For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter Lost in the excitement of the Toronto Maple Leafs wild 8-5 victory over the New York Rangers on the weekend was the quick start of the Toronto Marlies, who swept their season opening weekend over the Utica Comets at Ricoh Coliseum. The Leafs AHL affiliate went with Garret Sparks in both contests against the Comets and the 24-year-old goaltender made a combined 49 saves in a 3-1 victory on Saturday and a 4-3 win on Sunday. The goaltending situation for the Marlies has been made unclear with the acquisition of Calvin Pickard from the Vegas Golden Knights. The 25-year-old former Colorado Avalanche goalie was acquired for Tobias Lindberg and a 2018 sixth round pick last week and gives the Marlies a trio between the pipes temporarily, but that is something that Leafs management may rectify by either moving either Sparks or Kasimir Kaskisuo to the ECHL Orlando Solar Bears or made a trade. On defense, 2017 top pick Timothy Liljegren made his AHL debut and underwent some adjustments on the weekend. The 18-year-old partnered with veteran Rinat Valiev on Saturday and absorbed some punishment from the Utica forwards. On Sunday, Liljegren was switched to playing with Travis Dermott (with whom he partnered with during training camp), changed jersey numbers from 48 to 7 and scored his first professional goal. “A lot of these guys have been together playing with the Leafs but it’s much different when you come here.… Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe said. “All of a sudden you have different linemates, you’re slotted in differently and some guys that hadn’t been on the power play through exhibition, are playing it now and just trying to get a feel from the bench.…
#MapleLeafs first-rounder Timothy Liljegren has his first North American pro goal for the @TorontoMarlies today 👇 pic.twitter.com/EKs4keK39V
— AHL (@TheAHL) October 8, 2017
Andreas Johnsson crashes the net and deflects one home to put the #Marlies ahead in the third.#MarliesLive pic.twitter.com/fafg2zNYMG
— Toronto Marlies (@TorontoMarlies) October 8, 2017
A full squad of #Leafs greats on Legends Row. pic.twitter.com/fXdId6eIL7
— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) October 9, 2017