort. Kadri took a pass from Irwin inside the Barons' blue-line, slipped the puck through defenceman Jeff Petry's legs, deked goalie Bryan Pitton to his glove side and backhanded it past him up high.

Kadri made it 2-1 for the Marlies early in the second on a play off a faceoff. Irwin won the draw and got it back to Kadri who snapped a wrist shot over Pitton's right shoulder.Kadri was in on Toronto's third goal as well midway through the period. The 20-year-old slipped a backhand pass from behind the net to Crabb who quickly snapped it past Pitton from the top of the crease.

The Barons cut the lead to 3-2 when Linus Omark snapped a wrist shot past Reimer less than two minutes into the third. But Hodgman restored the lead just over a minute later with his first of the season on a nice pass from Alex Foster.Crabb finished off the scoring with his second of the game at 16:24 after Kadri fed him a nice cross-ice pass.

Kadri's four points give him seven in five games with the Marlies.

The game saw Ben Ondrus make his return to Toronto after signing with Oklahoma in the off-season. The former captain remains the Marlies all-time leader in games played (254) and is ranked third all-time in penalty minutes (316).

The Marlies started the year without naming a captain before giving the 'C' to Alex Foster on Friday.

Both teams are in action Sunday. Toronto host the Grand Rapids Griffins, while Oklahoma travels to Hamilton to take on the Bulldogs for their third game in three days.

Notes: Oklahoma's Shawn Belle went into the game tied for second among defencemen in points with seven. . . The Marlies are 21 for 24 on the penalty kill for the season. . . Reimer has been in goal for both Marlies wins this season. . . The announced attendance was 2,046

Marlies Bury Barons 5-2

Nazem Kadri Scores Twice as Toronto Marlies Beat Oklahoma City Barons 5-2
Canadian Press

October 23, 2010

TORONTO - Nazem Kadri re-discovered his scoring touch with two goals, including one for the highlight reels, in the Toronto Marlies' 5-2 win over the Oklahoma City Barons in American Hockey League play Saturday.

Kadri, a former star in the Ontario Hockey League and the Maple Leafs' highly-touted prospect, added two assists in Toronto's (2-3-0) first home win of the season.

James Reimer was solid in net making 31 saves for his second win of the year. Bryan Pitton stopped 28 in just his second start for the Barons (3-4-1).

Joey Crabb also had two goals and Justin Hodgman added a single for the Marlies, but it was the Kadri show Saturday night. He was moved to left wing with Brayden Irwin and Crabb, and the line showed chemistry all game.

After Liam Reddox opened the scoring for the Barons in the first period, Kadri tied the game on a slick solo effort. Kadri took a pass from Irwin inside the Barons' blue-line, slipped the puck through defenceman Jeff Petry's legs, deked goalie Bryan Pitton to his glove side and backhanded it past him up high.

Kadri made it 2-1 for the Marlies early in the second on a play off a faceoff. Irwin won the draw and got it back to Kadri who snapped a wrist shot over Pitton's right shoulder.Kadri was in on Toronto's third goal as well midway through the period. The 20-year-old slipped a backhand pass from behind the net to Crabb who quickly snapped it past Pitton from the top of the crease.

The Barons cut the lead to 3-2 when Linus Omark snapped a wrist shot past Reimer less than two minutes into the third. But Hodgman restored the lead just over a minute later with his first of the season on a nice pass from Alex Foster.Crabb finished off the scoring with his second of the game at 16:24 after Kadri fed him a nice cross-ice pass.

Kadri's four points give him seven in five games with the Marlies.

The game saw Ben Ondrus make his return to Toronto after signing with Oklahoma in the off-season. The former captain remains the Marlies all-time leader in games played (254) and is ranked third all-time in penalty minutes (316).

The Marlies started the year without naming a captain before giving the 'C' to Alex Foster on Friday.

Both teams are in action Sunday. Toronto host the Grand Rapids Griffins, while Oklahoma travels to Hamilton to take on the Bulldogs for their third game in three days.

