Marlies Travel Across Canada For Two Games Against Abbotsford
February 8, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Toronto Marlies News Release
Opponents This Week:
(Feb. 8 & 9) The Marlies play back-to-back games against the Heat in Abbotsford, AHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames, on Monday and Tuesday night. The games will be the fourth and fifth meetings between the two clubs this season. Abbotsford holds a 2-1-0-0 advantage against the Marlies through the first three games. Matt Keetley made 26 saves in the last meeting for the shutout in the Heat's 3-0 win at Ricoh Coliseum on December 1. The Heat currently ranks fifth in the North Division with a record of 22-23-4-3 for 51 points, six points ahead of Toronto. Abbotsford has struggled lately, winning just two games over their past 10 contests. They rank first in the American Hockey League in penalty minutes with 1279. The first two meetings between the Heat and Marlies in Abbotsford, the clubs combined for 239 penalty minutes. Abbotsford has four players with over 100 penalty minutes this season (J.D. Watt, Garth Murray, Matt Pelech and Ryley Grantham). Jason Jaffray paces the Heat in goals, assists and points (17 goals, 21 assists) and also has a team-high plus-15 rating. Jaffray has been deadly on the penalty kill, scoring four shorthanded goals. Goaltender Leland Irving has a record of 11-15-2 with a 2.68 goals-against average and 0.909 save percentage. Keith Aulie returns to Abbotsford for the first time after being traded from Calgary to Toronto last week. The 6'5, 217-pound defenceman played in 43 games with the Heat, tallying two goals and four assists for six points.
(Feb. 12 & 13): The Marlies continue their four-game road trip with back-to-back games against the Manitoba Moose, AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, at the MTS Centre on Friday and Saturday night with both games set for 8:30 p.m. (ET) The two teams will face-off eight times in total this season. This season, the Marlies hold a record of 0-1-0-1 against the Moose with both contests at the MTS Centre. The Moose have picked up at least a point in two straight games, but only have three victories over their last 10 contests. Manitoba currently ranks third in the North Division with a 25-22- 5-1 record for 56 points through 53 games. The Moose have played two more games than Toronto this season and the Marlies trail them by 11 points in the North Division standings. The Marlies met the Moose in the first round of the 2009 Calder Cup Playoffs, where they fell to the Moose in six games. Toronto led the series 2-1 but then lost three straight. The Marlies hold an all-time regular season record of 12-18-2-2 against the Moose, with a 5-10-2-1 road record. Right-Winger Sergei Shirokov currently leads the team in scoring with 34 points (16 goals, 18 assists). Shirokov was selected in the sixth round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Canucks. He played the 2008-09 season in the KHL for CSKA Moscow where he totaled 41 points (17 goals, 24 assists) in 56 games. Goaltender Cory Schneider posts a record of 21-15-1 with a 2.71 goals-against average and 0.909 save percentage. Schneider ranks tied for third in wins and fourth in minutes played (2190) in the AHL.
MARLIES HEADLINES:
What Happened Last Week: The Marlies failed to pick up a win in their two games over the weekend (0-2-0-0). They began their two-game week on Friday night in Grand Rapids with a 6-3 loss to the Griffins. Toronto surrendered four goals in the first period, but Ashton Rome, Ben Simon and Greg Scott made it 4-3 in the third period. The Griffins tacked on a power play and empty net goal to close out the game. Toronto dropped a 2-1 decision to the Bulldogs on Saturday night. Andre Deveaux scored his 14th goal of the season, but the Bulldogs got two goals from Michael Glumac to edge the Marlies. Toronto was out-shot 43-12 in the game. Joey MacDonald kept the game close, making 41 saves in the loss. The Marlies are currently tied for sixth place in the North Division with an 18-24-5-4 record for 45 points and sit seven points out of a playoff spot.
Home Sweet Home: The Marlies have played their best hockey on home ice this season, holding a 13-7-3-2 advantage at Ricoh Coliseum. The Marlies have earned a point in six of their past eight home contests. They greeted their season-high crowd of 7,084 with a 4-3 win over Hamilton on January 23 after their season-high, eight-game road trip. The Marlies have earned at least a point in 16 of their past 22 contests on home ice. Toronto returns to Ricoh Coliseum after their four-game road trip on February 15 for a 2:00 p.m. puck-drop on Family Day against the Abbotsford Heat.
