Marlies week of Nov 10

Marlies Continue Six Game Road Trip This Weekend in Winnipeg

Toronto Travels to Play the Manitoba Moose for the First Time Since the 2009 Calder Cup Playoffs

Opponents This Week:

(Nov. 13, 14): The Marlies continue their six-game road trip with back-to-back games against the Manitoba Moose, AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, at the MTS Centre on Friday and Saturday night with both games set for 8:30 p.m. (ET) The two teams will face-off eight times in total this season. Last season, the Marlies earned a 6-2-0-0 record against the Moose with two of those victories coming at the MTS Centre. The Moose dropped all five games they played last week, and only have two wins over their past 10 contests. Manitoba currently ranks fourth in the North Division with an 8-9-2-0 record for 18 points through 19 games. The Moose have played seven more games than Toronto this season and the Marlies trail them by four points in the North Division standings. The Marlies met the Moose in the first round of the 2009 Calder Cup Playoffs, where they fell to the Moose in six games. Toronto led the series 2-1 but then lost three straight. The Marlies hold an all-time regular season record of 12-17-2-1 against the Moose, with a 5-9-2-0 road record. Right-Winger Sergei Shirokov currently leads the team in scoring with 11 points (five goals, six assists). Shirokov was selected in the sixth round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Canucks. He played the 2008-09 season in the KHL for CSKA Moscow where he totaled 41 points (17 goals, 24 assists) in 56 games. The Moose have suffered a total of 86 man-games lost due to injury and call-ups so far this season. A total of 45 of those games are from call-ups to the Vancouver Canucks, including starting goaltender Cory Schneider who has a 6-3-0 record with a 2.41 goals-against average and 0.910 save percentage with the Moose this season. Schneider was re-assigned to the Moose on Tuesday morning.

MARLIES HEADLINES:

The Past Week: The Marlies played two games last week and went 1-1-0-0 with both contests against North Division opponents. Toronto picked up the 3-2 victory on Friday night in Cleveland against the Lake Erie Monsters to extend their winning streak to three games. Christian Hanson notched a point on all three Marlie goals (one goal, two assists) and was the game’s second star. James Reimer turned aside 26 saves for his third win of the season. On Saturday night in Rochester, the Marlies dropped their first contest in regulation time since October 21, 4-1 to the Americans. Todd Perry scored the lone Toronto goal. The Marlies penalty kill was a perfect 7-for-7 in the game.

Hanson Catching Fire: Christian Hanson currently ranks first (tie) in the American Hockey League in rookie scoring with 13 points (five goals, eight assists). Hanson paces the Marlies in points and power play goals. On Friday night against the Monsters, Hanson collected a point on each goal in Toronto’s 3-2 win and was named the game’s second star. He registered a plus-three rating in the game which is a Marlies team-high this season. Hanson ranks first on the Marlies in multi-point games with five and has notched two, three-point contests.

Another Brick in the Wall: James Reimer earned his team-high, third win of the season on Friday night in the Marlies victory over Lake Erie. Reimer turned aside 26 saves for his second consecutive victory. In four games this season, Reimer has a record of 3-1-0 with a 2.76 goals-against average and 0.908 save percentage. Joey MacDonald made the start for Toronto on Saturday night in Rochester but took the loss, making 27 saves. MacDonald was in net for the Marlies only shutout victory on October 30 versus Adirondack. He currently holds a record of 2-1-0 with a 1.63 goals-against average and 0.940 save percentage. MacDonald started in three games earlier this season with the Maple Leafs. The Pictou, Novia Scotia native appeared in 49 games last season with the New York Islanders, earning a record of 14-26-6 with a 3.37 goals-against average and 0.901 save percentage.

No Stalling For Viktor: Viktor Stalberg has made a big impact with the Marlies since he was reassigned by the Maple Leafs two weeks ago. On Friday night, Stalberg recorded two points in the Marlies 3-2 victory in Cleveland and was the game’s first star. Stalberg’s tallied seven points (three goals, four assists) this season in four contests. In three of his four games with the Marlies he’s notched at least a point. His four point (two goals, two assists) contest on November 1 against W-B/Scranton is a team-high for points in a game this season. Stalberg skated in eight games with the Maple Leafs to start the 2009-10 regular season. He collected his first career NHL point (assist) in his debut on Oct. 1 vs. Montreal.

Jiri Back At It: Jiri Tlusty ranks third on the Marlies with 11 points (six goals, five assists) and has earned a point in six of his past seven games. Tlusty made his Maple Leafs season debut on October 30 in Buffalo. He ranks second on the team with four multi-point games. Tlusty’s four power play points (two goals, two assists) leads all Marlie skaters. Last season he ranked second on the team and 19th in the AHL with 66 points (25 goals, 41 assists).

Hammer Time: Ryan Hamilton has notched at least a point in three of his past five games and currently ranks fourth on the club with eight points (five goals, three assists). On Friday night versus Lake Erie he scored the game-winning goal and now leads the Marlies in that category with two. The Oshawa, Ontario native has two multi-point games this season and five, two-goal games in his professional career.

Multi-Point Games: Christian Hanson and Mike Zigomanis are both tied for the team lead with five multi-point games this season. The Marlies had three different players record multi-point games over the weekend in their two games. Zigomanis, Hanson and Viktor Stalberg all tallied multi-point games on Friday night in the team’s 3-2 win over Lake Erie.

