The Toronto Marlies defeated the Syracuse Crunch 6-5 in a shootout. With the win, and Utica's loss to the Providence Bruins, the Marlies have officially clinched their spot in the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs.
In the first period, Alex Steeves scored just 1:41 in to the frame to give Toronto an early lead. A couple of minutes later, Logan Shaw scored his 30th goal of the season to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. Less than two minutes later, Ilya Usau scored to get the Crunch on the board. Later in the frame Waltteri Merelä scored on the power play to tie the game at two. Before the period ended, Cameron Gaunce scored his first of the season to give the Marlies a 3-2 lead after 20 minutes of play.
In the second period, Gage Goncalves scored on the power play to tie the game at three. Less than two minutes later Nick Abruzzese scored to give the Marlies the lead once again. Moments later, Alex Steeves scored his second of the game to make it 5-3. One minute later Max Crozier scored for the Crunch to bring them within one goal after 40 minutes of play.
In the third period, Quinn Schmiemann scored to tie the game at five. 60 minutes was once again, not enough and overtime was needed. After five minutes of three-on-three hockey, another shootout was needed.
In the shootout, Marlies captain Logan Shaw scored the only goal, and Matt Murray stopped all three Syracuse shooters for the victory.
The Marlies continue on the road on Wednesday as they travel to Rochester. Puck drop is at 7:05pm on AHLTV.
Game notes:
SCORING SUMMARY
Toronto: A. Steeves (25) (T. Singleton), L. Shaw (30) (C. Gaunce), C. Gaunce (1) (M. Rifai, J. Blandisi), N. Abruzzese (16) (R. Hirvonen, J. Blandisi), A. Steeves (26) (J. Blandisi)
Goaltender: M. Murray (22/27) W
Syracuse: I. Usau (7) (A. Barre-Boulet), W. Merela (13) PP (M. Crozier, G. Goncalves), G. Goncalves (13) PP (M. Crozier, A. Barre-Boulet), M. Crozier (3) PP (A. Barre-Boulet, G. Goncalves), Q. Schmiemann (2) (F. Robert, S. Day)
Goaltender: H. Alnefelt (14/19), B. Halverson (12/12) SO/L
ON THE SCORESHEET
- Alex Steeves opened the scoring at 1:41 of the first period and at 14:15 of the second period. This was his 14th multipoint game of the season. He has 56 points (26 goals, 30 assists) in 63 games this season.
- Logan Shaw scored at 3:25 of the first period. He has set a career-high for goals (30) in a season. Shaw has 57 points (30 goals, 27 assists) in 66 games this season.
- Cameron Gaunce scored at 18:06 of the first period and earlier recorded the lone assist on Shaw’s first period goal. This was his first goal with the Marlies. He has eight points (1 goal, 7 assists) in 38 games this season.
- Nick Abruzzese scored at 11:47 of the second period. He has points (7-11-18) in 13 of his last 17 games. Abruzzese led the Marlies with seven shots on goal.
- Tate Singleton had the lone assist on Steeves’ first period goal. He has five points (1 goal, 4 assists) in nine games with the Marlies this season.
- Marshall Rifai recorded the primary assist on Gaunce’s first period goal. He has 19 points (2 goals, 17 assists) in 55 games this season.
- Roni Hirvonen registered the primary assist on Abruzzese’s second period goal.
- Joseph Blandisi picked up the secondary assists on Gaunce’s first period goal and Abruzzese’s second period goal. He later added the lone assist on Steeves’ second period goal. He has recorded three or more assists in a game in three career games.
- Matt Murray stopped 22 of 27 shots he faced.
IN THE SHOOTOUT
- Alex Steeves – No goal (2023-24: 4/7)
- Logan Shaw – Goal (2023-24: 3/7)
- Toronto clinched a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs for the 13th time in franchise history.
- Logan Shaw recorded his 30th goal of the season. He is the first Marlie since Chris Mueller in 2018-19 to record 30 goals and the sixth player in franchise history.
- Toronto is 6-2 in the shootout this season.
- The Marlies went 4-for-7 on the penalty kill and 0-for-4 on the power play. Toronto is 11-15-5-0 when not scoring on the power play and 14-13-8-1 when allowing a goal on the penalty kill.
- Toronto had a 32-27 edge in shots in all situations. Nick Abruzzese led the Marlies with seven shots on goal. Toronto is 18-16-6-2 when outshooting their opponent.
- Toronto is 17-16-8-2 against North Division opponents and finish their regular season series 2-5-1-0 against the Crunch.
RECORD WHEN
Scoring first 30-6-8-0
Leading after 1st 21-3-4-0
Leading after 2nd 24-1-4-0
On the road 18-11-3-2
April 4-1-1-0
Saturday 11-6-3-1
MARLIES LEADERS *Amongst active AHL players
Goals 30 (L. Shaw)
Assists 35 (N. Abruzzese)
Points 59 (J. Blandisi)
PPG 8 (J. Blandisi, L. Shaw)
Shots 187 (L. Shaw)
+/- +18 (T. Miller)
PIMS 132 (Z. Solow)
HEAD COACH JOHN GRUDEN
On Logan Shaw recording his 30th goal of the season:
He’s our leader. He did a good job of keeping his composure because he was playing a lot with the special teams and being down some players and getting some guys that weren’t familiar with certain situations. With that being said, it’s outstanding, it’s good to see. He can defend, he can score and it’s extremely important for us to have him on our hockey club.
On Matt Murray’s performance:
He made the big timely saves. A few of those I couldn’t see, I was on the bench in the first period there, you couldn’t see, they had good net front and there was nothing he could do about those shots just found their way through. When the time mattered in the third period, in the three-on-three, shootout, he was outstanding. Good for him. It was good to have him. The guys liked him and I’m pretty sure he was excited about being back as well.
JOSEPH BLANDISI (3 ASSISTS)
On the Marlies clinching their playoff spot:
It’s an exciting feeling of course. We’ve got guys in the lineup that haven’t been here all year and they’re stepping up in large way. Anytime you clinch a playoff spot, it’s pretty special and especially with the adversity this group’s faced over the year, I think it’s extra special.
On tonight’s game:
Everybody pulled the rope tonight. It was a hard-fought game, tight checking, lots of goals were scored. It was fun to be a fan too but you see Matteo step up and get us going there in the second period. Lots of good efforts, Shawzy gets his 30th goal, lots of reason we were playing tonight and we were able to find a win for Matt Murray. It’s pretty special to see him come back from injury as well.
UPCOMING GAMES:*All times Eastern Standard Time
April 17 at Rochester – 7:05 p.m.
April 20 vs. Cleveland – 4:00 p.m.
April 21 vs. Cleveland – 4:00 p.m.