Putting Up Points: Since joining the Marlies line-up on January 22 in Grand Rapids, Tim Brent has posted a point in six of his eight games (four goals, four assists). On January 31 against Lake Erie, Brent notched a goal and an assist in Toronto's 4-2 win. Brent was the game's first star in the game. Greg Scott has registered a point in eight of his past 11 games, recording five goals and five assists during that span. On January 31 versus Lake Erie, Scott notched his fourth multi-point game of the season (one goal, one assist), picking up third star honours. Kyle Calder has tallied a point in five of his past seven contests (one goal, five assists).
New Faces: Toronto had three players make their Marlie debuts on January 22 in Grand Rapids. Tim Brent, Justin Hodgman and Ryan Stokes all skated in the Marlies 4-1 victory. Brent, who missed the first 42 games due to injury, scored in back-to-back games for the Marlies when he entered the line-up (both coming on the power play). Hodgman scored his first career AHL goal on January 22 against the Bulldogs. In eight games, Stokes has recorded a plus-five rating and one assist.
Keeping It Close: The Marlies have a very impressive record this season when the game is decided by one goal, marking a record of 11-1-5-4. 11 of their 18 victories this season have come in one-goal contests. Christian Hanson and Troy Bodie share the club lead with three game-winning tallies. The Marlies own an 11-0-2-1 record when taking the lead into the third period. Toronto holds an 11-6-4 record when scoring the game's opening goal and are 16-6-5 when they score three or more goals in a game.
Devo Time: Andre Deveaux has registered points in three straight games for the Marlies (two goals, one assist). He scored his team-leading 14th of the season on Saturday against the Bulldogs in the team's 2-1 loss. Deveaux's goal came on a power play, giving him four tallies while on the man-advantage this season. He ranks first on the club in points with 30 (14 goals, 16 assists) and second with 124 penalty minutes. Deveaux paces the club in goals and ranks third in assists.
Multi-Point Games: The Marlies failed to have a player register a multi-point game over the weekend. Greg Scott and Tim Brent were the last players to record a multi-point contest when they each had a goal and an assist on January 31 in the team's 4-2 win over Lake Erie. Christian Hanson and Viktor Stalberg pace the club with eight multi-point games this season.
Multi-Point Games
Hanson 8
Stalberg 8
Deveaux 4
Foster 3
Hamilton 3
Bozak 3
Scott 3
Bodie 2
Calder 2
Mikus 2
Brent 2
Slaney 1
Berry 1
Boyce 1
Ondrus 1
Simon 1
Rogers 1
Hodgman 1
Reading Report: The Toronto Maple Leafs ECHL affiliate, the Reading Royals currently rank second in the East Division with a 23-20-1-3 record for 50 points. The Royals have dropped six of their past seven games, including a 3- 2 loss to Elmira on Saturday. Ben Gordon represented the Royals at the ECHL All-Star Game in mid-January. Gordon's tallied 19 goals and 32 assists for 51 points in 40 games this season, ranking him seventh in the ECHL and first on the Royals in points.
Foster The Statistics: On November 23, the American Hockey League announced that Alex Foster was named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending November 22. In three games during the week, Foster recorded six points (five goals, one assist) and a plus-two rating. In 11 games this season, the Marlies assistant captain has registered six goals and three assists.
MARLIES QUICK HITS:
- The Marlies added defenceman Keith Aulie last Monday, after the Leafs acquired him from the Calgary Flames. In 43 games with the Abbotsford Heat, Aulie posted six points (two goals, four assists) with 32 penalty minutes. Aulie made his Marlies debut on Friday night against Grand Rapids.
- The Marlies have picked up at least a point in five of their past nine games (3-4-0-2).
- The Marlies play their next six games against North Division foes; three against Abbotsford and three versus Manitoba.
- Toronto had a season-low, 12 shots on goal on Sunday versus the Bulldogs.
- Brennan Evans' 146 penalty minutes currently ranks second in the AHL for defencemen and seventh overall.
- Toronto owns a 4-2 record in the shootout on home ice, but has lost both shootouts (0-2) on the road this season.
Reebok/AHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE
For the week ending February 7, 2010, the Toronto Marlies nominated forward Andre Deveaux for consideration as the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week. Deveaux had two points in the Marlies two games over the weekend (one goal, one assist). On Friday night in Grand Rapids he set up the Marlies second goal of the game in the team's 6-3 loss. On Saturday against Hamilton, Deveaux scored his team-leading 14th of the season on the power play. In 49 games with the Marlies he paces the club with 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists).
