The Toronto Marlies took a commanding lead in their best-of-five Calder Cup Western Conference Quarterfinal series with a 5-2 comeback victory over the Grand Rapids Griffins at Ricoh Coliseum on Sunday.
TJ Brennan’s power play goal midway through the third period broke a 2-2 tie to give the Marlies their winning margin and a 2-0 lead in the series, as the scene shifts to Grand Rapids for Game 3 on Wednesday night.
Teemu Pulkkinen and Andy Miele gave Grand Rapids a two-goal lead 5:25 into the first period, but Toronto recovered from their early deficit as Matt Frattin scored on the power play late in the first and tied the game early in the middle frame after catching up to a stretch pass from William Nylander.
The contest had some physical play, as Marlies forward Josh Leivo took a hit from Louis-Marc Aubry of the Griffins late in the second. Toronto defenseman Viktor Loov responded with a hit of his own, laying out Grand Rapids forward Zach Nastasiuk early in the third, but the Swedish blueliner received a five-minute match penalty for a check to the head.
The turning point of the game occurred early in the third, with Loov in the penalty box and Connor Brown receiving a minor for delay of game, giving Grand Rapids a full two minute five-on-three power play.
Forward Sam Carrick and defenseman Tom Nilsson made key shot blocks and goalie Christopher Gibson thwarted Grand Rapids during the man advantage to keep the game tied before Brennan scored with 6:36 left in regulation.
Brown and Greg McKegg added empty netters to secure the victory.
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1st Period-1, Grand Rapids, Pulkkinen 3 (Hoggan, Miele), 0:42. 2, Grand Rapids, Miele 1 (Hoggan, Zengerle), 5:25 (PP). 3, Toronto, Frattin 1 (Brennan, Froese), 16:54 (PP). Penalties-Rupert Tor (cross-checking), 3:50; Froese Tor (cross-checking), 11:11; Aubry Gr (tripping), 15:16.
2nd Period-4, Toronto, Frattin 2 (Nylander, Brennan), 2:35. Penalties-Pulkkinen Gr (tripping), 4:28; Evans Gr (hooking), 8:13; Aubry Gr (roughing), 16:58; MacWilliam Tor (roughing), 16:58.
3rd Period-5, Toronto, Brennan 2 (Froese, Nylander), 13:24 (PP). 6, Toronto, Brown 1 (Rupert), 19:03 (EN). 7, Toronto, McKegg 2 (Froese), 19:47 (EN). Penalties-Loov Tor (match - check to the head), 6:56; Brown Tor (delay of game), 9:47; Jensen Gr (hooking), 12:51.
Shots on Goal-Grand Rapids 8-6-14-28. Toronto 7-11-8-26. Power Play Opportunities-Grand Rapids 1 / 4; Toronto 2 / 4. Goalies-Grand Rapids, Coreau 0-1-0 (24 shots-21 saves). Toronto, Gibson 2-0-0 (28 shots-26 saves).
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