Notes: Oklahoma's Shawn Belle went into the game tied for second among defencemen in points with seven. . . The Marlies are 21 for 24 on the penalty kill for the season. . . Reimer has been in goal for both Marlies wins this season. . . The announced attendance was 2,046

Marlies Name New Captain

October 22, 2010

MARLIES ANNOUNCE ALEX FOSTER AS TEAM CAPTAIN

Foster Becomes Third Player in Club History to Wear the ‘C’
A proud member of the American Hockey League, the Toronto Marlies announced today that forward Alex Foster has been selected as the new team captain.

Foster, 26, is in his sixth season as a member of the Maple Leafs organization and succeeds Ben Ondrus as the third captain in Marlies team history. The Canton, Michigan native has skated in 244 career games with the Marlies, ranking second on the club’s all-time list. Over his six seasons, Foster has amassed 117 points (49 goals, 68 assists) and 175 penalty minutes. He ranks tied for third on the Marlies all-time goals list and is fifth in points and assists.

Foster has previously served as an assistant captain with the Marlies the past two seasons.

The Marlies look for their first home win of the 2010-11 season tomorrow evening when they host former captain Ben Ondrus and the Oklahoma City Barons, AHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers, at 5:00 p.m. at Ricoh Coliseum. For 2010-11 Marlies ticket information, including season ticket packages and group seats, visit www.marlies.ca or call the team’s ticket line at 416-597-PUCK.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Barry Brust Makes 41 Saves to Lead Senators Past Marlies 3-1 in AHL Action

Canadian Press
October 17, 2010
Gallery: Marlies vs. Senators - Oct. 17th, 2010

TORONTO - Barry Brust made 41 saves to lead the visiting Binghamton Senators over the Toronto Marlies 3-1 in American Hockey League action Sunday.

Ryan Keller, Colin Greening and Erik Condra, into an empty net, provided the scoring for the Senators, who snapped a three-game losing skid and improved to 2-3-0 on the season.

Rookie Brayden Irwin replied for the Marlies (1-3-0) in front of 4,816 fans at Ricoh Coliseum - plus a national television audience as the afternoon game was one of 10 AHL contests that will be broadcast on CBC this season.

The game was a lower-case "Battle of Ontario'' as the Marlies are the affiliate of the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs, while the Ottawa Senators are Binghamton's parent team.

Brust was especially sharp in the opening frame when the Sens were outshot 13-6, making a handful of reflex saves, and he denied the Marlies with a couple of big stops in the third period as Binghamton clung to a one-goal lead.

The victory was the first win of the young season for the Senators goalie (1-2-0).Marlies netminder Jussi Rynnas stopped 26 of 28 shots to lose his second straight game, and remain winless in North America. The 23-year-old native of Finland was signed as a free agent in the off-season.The Senators led 1-0 after the first period and 2-1 through 40 minutes.

Binghamton opened the scoring with a late power-play goal in the first period when Keller stole the puck in the offensive zone and beat Rynnas over the shoulder with a high wrist shot at 19:10.

The Senators added to their lead when Greening one-timed a centring pass in the slot past Rynnas at 9:13 of the second period. The goal was Greening's first in the AHL as he turned pro last spring after four seasons of U.S. college hockey at Cornell.

Toronto's Irwin closed the gap less than two minutes later when he went hard to the net and whacked a rebound past Brust at 11:07. Nazem Kadri, who scored his first professional goal against Hamilton on Saturday - a game the Marlies won 5-3 - picked up an assist.

Irwin had a chance to tie the game early in the third period when he broke in all alone on the Senators net, but Brust knocked the puck off of Irwin's stick with a diving poke-check.Toronto continued to pressure Binghamton in the final frame, but Brust turned aside everything that came his way.

Condra sealed the game for the Senators with an empty-netter at 19:30 of the third period.

Notes: The Marlies are 0-3-0 at home after going 22-13-5 at Ricoh last year. ... The Marlies are off until the weekend, when they host Oklahoma City on Saturday and Grand Rapids on Sunday.

