For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter The Toronto Marlies were unable to shut out the noise, handle the pressure and contain the talented Syracuse Crunch in Syracuse in four losses during their best-of-seven series last season, but Toronto overcame those obstacles with a dominant opening period in a 7-1 victory at Onondaga War Memorial Arena on Sunday, Chris Mueller, Carl Grundstrom, Miro Aaltonen, Colin Greening, Andreas Johnsson and Trevor Moore scored twice for the Marlies, who take a commanding 3-0 lead in the Calder Cup North Division Final and have a chance to move to the Eastern Conference Final with a win on Tuesday. Toronto killed off a Pierre Engvall minor in the opening minute, took a 2-0 lead on goals from Mueller and Grundstrom before the game was five minutes old and limited the Crunch to three first period shots on Calvin Pickard, who started in place of Garret Sparks and made 18 saves in his first professional playoff victory.
🚨GOAL!!🚨
— David Nestico (@davidnestico200) May 6, 2018
Grundstrom quickly makes it 2-0 Marlies! 🔥#MarliesLive pic.twitter.com/dckpGtIdXa
🚨GOAL!!🚨
— David Nestico (@davidnestico200) May 7, 2018
It's a 3-0 #Marlies thanks to an Miro Aaltonen goal! 🔥#MarliesLive pic.twitter.com/AsDZbMbgCL