Marlies dominate in Texas, move to within one game of Calder Cup (maple leafs)

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Marlies dominate in Texas, move to within one game of Calder Cup

By Mike Augello

Jun 10, 2018 • 6:44 am

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After a wide-open opening of their best-of-seven series last weekend, the Texas Stars were effective in playing a defensive style that kept scoring chances down and games close. After a trio of one-goal decisions in Games 2,3, and 4, the Toronto Marlies were able to break through early and put the game out of reach with an offensive outburst in the second period in a 6-2 victory at H-E-B Center on Saturday.

Calle Rosen scored twice, Andreas Johnsson, Trevor Moore, Colin Greening and Carl Grundstrom added singles and Garret Sparks stopped 23 shots for the Marlies, who took two of three games on the road and return to Ricoh Coliseum on Tuesday with a chance to win their first Calder Cup and the first professional hockey championship for the city of Toronto in 51 years.

“We knew coming (to Texas) for three games was going to be a real challenge. Getting the first (win) felt real good and then you don’t get the second there, so you’re anxious going into the third one knowing just how much it means.… Marlies head coach Sheldon Keefe said after the game. “For us to come out with that kind of start felt real good and obviously that fueled us all the way through the game.…

The Marlies were successful in crushing any momentum that Texas had generated by their 3-2 win in Game 4 on Thursday, as Johnsson and Moore put Toronto up 2-0 just over two minutes into the first period. Texas showed some life in the second, narrowing the lead to 2-1 on Gavin Bayreuther’s point blast, but the Marlies maintained their composure and responded with a knockout blow, as Greening and Rosen scored within 62 seconds of each other midway through the middle frame to make it 4-1.

Rosen added his second of the game on an impressive rush to make it 5-1 late in the period, which chased veteran Mike McKenna from the goal.

“We got the two out of three. We were close to getting all three. We felt with a little more luck, we could have come away with that second one but to get the response here today feels real good.… Keefe said. “We recognize of course just how challenging it’s going to be at home. They’ve taken a game from us at home here already. I’m sure they feel good and comfortable playing in Toronto. We like the fact that we’re going home with a chance to win.…

Defenseman Travis Dermott was a late scratch with an undisclosed injury and was replaced by Andrew Nielsen in Game 5. Dermott is listed as day-to-day.

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