After one of the best seasons in AHL history, expectations for the Toronto Marlies are sky high entering the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs.
And rightly so.
The Marlies own the league’s most prolific offence, the fourth-best defence and more depth than they know what do with (21 players on the roster spent time at the NHL level this season). They are also healthy outside of a few minor bumps and bruises.
On paper they should have no problem in their first-round series against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders.
Bridgeport can’t match the skill or depth of the Marlies, and it will be without two of its best players in second-leading scorer Alan Quine, who is currently with the Islanders, and top defenceman Ryan Pulock, who is out with an injury.
The two teams didn’t play each other in the regular season and you have to go back quite a ways to when they last did:
The Marlies will open the five-game series Saturday night in Bridgeport after opting to start on the road, ensuring all three possible elimination games will be played at home. Toronto won 27 games at home and 27 on the road, so starting away shouldn’t be much of an issue.
Schedule:
Game 1: Saturday, Apr. 23 – Toronto at Bridgeport, 7:00 p.m. (LeafsTV)
Game 2: Sunday, Apr. 24 – Toronto at Bridgeport, 5:00 p.m. (LeafsTV)
Game 3: Thursday, Apr. 28 – Bridgeport at Toronto, 7:30 p.m. (Rogers TV)
*Game4: Friday, Apr. 29 – Bridgeport at Toronto, 7:30 p.m. (Rogers TV)
*Game 5: Sunday, May 1 – Bridgeport at Toronto, 3:00 p.m. (Rogers TV)
*if necessary
Steve Dangle will be watching:
Record: 54-16-5-1 (114 points), First in North Division, First in Eastern Conference
Power play: 17.4% (10th)
Penalty kill: 84.0% (12th)
Goal differential: 294 GF (1st) | 191 GA (4th)
Leading Scorer: T.J. Brennan, D (69 GP, 25 G, 43 A)
Players of Interest
William Nylander, C
All eyes will be on William Nylander in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
His abilities are well documented and his numbers in the AHL this season — 18 goals and 45 points in 38 games — are impressive, but how he fares when things tighten up against tougher competition will be an interesting storyline to monitor.
Nylander had three assists in five playoff games in his rookie season, but with more experience and a better supporting cast it’s fair to expect bigger things from the team’s top prospect this time around.
Frederik Gauthier, C
Playoff hockey is right in Frederik Gauthier’s wheelhouse.
The hulking, defensive-minded centre has been counted on throughout his career to play key minutes in big games, whether it was with Canada at the world juniors or during his Memorial Cup run with Rimouski. Although he is just a rookie and the AHL is a different beast, Gauthier could be an important factor for the Marlies over the course of a playoff run.
Garret Sparks/Antoine Bibeau, G
Given his extended run with the Maple Leafs and his sparkling numbers in the AHL this season, you would think the Marlies would turn to Garret Sparks in the playoffs.
But that might not be the case.
Antoine Bibeau has been on a roll lately, going 7-1-0 with a .937 save percentage and two shutouts to close out the season. Sparks, on the other hand, struggled down the stretch with the Leafs but was fantastic upon rejoining the Marlies, picking up the win in a 45-save performance in the season finale.
With both showing they are capable of carrying the load and neither having much AHL playoff experience, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Marlies lean on both in the post-season.
T.J. Brennan, D: While most of the focus this season has been on the future of the Maple Leafs, you can’t ignore what T.J. Brennan has meant for the Marlies.
The 27-year-old defenceman was an offensive juggernaut from the back end, scoring 25 goals and finishing third in league scoring with 68 points. His big shot from the point and puck-moving ability has been a key factor in Toronto’s league-leading offence. With five trips to the post-season under his belt, Brennan also brings some experience to a team with its fair share of first-timers.
Check out last month’s Toronto Maple Leafs prospect report for some info on players not listed above.
Record: 40-29-4-3 (87 points), Fifth in Atlantic Division, Eighth in Eastern Conference
Power play: 12.1% (30th)
Penalty kill: 84.9% (9th)
Goal differential: 209 GF (18th) | 220 GA (16th)
Leading Scorer: Bracken Kearns, LW (73 GP, 23 G, 30 A)
Players of Interest
Michael Dal Colle, LW:
The Sound Tigers don’t have much firepower up front, but Michael Dal Colle has the ability to give them just that.
The fifth overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, Dal Colle was one of the hottest players in the second half of the OHL this year with 27 goals and 55 points in 30 games after being traded from Oshawa to Kingston. He added another 18 points in nine playoff games before reporting to Bridgeport after the Frontenacs were swept in the second round of the OHL playoffs. In three games with the Sound Tigers, Dal Colle was held pointless with three shots on goal and a minus-6 rating.
Christopher Gibson, G:
Gibson is currently on loan to the New York Islanders, but with Thomas Greiss healthy and Jean-Francois Berube handling backup duties, the former Marlies goalie will likely return for the start of the playoffs.
The 23-year-old Finn was Bridgeport’s top goalie this season, registering a 2.70 goals-against average and .909 save percentage in 42 games. Gibson put together a solid regular season with the Marlies in 2014-15, finishing with a 2.42 GAA and .921 save percentage, but struggled in Toronto’s first-round loss to Grand Rapids. He was traded to the Islanders in the off-season as part of the Michael Grabner trade.
Matt Finn, D:
Finn made positive strides in his second season after a rocky start to his pro career.
Another piece in the trade that sent Grabner to the Leafs, Finn had three points in his first 18 games before being sent to the ECHL in early January. Upon returning in March, he had 11 points in his final 15 games and finished second among Bridgeport blue liners with six goals.
Finn, the 35th pick in the 2012 draft, had a goal and two assists in 28 games with the Marlies last season.
Bracken Kearns, LW:
Journeyman forward Bracken Kearns has been a good story for the Sound Tigers this season.
The former University of Calgary Dinos captain made his return to the AHL after spending last year in the Finnish Liiga and led the Sound Tigers in scoring with 23 goals and 53 points in 78 games.
The 34-year-old has had a few cups of coffee in the NHL with the Islanders, Florida Panthers and San Jose Sharks, where at age 32 he became the oldest player in franchise history to score his first NHL goal.
Justin Vaive, LW:
The son of former Maple Leafs captain, Rick Vaive.
