Toronto Marlies Wrap Up Opening Weekend With Win Over Utica Comets

The Marlies took down the Comets 5-2 on Sunday afternoon. Toronto is now 1-0-1-0 on the season.

The Marlies got on the scoresheet early with Pontus Holmberg netting his first of the year just under thirty seconds into the opening frame. Dylan Gambrell followed him up just over a minute and a half later, giving the Marlies an early 2-0 lead. The Comets added a goal a few minutes later with Graeme Clark scoring to make it 2-1 Marlies at 4:20 in the first period.

Ryan Tverberg picked up his first career AHL goal mid-way through the first, extending the lead to 3-1 at 11:24. Just over 20 seconds later, Nicholas Robertson broke through with his first of the season, giving the Marlies a 4-1 advantage at 11:47 in the first.

After the game, Joseph Blandisi said today’s game was just the start for Tverberg.

“I think he’s in for a pretty big season,” Blandisi said. “He’s got a lot of speed and skill to go with it. Excited to see where he ends at the end of the year.”

Xavier Parent was the lone goal scorer in the second, adding a goal for the Comets at 7:14 in the second.

Robertson netted his second goal of the game in the third, scoring just over six minutes into the final frame. The third period marker extended Robertson’s point total to five through just two games this season.

“He’s a shooter,” head coach John Gruden said on Robertson after the game. “We saw how dangerous his shot is. He had a couple assists too where he made a couple nice passes, made a nice pass to Holmberg yesterday. Got to continue to stay confident and keep growing his game.”

Martin Jones also picked up his first win as a member of the Marlies, stopping 19 of 21 shots.

The Marlies are back in action next Saturday against the Charlotte Checkers at Coca-Cola Coliseum at 4:00pm. The game can be watched on the Toronto Maple Leafs app or on AHLTV.

SCORING SUMMARY

Utica: G. Clarke (1) PP (J. Dowling), X. Parent (1) (J. Dowling)
Goaltender: E. Källgren (5/9) L, I. Poulter (25/26)

Toronto: P. Holmberg (1) (A. Steeves, N. Robertson), D. Gambrell (1) PP (J. Blandisi, M. Ellis), R. Tverberg (1) (T. Miller, K. Clifford), N. Robertson (1) (P. Holmberg, A. Steeves), N. Robertson (2) (J. Blandisi, R. Tverberg)
Goaltender: M. Jones (21/23) W

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ON THE SCORESHEET

• Pontus Holmberg opened the scoring 32 seconds into the first period. This was his first goal of the season. He also added the primary assist on Robertson’s first period goal.
• Dylan Gambrell scored on the power play at 2:09 of the first period. He had 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) in 60 games with the Ottawa Senators last season.
• Ryan Tverberg scored at 11:24 of the first period. This was his first professional goal. He also added the secondary assist on Robertson’s third period goal.
• Nicholas Robertson scored at 11:47 of the first period and at 6:21 of the third period. He also added the secondary assist on Holmberg’s goal in the first period. He has five points (2 goals, 3 assists) in two games.
• Alex Steeves recorded the primary assist on Holmberg’s goal and the secondary assist on Robertson’s goal, both in the first period. He had 51 points (19 goals, 32 assists) in 65 games last season.
• Joseph Blandisi picked up the primary assists on Gambrell’s first period power play goal and Robertson’s third period goal. He had 39 points (15 goals, 24 assists) in 61 games this past season.
• Max Ellis had the secondary assist on Gambrell’s first period power play goal. He recorded 10 assists in 49 games last season.
• Tommy Miller registered the primary assist on Tverberg’s first period goal.
• Kyle Clifford had the secondary assist on Tverberg’s first period goal.
• Martin Jones stopped 21 of 23 shots he faced.

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TEAM NOTES

• The Marlies went 4-for-5 on the penalty kill and 0-for-6 on the power play. Toronto is 1-0-0-0 when not scoring on the power play and 1-0-1-0 when allowing a goal on the penalty kill.
• Toronto had a 35-23 edge in shots in all situations. Max Lajoie, Bobby McMann andNicholas Robertson led the Marlies with eight shots on goal. Toronto is 1-0-1-0 when outshooting their opponent.
• The Marlies are 1-0-1-0 against North Division opponents and are 1-0-0-0 against the Comets this season.

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POSTGAME QUOTES

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HEAD COACH JOHN GRUDEN

On today’s win:

I liked our start, obviously, scoring four goals in the first period. More importantly, I liked the way we handled the third — outscoring them 1-0. We were more detailed. We were stopping and starting in our own end. We were closing quickly, not give them anything. If they’re going to come back on us, we’re going to make sure they’re going 200 feet.

DYLAN GAMBRELL (1 GOAL)

On the importance of the team’s forward depth:
Big time. Gruds said it before the game. He can throw out any line and feel comfortable in any situation. It’s been fun so far. Early in the year, looking to grow some more.

JOSEPH BLANDISI (2 ASSISTS)

On John Gruden:

He’s good. He’s very detailed. He’s got the boys working. We’re going to be a working group this year. We’re going to work to get to our skill. It’s definitely an exciting time here and it’s an exciting group of people we got.

UPCOMING GAMES:
*All times Eastern Standard Time

October 21 vs. Charlotte – 4:00 p.m.
October 22 vs. Charlotte – 4:00 p.m.
October 24 vs. Milwaukee – 7:00 p.m.
October 27 at Belleville – 7:00 p.m.
October 28 at Belleville – 7:00 p.m.