The Toronto Marlies were methodical and disciplined in completing a three game sweep of the Rochester Americans in the Calder Cup Western Conference Quarter Finals with a 3-0 victory Monday night.
The crowd of over 7100 fans at the Blue Cross Arena barely had a chance to warm their seats before the hometown Amerks fell behind, as Phillipe Dupuis scored at 3:59 of the opening period. Toronto extended their lead early in the middle frame as Jerry D’Amigo, who was named first star in all three games of the series, scored his fifth goal of the playoffs with Mike Zigomanis and Nazem Kadri getting the assists.
Kadri was effective for the first time in the series, playing the role of the pot stirring disturber to perfection and getting under the skin of the Amerks. He absorbed some punishment throughout the night, suffering a cut to his upper lip in the first period and a couple rather heavy checks along the boards from Amerks winger Maxime Legault, but he responded with a dagger early in the third, as he walked through the Rochester defense and around goaltender David Leggio to give the Marlies some insurance.
Ben Scrivens was steady and did not allow many second chances throughout the night, making 29 saves for the shutout.
The Marlies will have the rest of this week off while other Western Conference foes complete their first round matches and will open up the Conference Semi-Finals against either Chicago, Abbotsford, Milwaukee or Houston early next week.
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Per Mapleleafs.com:
Left wing Joffrey Lupul of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Right wing Daniel Alfredsson of the Ottawa Senators and left wing Max Pacioretty of the Montreal Canadiens are the three finalists for the 2011-12 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which is awarded “to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey,” the National Hockey League announced today.
Returning to health after his career had been threatened in 2010 by two back surgeries and a blood infection, Lupul earned a spot on the Maple Leafs' top line and enjoyed the most productive season of his eight-year NHL career. Teaming with wing Phil Kessel to form the highest-scoring duo in the NHL, Lupul did not go more than one game without a point until January and was selected as assistant captain for Team Chara at the NHL All-Star Game. He notched a career-high 67 points in 66 games before a shoulder injury ended his season in early March.
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