MARLIES ON THE WEB
Follow the Marlies all season long for the latest, most up-to-date information on their official web site, torontomarlies.com
MARLIES UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:
Monday, February 15 vs. Abbotsford Heat - Family Day Game at 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 20 vs. Manitoba Moose - Terry Sawchuk Bobblehead at 4:00 p.m.
MARLIES RECAP:
Friday, February 5 at Grand Rapids Griffins
Griffins' Four-Goal First Too Much for Marlies
Marlies Goals: Hodgman (2), Rogers (4), Brent (3)
Griffins Goals: Vigilante (8), Ritola (11), Janik (5), Rissmiller 2 (12), Emmerton (8)
Three Stars: 1. Rissmiller (GRA), 2. Vigilante (GRA), 3. Emmerton (GRA)
Recap: The Griffins' four-goal first period was too much for the Marlies to overcome, dropping a 6-3 decision to their division rivals on Friday night. John Vigilante, Mattias Ritola, Doug Janik and Patrick Rissmiller all scored first period goals to give the Griffins a 4-0 lead at the first intermission. After a scoreless second frame, the Marlies fought back with goals by Ashton Rome, Ben Simon and Greg Scott to cut the lead to 4-3. But while on the man-advantage, Patrick Rissmiller scored his second goal of the game to put Grand Rapids back in front by two goals. Joey MacDonald made 27 saves in the loss.
Saturday, February 6 vs. Hamilton Bulldogs
Glumac's Two-Goals Pave Way for Bulldogs Win
Marlies Goal: Deveaux (14)
Bulldogs Goals: Glumac 2 (13)
Three Stars: 1. Glumac (HAM), 2. Subban (HAM), 3. MacDonald (TOR)
Recap: The Marlies dropped their second straight game on Saturday night, losing 2-1 to the Bulldogs in Toronto. Andre Deveaux tipped a Brendan Mikkelson point shot on the power play just 1:45 into the game to put the Marlies on the board. Jonas Frogren collected the second assist on Deveaux's team- leading 14th of the season. Michael Glumac scored two second period goals early in the frame to put the Bulldogs ahead 2-1. After the first two periods, Hamilton outshot Toronto 32-6. Joey MacDonald had a strong effort, making 41 saves, earning third star honours.
American Hockey League Stories from February 8, 2010
- Rivermen Weekly - Peoria Rivermen
- Canadiens Recall Tom Pyatt From Bulldogs; Assign Brock Trotter And Ryan White To Hamilton - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Pirates Plundering Their Way Into Playoff Picture - AHL
- Marlies Travel Across Canada For Two Games Against Abbotsford - Toronto Marlies
- Falcons Players To Visit Famous Dave's Wednesday - Springfield Falcons
- Griffins Embark On Four-Game Trip To Texas And Illinois - Grand Rapids Griffins
- First Place Worcester Sharks Hit The Road - Worcester Sharks
- First-Place Bulldogs Continue To Roll With Two North Division Tilts This Week - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Moose Pick Up 3-Of-4 Points In Week 19 - Manitoba Moose
- Pirates Weekly - Portland Pirates
- Wolves Weekly Notes - Chicago Wolves
- Dallas Recalls Wathier And Sawada - Texas Stars
- Tollefsen Assigned To Griffins - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Wolf Pack Weekly - Connecticut Whale
- Hogs Pick Up Four More Points, Hog Talk At Hooters Tonight - Rockford IceHogs
- Portland's Mark Mancari Named Reebok/AHL Player Of The Week - AHL
- Wolf Pack's Andres Ambuhl Headed To Olympics - Connecticut Whale
- Wolf Pack Release Defenseman Julien Brouillette From PTO - Connecticut Whale
- Canucks Recall Jannik Hansen - Manitoba Moose
- Crunch Players To Sign Autographs At Tully's Good Times - February 9 - Syracuse Crunch
- Abbotsford Heat Hot Sheet - Abbotsford Heat
- Bears First Team to 80 Points - Hershey Bears
- Oilers Reassign Plante And Chorney To Falcons - Springfield Falcons
- Rampage Reassign Gistedt To Las Vegas - San Antonio Rampage
- Monarchs Weekly Report - Manchester Monarchs
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