Toronto Marlies Complete Suspended Game With Win Over Manitoba

The Toronto Marlies defeated the Manitoba Moose 4-2 on Friday night to complete the previously suspended game from January 13th. The game was suspended following the 1st period where the score was tied at 1.

In the second period of this game, Nick Abruzzese scored at 2:42 in the frame to make it 2-1 for the home team. Later, Alex Steeves added another for Toronto at 8:55 to extend their lead to two. Less than a minute later, Marc Johnstone scored at 9:31 to add another for Toronto and make it 4-1. Just 16 seconds later, Alex Limoges scored to keep Manitoba within two.

In the third, both teams exchanged chances, but Toronto held on for a 4-2 victory.

As the statistics and results of this game are retroactive to January 13th, the Marlies set a new franchise record winning streak at nine games from January 3rd to January 21st.

The Marlies return to action on February 15th when they host the Utica Comets. Puck drop is at 11:00am on the Toronto Maple Leafs app and AHLTV.

SCORING SUMMARY

Manitoba: A. Limoges (12) PP (J. Malott, D. Toninato), A. Limoges (13) (J. Malott)
Goaltender: O. Salminen (10/13) L, A. Holm (7/8)

Toronto: M. Abramov (6) (M. Ellis, M. Hellickson), N. Abruzzese (15) (M. Rifai, B McMann), A. Steeves (17) (A. Gaudette, P. Holmberg), M. Johnstone (5) (D. Hunt, J. Blandisi)
Goaltender: E. Källgren (4/5), J. Woll (21/22) W

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ON THE SCORESHEET

• Mikhail Abramov opened the scoring at 6:49 of the first period. He has 16 points (6 goals, 10 assists) through 32 games this season.
• Nick Abruzzese scored at 2:42 of the second period. He now has tied Rasmus Sandin’s point streak as a rookie at eight games. Abruzzese would collect 13 points (6 goals, 7 assists) from Jan. 7 to Jan. 21.
• Alex Steeves scored at 8:55 of the second period. He has 39 points (17 goals, 22 assists) through 44 games with the Marlies.
• Marc Johnstone scored at 9:31 of the second period. He has 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists) in 44 games this season. Johnstone originally recorded his first career AHL goal on Jan. 14 against Rochester.
• Max Ellis recorded the primary assist on Abramov’s first period goal. He has 13 points (4 goals, 9 assists) in 32 games with the Marlies.
• Matthew Hellickson had the secondary assist on Abramov’s first period goal. He had two assists through 23 games
• Marshall Rifai collected the primary assist on Abruzzese’s second period goal. He has 13 points (4 goals, 9 assists) in 46 games.
• Bobby McMann recorded the secondary assist on Abruzzese’s second period goal. He has 19 points (11 goals, 8 assists) in 22 games with the Marlies.
• Adam Gaudette registered the primary assist on Steeves’ second period goal. He extended his point streak (3-3-6) to five games from Jan. 3 to Jan. 13.
• Pontus Holmberg picked up the secondary assist on Steeves’ second period goal. He has seven points (2 goals, 5 assists) in 15 games with the Marlies.
• Dryden Hunt had the primary assist on Johnstone’s second period goal. He has five points (2 goals, 3 assists) in nine games with the Marlies.
• Joseph Blandisi recorded the secondary assist on Johnston’s second period goal. He extended his point streak (2-5-7) to five games from Jan. 11 to Jan. 21.
• Joseph Woll stopped 21 of 22 shots he faced in 40:00 of action. Erik Källgren stopped 4 of 5 shots he faced through the first period on Jan. 13.

TEAM NOTES

• Tonight’s game is a resumption of play from Jan. 13 which was suspended following the first period. All statistics are retroactive to Jan. 13.
• Toronto set a franchise record with nine straight wins from Jan 3 to Jan. 21.
• The Marlies went 2-for-3 on the penalty kill and did not have a power play. Toronto is 8-7-0-0 when not scoring on the power play and 17-4-2-0 when allowing a goal on the penalty kill.
• Manitoba had a 27-21 edge in shots in all situations. Nick Abruzzese, Joseph Blandisi, Adam Gaudette, Bobby McMann, Logan Shaw, Alex Steeves and William Villeneuve led the Marlies with two shots on goal. Toronto is 15-5-2-1 when outshot by their opponent.
• The Marlies are 6-2-1-0 against Central Division opponents and finish their regular season series 3-1-0-0 against the Manitoba Moose.

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POSTGAME QUOTES

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HEAD COACH GREG MOORE

On tonight’s game:
I really liked our team’s start to what was a second period but ultimately it was that start that gave us our chance to find a win today. It could be hard chasing it but I was really happy with how the guys came out.

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On challenging for Nick Abruzzese’s goal:
It was tough from our vantage point from the bench. We didn’t even know or think it was something that we should challenge. Troy Paquette, our video coach, did a great job radioing into AJ (MacLean) that we might want to take a look at. Trusted that what his view from what he’s seeing on film was accurate.

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On two periods of hockey:

These guys know they only have forty minutes to empty a tank, you knew it was going to be a high-octane game and that’s why the start was so important.

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On the third period:

I really liked our five-on-six, pulled the goalie defending, our structure in our D-zone, how aggressive the guys were, it was much improved. Those are types of moments in games where we’ve got to be calm, cool and collect and execute at a high level and I thought our team did that.

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UPCOMING GAMES:
*All times Eastern Standard Time

February 15 vs. Utica – 11:00 a.m.
February 17 at Rochester – 7:05 p.m.
February 18 vs. Rochester – 4:00 p.m.
February 20 vs. Utica – 3:00 p.m. (Scotiabank Arena)
February 25 vs. Laval – 4:00 p.m.