“I don’t think that was a great game in any aspect. But we won, and sometimes, you just have to win the games you’re not supposed to. Going down 2-0 and coming back, it’s resilient. We were a little disconnected. I think we know we have to be better and can definitely improve on that game.”
– Logan Shaw
The Toronto Marlies‘ captain pulled no punches during his post-game chat with Todd Crocker. His frank assessment was harsh but accurate as the Marlies pulled themselves out of a self-inflicted two-goal hole.
First Period
The Marlies were second-best in every facet of the opening frame. They were fortunate that, for the most part, it was a low-event period, with San Jose mainly shooting from the perimeter.
After getting outplayed for 11 minutes, Toronto finally generated a scoring chance on the power play, where Alex Nylander wired a shot wide of the target.
Dennis Hildeby made a good double save to rob Andrew Poturalski, but it only delayed the inevitable.
When Danil Gushchin blew past Marshall Rifai while driving the net, the Marlies defenseman cross-checked the attacker into Hildeby. Thankfully, the netminder was okay, but San Jose capitalized on the power play.
William Villeneuve couldn’t minimize out a floating, chipped go throughout the seam, and an open Poturalski slammed a shot previous Hildeby on the again put up.
Toronto confirmed some glimpses of life thereafter, however the lack of ending high quality undermined them. Roni Hirvonen and Joseph Blandisi couldn’t profit from a 2v1 alternative from the restart. Within the closing minute, a turnover offered Blandisi with the puck within the excessive slot, the place his shot produced a rebound that Alex Steeves couldn’t bury from a decent angle.
Second Interval
Toronto killed off a penalty carrying over from the primary interval however conceded a second objective inside two minutes. It was an unpleasant objective throughout. Hildeby gave up a juicy rebound on a shot from Tristen Robins, resulting in a Jack Thompson tap-in. The Marlies have been additionally responsible of a little bit of flat-footedness/puck-watching on the play, which didn’t assist a goaltender struggling to seek out his groove.
After the wake-up name, the Marlies flipped a change on the four-minute mark and started to show the tide. Some good interaction from the highest line generated an opportunity that Hirvonen fired narrowly vast from the slot.
Toronto was responsible of in search of the additional go as an alternative of taking pictures on one other far-from-perfect ice floor. That was till Steeves took issues into his personal fingers, unloading a one-timer off a bobbling puck that beat Georgi Romanov clear.
With 95 seconds left within the body, the Marlies tied the sport. Logan Shaw gained an offensive-zone attract the correct circle cleanly again to Nick Abruzzese, who ripped a wrist shot into the far prime nook of the web.
Rifai was once more responsible of placing his workforce on the backfoot earlier than the intermission buzzer. He took a slashing penalty with 14 seconds remaining and doubled down by cross-checking an opponent on his option to the field to earn an unsportsmanlike conduct infraction.
Third Interval
Toronto gave up only one shot on the penalty kill, with Hildeby producing a confidence-inducing save on Poturalski. It was a key second within the recreation because the Marlies drew a penalty shortly after the kill and scored on the following energy play.
It wasn’t technically a power-play objective, however one second after the penalty field opened, Blandisi utilized the of entirety after Zach Solow was denied by the put up from point-blank vary.
Toronto killed off one other penalty and withstood a minor spell of stress with eight minutes remaining. Hildeby got here up with two massive saves that appeared to take the wind out of San Jose’s sails.
Steeves almost doubled his goal-tally and supplied an insurance coverage marker if not for a flying cease from Romanov.
Victory appeared assured as Toronto earned consecutive energy performs, the second of which started with 57 seconds remaining. However the Marlies misplaced a few battles when San Jose pulled Romanov for an additional attacker and dumped the puck in, and the Barracuda tied the sport with 14 seconds left on the clock. Jimmy Schuldt’s shot from the half-wall hit a shin pad out entrance and deflected previous Hildeby.
Additional time
After a disastrous finish to regulation play, give Toronto credit score for the best way they reset to begin extra time.
The Marlies seized on the 4v3 alternative with some crisp puck motion. Steeves fired a one-timer, producing a rebound that Shaw pounced on to safe the second level.
Publish Sport Notes
– The Marlies are 4-2-0 in extra time this season and improved to 11-2-5 in one-goal video games. The penalty kill went 4-for-5 towards the fifth-best energy play within the league, however Toronto has to do a greater job of staying out of the field.
– Joseph Blandisi made his two hundredth look for the Marlies and scored his 59th objective.
– The sport-winner was Logan Shaw’s fifth profession extra time objective and first objective since December 21.
– A two-point haul for Alex Steeves (1G/1A) included his one centesimal profession help. Whether or not or not he feels peeved by the shortage of recollects, these latest choices aren’t affecting his play. Steeves continues to place the workforce on his again when required.
– Dennis Hildeby regarded ailing comfy for almost all of this recreation. That’s hardly shocking after a scarcity of ice time, coupled with a tough NHL outing earlier than reassignment. He made 30 saves for the win and is ready to hold the workload for the rest of the street journey.
– Saturday’s lineup:
Forwards
Abruzzese – Shaw – Nylander
Hirvonen – Blandisi – Steeves
Clifford – Paré – Barbolini
Mastrosimone – Tverberg – Solow
Defensemen
Rifai- Niemelä
Webber – Kokkonen
Mermis – Villeneuve
Goaltenders
Hildeby
Peksa