Toronto Marlies Beat Hamilton Bulldogs 5-3 in AHL Action

Canadian Press

October 16, 2010


HAMILTON, Ont. - Darryl Boyce scored a controversial winner in the third Saturday as the Toronto Marlies beat the Hamilton Bulldogs 5-3 in American Hockey League action.

Boyce appeared to redirect Keith Aulie's shot past Hamilton goalie Robert Mayer with a high stick.Hamilton led 2-0 and 3-1 in the second and had multiple chances to bury the Marlies, including an empty net while Toronto's James Reimer came out of his net to play the puck.

Nazem Kadri's first goal as a professional on shot through traffic made it 3-2 late in the period and turned out to be the spark the Marlies needed.Luca Caputi added an empty netter.Toronto was slow out of the gate, lacking any rhythm through the first two periods.

Ben Maxwell, who finished with two goals on the night, put Hamilton up 3-1.

On a failed Toronto breakout, Max Pacioretty caught Reimer out of position. Handcuffed by the shot, Reimer sent the rebound right in front to Ryan White, who fed Maxwell.

Reimer, who finished with 33 saves, got a chance for redemption shortly after.David Desharnais and Ryan Russell had a 2-on-1 opportunity robbed by the outstretched right pad by Reimer, keeping the score 3-1 to set the stage for the Toronto comeback.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Cam Cunning scores late goalie in Abbotsford's 3-2 win over the Marlies

Canadian Press
October 11, 2010


TORONTO - The Maple Leafs and the Baby Leafs are heading in opposite directions to start the 2010-11 season.Cam Cunning beat Jussi Rynnas with 3:34 left in the third period to give the Abbotsford Heat a 3-2 win over Toronto on Monday.The Marlies are now 0-2-0 after falling to another division rival, while the Leafs are 2-0-0 to start their campaign.Leyland Irving made 34 saves for Abbotsford while Rynnas made 26 in his first start for the Marlies.Matt Keith and Greg Nemisz scored the others for the Heat (2-1-0). Matt Lashoff and Mike Brennan replied for Toronto.Rynnas was sharp in his debut. The Finnish goalie made a number of great saves, especially on the penalty kill when the Marlies had to kill off two 5-on-3 power plays for the Heat.After being sat by coach Dallas Eakins in the second period of the season opener, Nazem Kadri was moved to the wing with Alex Foster, but was held off the scoresheet. The Leafs highly touted prospect has managed just one assist in his first two games.Toronto came out strong early and dominated most of the first period. The Marlies opened the scoring on the power play at 12:05, when Lashoff's point shot beat Irving low stick side.Toronto had a chance to open the scoring earlier while short-handed. Luca Caputi took a drop pass from Joey Crabb and beat Irving cleanly, but his shot hit the post.Rynnas didn't have much work in the first but had to be good late in the frame. He made some keys saves when the Marlies had to kill a 5-on-3 Heat power play in the last minute.The Heat tied the game at 3:40 of the second period. Keith came across the crease, deked Rynnas backhand to forehand and flipped a shot over his outstretched glove.Nemisz put Abbotsford 2-1 with a short-handed goal at 8:44. He took a pass from Carter Bancks on a two-on-one break and beat Rynnas high from the slot to make it 2-1.Toronto tied it up 2-2 at 15:45 on a nice three-way scoring play. Danny Richmond fed Caputi, who then made a cross-ice pass to Mike Brennan for his first as a Marlie.Toronto had two great chances to score in the third period. Ryan Hamilton went in alone on a breakaway from his own blue-line but was stopped by Irving, and Marcel Mueller had a chance with about five minutes left to give the Marlies the lead, but his shot from the slot hit the post.The Marlies pulled their goalie to try and get the equalizer late, but couldn't beat Irving, who was solid in net for the Heat.Notes: The Marlies were 2-0-0 to start last season and haven't lost their first two games of a season in regulation since the team moved to Toronto ... The Marlies were 23-3-12 in one-goal games in 2009-10 ... Toronto has killed all 10 penalties it has taken this season ... The Heat were 5-2-1 against the Marlies last season, including a 3-0-1 record at Ricoh Coliseum ... Announced attendance was 1,765.