Bittersweet Victory for Marlies

The Toronto Marlies drive for the playoffs ended yesterday despite their 2-1 shootout victory against the Manitoba Moose at Ricoh Coliseum.

 

The Marlies entered the game seven points behind the Moose for the final playoff spot and needed a victory in regulation time to remain in playoff contention. As the horn sounded at the end of the third period, Manitoba picked up a point to punch their ticket to the AHL playoffs.

 

“Well we knew we couldn’t give up a point so obviously that’s a little disappointing,” said Marlies forward Tim Brent who scored in the third period and in the shootout.

 

“I think we did a lot of good things, basically we did everything but score so we can take a lot of good things from the game. We could have used a couple of bounces but overall it was a good effort and it’s a win for us.”

 

The Marlies battled hard as they played in their third game in as many nights. The game was a tight checking and low scoring affair. Neither team took any chances and were for the most part played disciplined hockey.

 

Manitoba opened the scoring mid-way through the first period on the power-play when forward Guillaume Desbiens picked up a loose puck between the hash marks and fluttered a weak backhander between the legs of Marlies goalie James Reimer.

 

Neither team were able to get on the scoreboard in the second period as the Moose carried their slim lead into the final frame.

 

Just like the night before, Toronto picked up their intensity and physical play in the latter half of the third period. The Marlies started to deliver big hits along the boards which created turnovers but the Marlies were unable to fire the puck past Moose goalie Cory Schneider who was quietly having a solid game.

 

Captain Ben Ondrus became a little overzealous with one hit as he got his stick up too high and was subsequently penalized for high sticking.

 

On the penalty-kill while in the Manitoba zone, Brent managed to wrestle the puck away from a Moose defenceman and tuck the puck in past Schneider through the five-hole to tie the game.

 

“It squeaked through Schneider’s legs,” said Brent. “But it’s one of those things where you’re chasing a guy down and it’s bouncing a little bit on him and trying to take advantage of it.”

 

With just over a minute left in the third period, knowing that his team must win in regulation, coach Dallas Eakins pulled Reimer for the extra attacker. But the Marlies were unable to score and were officially eliminated from the playoffs as the buzzer sounded.

 

 

Brent talked about the team’s mindset heading into overtime.

 

“Every hockey player is competitive by nature, we just wanted to win. Whether it’s a game like tonight where we realize that our playoff hopes are over or Thursday night hockey with all your buddies at home, you always want to win. But that’s what was said on the bench – let’s go get this other point.”

 

Toronto had the better chances to score in overtime but neither team could find the net and the game went to a shootout.

 

In the shootout Brent, Josh Engel and Ryan Hamilton scored for the Marlies while Reimer stopped 3 of 4 Moose shooters to pick up his 13^th win of the season.  

 

“We want to win,” said Reimer. “It doesn’t matter where it is in the season. But obviously we were trying to get the goal before overtime and that didn’t happen but we just kept working, we wanted to win.”

 

Despite being eliminated and losing two of the three games this week, Eakins was impressed with his team’s effort.

 

“I was happy with the way we played,” said Eakins. “It was our third game in three nights. Our guys knew we were at, we had to win all of our games and get every point and Manitoba couldn’t get a point, that’s quite a mountain to climb. I was proud that they came out and played hard right through the end.”

 

The Marlies will have a few days off before they play their final three games of the season starting next Friday in Rochester before returning home for back-to-back home games on Saturday and Sunday.

Contact Aman Dhanoa at aman@oyetimes.com

Photos courtesy of Annandi Merhai of Devi Designs