Multi-Point Games

Hanson 5
Zigomanis 5
Tlusty 4
Stalberg 2
Hamilton 2
Deveaux 1
Slaney 1
Berry 1

Reading Report: The Toronto Maple Leafs ECHL affiliate, the Reading Royals currently rank second in the East Division with a 5-3-1-1 record for 12 points. The Royals have won four of their past five games. Stefano Giliati ranks first on the Royals and 11th in the ECHL in points with 14 (six goals, eight assists). He ranks first on the Royals in goals (six), assists (eight) and points (14). Joe Ryan ranks third on defence on the Royals with three points (one goal, two assists). Andrew Engelage won his first start for the Royals on Sunday, making 23 saves in Reading’s 5-4 shootout victory.

Welcome Back: The Toronto Marlies opened their 2009-10 season at Ricoh Coliseum on Sunday, October 4 against the Hamilton Bulldogs with a 3-2 shootout victory. Kyle Rogers and Ben Ondrus each scored for Toronto and Andre Deveaux notched the shootout winner. Joey MacDonald was solid in net, earning second star honours, making 32 saves in the victory. In total, the Marlies will play five home games and four road games during the month of October.

Behind The Bench: The Marlies have a brand new coaching staff this season. Dallas Eakins was named the head coach of the Toronto Marlies on August 4, 2009. Eakins previously served as the Director of Player Development for the Toronto Maple Leafs last season. Gord Dineen and Derek King will both be behind the bench as Eakins’ assistants. Dineen spent the 2008-09 as the head coach with the Iowa Chops. King returns to the organization after playing 161 games for the Maple Leafs from 1997 to 2000 during which he scored 45 goals and 53 assists for 98 points.

Making Their Debut: The Marlies dressed nine new players in their home opening game against the Hamilton Bulldogs on October 4. Defensemen Brendan Mikkelson, Carl Gunnarsson, Brennan Evans and Juraj Mikus; forwards Richard Greenop, Greg Scott, Christian Hanson and Tyler Bozak and goaltender Joey MacDonald all made their Marlie debuts.

MARLIES QUICK HITS:

– Todd Perry scored his first goal of the season and third of his AHL career on Saturday night in Toronto’s 4-1 loss to Rochester.
– Mike Zigomanis extended his point streak to six games on Friday night with his two-assist game against Lake Erie. In seven games, he’s collected 12 assists and a plus-five rating with the Marlies.
– Brennan Evans currently ranks second in defenceman penalty minutes with 57 in the AHL.
– Toronto plays six out of their next seven games against North Division opponents.
– Mike Zigomanis leads the Marlies with a plus-five rating.

Reebok/AHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE

For the week ending November 8, 2009, the Toronto Marlies nominated forward Christian Hanson for consideration as the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week. Hanson led the Marlies to their 3-2 victory on Friday night by registering a point on each goal. He finished the night with a goal and two assists and a plus-three rating. In two games during the week he tallied three points (one goal, two assists).

MARLIES ON THE WEB

Follow the Marlies all season long for the latest, most up-to-date information on their official web site, torontomarlies.com

MARLIES UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

Saturday, November 21 vs. Grand Rapids Griffins – Movember/Boy Scouts Night
Sunday, November 22 vs. Lake Erie Monsters – Leafs Practice Day
Wednesday, November 25 vs. Lake Erie Monsters – School Day Game at 11:00 a.m.

MARLIES RECAP:

Friday, November 6 at Lake Erie

Hanson’s Three Point Night Lifts Marlies Past Monsters 3-2
Marlies Goals: Hanson (5), Stalberg (3), Hamilton (5)
Monsters Goals: Bradford (3), Stoa (4)
Three Stars: 1. Stalberg (TOR), Hanson (TOR), Bradford (LEM)

Recap: The Marlies used a three point night from Christian Hanson to squeak by the Monsters on Friday night at Quicken Loans Arena. Lake Erie opened the scoring mid-way through the second period, but six minutes later, Hanson netted his fifth goal of the season. Viktor Stalberg scored his third of the season in the third period to put the Marlies in front 2-1. Ryan Hamilton’s empty net tally with a minute remaining in the game proved to be the winning goal as the Monsters scored with 15 seconds left to make it 3-2. Mike Zigomanis notched two assists to extend his point streak to six games. James Reimer made 26 saves for his third win of the season.

Saturday, November 7 at Rochester

Americans Extend Their Win Streak to 10 Games at Marlies Expense
Marlies Goal: Perry (1)
Americans Goals: Hartlieb (1), Duco (2), Brine 2 (7)
Three Stars: 1. Brine (RCH), 2. Wilson (RCH), 3. Salak (RCH)

Recap: The Marlies had their three game winning streak snapped by the Americans, who extended their winning streak to 10 games with their 4-1 victory over Toronto. Todd Perry scored his first of the season two minutes into the first period with a shot from the point. Jiri Tlusty and Andre Deveaux collected the assists on Perry’s goal. Rochester scored four unanswered goals for the victory. Joey MacDonald made 27 saves but suffered his first loss of the season with the Marlies. The Marlies power play went 0-for-2.

COMING THIS WEEK BOX OFFICE REPORT

Fri., Nov. 13 Toronto Marlies at Manitoba Moose 8:30 pm MTS Centre TICKETS 204-987-7825
Sat., Nov. 14 Toronto Marlies at Manitoba Moose 8:30 pm MTS Centre TICKETS 204-987-7825

All start times are listed in Eastern Time
Marlies home & away games broadcast on THE FAN 590, fan590.com or torontomarlies.com
Watch Marlies home games this season LIVE on Rogers TV Cable 10 in Toronto and 63 in Scarborough.