Marlies Lose To Utica, Locked Into 3rd
10 years ago
If everything went the right way for the Toronto Marlies over the weekend, they had a reasonable chance of jumping into the second seed in the western conference to finish the season. However, this plan was quickly derailed, as tonight’s game saw them lose to the Utica Comets by a score of 3 to 2.
The first period went by without much important action – no scoring, and just a single penalty. But it was very much controlled by Utica, and required Christopher Gibson to make sixteen saves in the first twenty minutes.
In the second, however, things began to open up. Josh Leivo sprung Brad Staubitz for an unlikely breakaway, and while he wasn’t successful initially, he jammed his own rebound to open the scoring. That lead only lasted a couple of seconds however, as the Comets came right back, with Yann Sauve ripping a wrister past Gibson to tie the game. Before the period closed out, Josh Leivo regained the lead for the Marlies, notching his 22nd of the season.
The early third period was where the game slipped away for Toronto. A rebound off of Gibson ended up off a body and in his own net to tie the game, and two minutes later, Cal O’Reilly added what ended up being the game winner.
Other Notes
Christopher Gibson started in goal, and stopped 28 of 31 shots. An overall good performance from him; the second goal was a crazy bounce, and you could argue the first and third goals either way. He was definitely the reason they were in the game for so long though, particularly in the first period.
Dylan Yeo returned to the lineup after extended time missed from injury. He’s probably happy to be back, but not so happy about the tying goal going off this skate.. he also caused Toronto’s lone penalty kill with a high stick in the first period.
Josh Leivo lead the team with four shots.
Tomorrow is the last game of the regular season, and it’s at Ricoh Coliseum against the Rochester Americans. 3PM start.
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