Toronto Marlies Fall To Rochester Americans In Game Two – Amerks Lead Series 2-0

The Toronto Marlies fell 7-4 to the Rochester Americans on Saturday in Game Two of the North Division Final. Rochester leads the best-of-five series 2-0.  

In the first, Rochester opened the scoring with a goal by Jiri Kulich at 9:57 to take the early 1-0 lead.  

Early in the second, Toronto responded with a power-play goal by Nick Abruzzese at 1:20 tie the game at one. Later, Jeremy Davis scored at 4:28 in the frame to regain the lead for Rochester and make it 2-1. Shortly after, Rochester continued to press and added three more goals by Lukas Rousek, Sean Malone, and Joseph Cecconi to make it 5-1 halfway through the second. Toronto later responded with a power-play goal by Max Ellis at 10:08 to make it 5-2 heading into the third.  

In the final frame, Pontus Holmberg added another for Toronto with a power-play goal at 5:03 to keep the Marlies within two. Shortly after, Michael Mersch added another for the Amerks at 7:12 to make it 6-3. Later, Brendan Warren potted the empty net at 16:15 to give Rochester the 7-3 lead. Before the period was over, Alex Steeves scored a late power-play goal at 18:22 to make it 7-4, but it was not enough.  

“The power play had success tonight,” said Head Coach Greg Moore. “We would have liked to have created more five-on-five. The first half of the game and the tail-end of the second, we got them in their defensive zone for quite some time. We had some good looks and chances, had a hard time scoring on those chances but if I’m evaluating our team’s play compared to Game 1, it was so much better. In the long we keep playing like this, we give us a good chance to come back in this series regardless of where it is right now.” 

The series now shifts to Rochester for Games Three. Puck drop is on Wednesday May 17th at 7:05pm on AHLTV. 

GAME SUMMARY    |    GAME SHEET  |      PHOTOS   |      SCRUMS

SCORING SUMMARY

Rochester: J. Kulich (5) PP (M. Jobst, E. Prow), J. Davies (1) (S. Malone, L. Pilut), L. Rousek (1) (M. Jobst), S. Malone (2) J. Cecconi (1) (F. Cederqvist, M. Mersch), M. Mersch (5) PP (S. Malone, I. Rosen), B. Warren (1) EN (B. Murray, M. Jobst)
Goaltender: M. Subban (34/38) W

Toronto: N. Abruzzese (2) PP (M. Hollowell, L. Shaw), M. Ellis (1) PP (T. Niemelä, R. Zohorna), P. Holmberg (3) PP (N. Abruzzese, M. Hollowell), A. Steeves (1) PP (M. Ellis, R. Zohorna)
Goaltender: E. Källgren (15/19), K. Petruzzelli (9/11) L

ON THE SCORESHEET

• Nick Abruzzese put the Marlies on the board at 1:20 of the second period and later added the primary assist on Holmberg’s third period goal. He has six power play points (1-4-5) in six games. Abruzzese is tied for second overall amongst rookies in points (2-5-7).
• Max Ellis scored on the power play at 10:08 of the second period and later added the primary assist on Steeves’ third period goal.
• Pontus Holmberg scored on the power play at 5:03 of the third period. He has four points (3 goals, 1 assist) in six games.
• Alex Steeves scored on the power play 18:22 of the third period. This was Steeves’ first goal in the playoffs.
• Mac Hollowell registered the primary assist on Abruzzese’s second period goal and the secondary assist on Holmberg’s third period goal. He has five assists through six games.
• Logan Shaw recorded the secondary assist on Abruzzese’s second period goal. He has four goals and five assists through six playoff games and is tied for fifth overall in points (9) in the league.
• Topi Niemelä had the primary assist on Ellis’ second period goal. He has four points (1 goal, 3 assists) in six games.
• Radim Zohorna picked up the secondary assists on Ellis’ second period goal and Steeves’ third period goal.
• Erik Källgren stopped 15 of 19 shots he faced in 27:01 of play. Keith Petruzzelli stopped 9 of 11 shots he faced in relief.

TEAM NOTES

• The Marlies went 3-for-5 on the penalty kill and 4-for-6 on the power play. Toronto is 1-2 when scoring on the power play and 1-3 when allowing a goal on the penalty kill. Toronto tied the recorded for most power play goals scored in a single playoff game (4).
• Toronto had a 38-30 edge in shots in all situations. Joseph Blandisi led the Marlies with six shots on goal. Toronto is 3-3 when outshooting their opponent.

POSTGAME QUOTES

HEAD COACH GREG MOORE

On today’s game:

The power play had success tonight. We would have liked to have created more five-on-five. The first half of the game and the tail-end of the second, we got them in their defensive zone for quite some time. We had some good looks and chances, had a hard time scoring on those chances but if I’m evaluating our team’s play compared to Game 1, it was so much better. In the long we keep playing like this, we give us a good chance to come back in this series regardless of where it is right now.

On where the game slipped away:
The second period certainly had some interesting events. (We) got a little distracted in the second period. There was probably a two-to-three-minute window of a couple quick goals that were a little bit more of our own defensive breakdown and then our group was clearly frustrated with how things were going in the second.

On Game 3:
Our team has shown confidence all year to come back in every scenario and situation that we’ve been in. That’s why we’ve had the success that we’ve had, it’s because of the character and the belief in our group, and we will definitely be going into Game 3 with that belief.

UPCOMING GAMES:
*All times Eastern Standard Time

Game 3 – May 17 at Rochester – 7:05 p.m.
*Game 4 – May 19 at Rochester – 7:05 p.m.
*Game 5 – May 21 vs. Rochester – 4:00 p.m.

Pre Game:

The Toronto Marlies host the Rochester Americans in Game Two of the North Division Final. Rochester currently leads the best-of-five series 1-0. 

Game One between the divisional rivals was closely fought. The Marlies opened the scoring early in Game one, but the Americans responded and took a 4-1 lead in the third period. Toronto fought back to within one, but their efforts came up just short. Toronto had a 23-20 edge in shots in all situations.  

“There were spurts there in that game,” said Head Coach Greg Moore. “A little bit in the second, more so in the third, where the guys finally realize, okay well if we’re not going to play the right way, and we’ll get back to the plan, and they did that in the third and we got the ice tilted a little better. Now hopefully it’s just the belief in the room that we need to be doing that for 60 minutes for every game going forward. 

“I think that game definitely doesn’t scare me,” said Joseph Blandisi. “It’s a long series and I think we’re going to get the better of them.” 

Players to look out for on the Marlies side include Joseph Blandisi who has seven points (2G, 5A) in five games, and Nick Abruzzese who has five points (1G, 4A) in five games. On the Amerks side, Brett Murray had a goal and an assist in Game One.  

Puck drop is at 4:00pm on the Toronto Maple Leafs app and AHLTV.