Toronto Marlies live to fight another day with a win in Game 6
With the Toronto Marlies facing elimination on home ice, they were able to take care of business and force a Game 7 in Syracuse.
The good news for the Toronto Marlies is they live to fight another day. The bad news is they will have to find a way to win a game on the road, in order to avoid elimination.
It has been tough to know who has the momentum in this series. The Marlies lost Game 5 in Syracuse 5-1, then come back home and to take Game 6, 2-1.
Toronto found themselves down 1-0 early, after Andreas Johnson misplayed the puck and Michael Bournival made a strong power move and put a shot past Kasimir Kaskisuo. Head coach Sheldon Keefe spoke earlier in the series that the team’s power play had to be better, if they wanted any chance of moving on.
Marlies death spiral on PP continues. Threatening to go 0-for-8 since Game 5 and just gave up SHG to Bournival. Assist to ex-Leaf Froese.
— Lance Hornby 🇺🇦 (@sunhornby) May 16, 2017
It did not take long until the Marlies finally capitalized with the man advantage and it was the rookie Carl Grundstrom, who got them on the board. His power play marker in the second period was Grundstrom’s fourth point in his last five games. It is impressive to see the young Swede adapt to the smaller ice surface, let alone contribute offensively.
Carl Grundstrom has his third of the playoffs with a quick move from behind the net. #Marlies and Crunch tied 1-1.#MarliesLive pic.twitter.com/RVy3EhGMv0
— Toronto Marlies (@TorontoMarlies) May 16, 2017
With the teams deadlocked in the third period, the Marlies were given another chance on the power play and once again they made the most of their opportunity. It was another rookie who would play the hero for Toronto, as Andrew Nielsen scored his biggest goal of the season with a blast from the point that got past Mike McKenna.
Andrew Nielsen and Seth Griffith play a little keep away before Nielsen connects on the one-timer to put the #Marlies ahead.#MarliesLive pic.twitter.com/qQbOVH7Cs6
— Toronto Marlies (@TorontoMarlies) May 16, 2017
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Nielsen’s struggles defensively had been a major talking point in the series and Keefe noted after the game that he has started to find his game the more he has played. The 20-year old’s strength heading into this season was his offensive play and it finally showed with his booming shot from the point.
The Marlies finished the game two-for-six with the man advantage and if the they want any chance of moving on, it starts with finding a way to capitalize on the power play.
After allowing the first goal of the game, Kaskisuo settled in to make 27 saves. Cal O’Reilly and Seth Griffith both finished the game with two assists, as the veterans help the rookies get through a pressure-filled game.
Next: Darren Raddysh is worth a look
Puck drop for Game 7 in Syracuse is at 7:00 pm on Wednesday night. The winner will move on to play either the Hershey Bears or the Providence Bruins.