Patrick WilliamsTheAHL.com Features Writer
The Toronto Marlies caused a lot of damage in their last swing at the Coca-Cola Coliseum.
On June 5, they defeated the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals to take a 3-2 series lead. From there, they hit the road, eliminated the Penguins in an overtime victory in Game 6, and traveled to Chicago to take the first two games of the Calder Cup Finals.
If the Marlies accomplish their goals this week, they won’t be back on the road.
Back in front of their home fans for the first time in 11 days, the Marlies look to take part in the Finals as they host the Chicago Wolves in Game 3 today (7 ET,
FloHockey 24/7, Sportsnet 360, NHL Network, NHL Network Radio).
Toronto has rebounded on the road, winning six straight and sitting at 9-3 this postseason. However, the home ice was less. They are just 5-4 in their nine home dates this postseason. But the Marlies have been remarkably resilient. A team that had a ho-hum regular season, finishing fourth in the North Division, has shown the ability to bounce back against some of the AHL’s top competition.
These Marlies just don’t quit.
They erased two Chicago leads in Game 1 on Friday night. They did it twice more Sunday in Game 2. And when the Wolves pushed back, they scored with 16.7 seconds left in regulation to put the game into overtime. Captain of the Marlies Logan Shaw they scored 3:46 into overtime to win 5-4 which made them take control of the homecoming series. Toronto’s top line is Shaw in the middle Bo Groulx again Vinnie Lettieri was already outstanding, with a combined 12 points in the series.
But now comes a possible Chicago pushback. The Wolves had their share of success in the postseason, getting past the Texas Stars, upsetting the Grand Rapids Griffins, and taking Games 6 and 7 in Colorado to earn a matchup with Toronto. The Marlies went through this situation against the Penguins as well, winning twice in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton but seeing the Penguins win two of three in Toronto.
The Marlies saw some of that response from Chicago to start Game 2 there Charles Alexis LegaultA goal at 1:53 put them behind. The head coach John Gruden he said that after that.
“They came out ready to go, and it’s not like we weren’t ready,” Gruden said. “The team is going back to the wall, they are in their home building, they will have a quick push to start the game.”
However, the Marlies answered back with Groulx’s first goal, then went back, and answered with it Alex Nylanderpenalty goal to make it 2-2. The Wolves didn’t go, but neither did the Marlies.
“Hey, our guys have been through this whole streak for a long time,” Gruden continued. “No you stop. It’s the attitude of the next person and the luck of finding a way.”
It’s a busy time around the Fairgrounds in Toronto these days. It will be a standing room only crowd tonight – and possibly Thursday and Friday (if necessary) as well – at the Coca-Cola Coliseum. The FIFA World Cup 2026 will host home games at BMO Field on Wednesday and Saturday.
But even though this isn’t a regular season game and these Wolves aren’t regular opponents, the Marlies can’t afford to get frustrated just yet.
“We’re going to come out and be the best version of ourselves,” Gruden insisted. “We don’t have to make a show. We don’t have to do things to see. We have to lean on each other to help in these times, because it’s a fun time. Everyone should want to play in these times.”
In the American Hockey League for two decades, TheAHL.com features writer Patrick Williams and currently covers the league for NHL.com and FloSports and is a regular contributor to SiriusXM NHL Network Radio. He was the recipient of the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for the league’s top scorer in 2016.
