The Toronto Marlies are one win away from capturing the Calder Cup for the second time in franchise history.
Toronto Maple Leafs first-round pick Easton Cowan scored the lone goal and Artur Akhtyamov made 24 saves for the shutout as the Marlies beat the visiting Chicago Wolves 1-0 in Game 3 of the AHL championship series on Tuesday.
The Marlies now lead the series 3-0 against the Carolina Hurricanes' top farm club and can hoist the Calder Cup for the first time since 2018 with a win on Thursday in Toronto.
Cowan scored his eighth of the playoffs in the second period, beating brief former Leaf Cayden Primeau with a wrist shot.
Fans were chanting Cowan's name after his goal opened the scoring in Toronto's first home game of the series.
Cowan is trying to cap his season with a championship for the second year in a row after leading the London Knights to the Memorial Cup last season. He spent most of this season with the Leafs, notching 29 points in 66 games.
Akhtyamov, 24, has excelled in the playoffs for Toronto and has put himself in the mix for more work with the Maple Leafs next season.
The Marlies are trying to become the second Canadian team in a row to win the Calder Cup after the Abbotsford Canucks emerged victorious last year.
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