Toronto Marlies Fall To Lehigh Valley Phantoms in Tuesday Night Showdown

The Toronto Marlies fell 2-1 to the Phantoms on Tuesday night at Coca-Cola Coliseum. Toronto is now second in the North Division with a 9-5-2-0 record.

Olle Lycksell opened the scoring for the Phantoms with a powerplay goal just under 13 minutes into the second period. Garrett Wilson added the second Phantom goal just over 11 minutes into the third.

Kieffer Bellows scored the lone Toronto goal with just over five minutes remaining in the game. The goal extended his point streak to eight games, tied for the third longest streak in the AHL this season.

Dennis Hildeby stopped 32 of 34 shots in the game. Hildeby now leads the AHL in goals against average and save percentage this season.

“Well, I mean, if it wasn’t for him we would’ve been, we would’ve had a tough climb ahead in the first period,” head coach John Gruden said about Hildeby after the game. “Some of the saves he made were remarkable. He gave us a chance. He’s playing confident.”

Gruden also said today’s game will provide an important lesson for the team moving forward.

“You’re going to have to win like that down the road, whether it’s a 2-1 or a 3-2 game, it’s usually a race to three,” Gruden said. “That’s the way you’re going to win consistently and at the end of the season. We have to get to that point where we’re comfortable putting pucks in deeper and wanna chase them down instead of have possession all the time.”

The Marlies will be back in action in Cleveland on Friday against the Monsters at 7:00pm. The game can be seen live on AHLTV.

SCORING SUMMARY

Lehigh Valley: O. Lycksell (11) PP (T. Laczynski, C. Marody), G. Wilson (4) (V. Mete)
Goaltender: C. Petersen (24/25) W

Toronto: K. Bellows (6) (J. Blandisi, W. Villeneuve)
Goaltender: D. Hildeby (32/34) L

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ON THE SCORESHEET

• Kieffer Bellows scored at 14:39 of the third period. He has points (6-6-12) in eight consecutive games.
• Joseph Blandisi recorded the primary assist on Bellows’ third period goal. He has 11 points (4 goals, 7 assists) in 14 games this season.
• William Villeneuve registered the secondary assist on Bellows’ third period goal. He has six assists in 13 games this season.
• Dennis Hildeby stopped 32 of 34 shots he faced.

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TEAM NOTES

• The Marlies went 1-for-2 on the penalty kill and 0-for-6 on the power play. Toronto is 5-4-0-0 when not scoring on the power play and 4-2-2-0 when allowing a goal on the penalty kill.
• Lehigh Valley had a 34-25 edge in shots in all situations. Dylan Gambrell led the Marlies with four shots on goal. Toronto is 1-2-0-0 when outshot by their opponent.
• The Marlies are 1-2-0-0 against Atlantic Division opponents and are 0-1-0-0 against the Phantoms.

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POSTGAME QUOTES

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HEAD COACH JOHN GRUDEN

On tonight’s game:

We said that was going to be a challenge. They’re a big, heavy team. They’re willing to play an old school game of winning the battles along the walls and throwing pucks to the net and grinding you out. They did a pretty good job of it. Thought at times we managed it well, but at the end of the day, good test for us moving forward.

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On Dennis Hildeby’s performance:

If it wasn’t for him we wouldn’t have been in it, we would’ve had a tough climb ahead in the first period. Some of the saves he made were remarkable. He gave us a chance. He’s playing confident and again, it’s really well done on his part.

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UPCOMING GAMES:
*All times Eastern Standard Time

November 24 at Cleveland – 7:00 p.m.
November 26 vs. Cleveland – 4:00 p.m.
December 1 at Syracuse – 7:00 p.m.
December 2 vs. Syracuse – 4:00 p.m.
December 5 vs. Grand Rapids – 7:00 p.m.