The Toronto Maple Leafs season is over, but their AHL affiliate has seen some success in the Calder Cup Playoffs. The Toronto Marlies faced their second elimination game against the North Division-winning Laval Rocket, after having blown an opportunity to close out the best-of-five series at home earlier in the week. In Game 5, the Leafs affiliate trailed 2-1 entering the third period, but Reese Johnson tied the game, and Vinni Lettieri scored with 9:38 remaining to give the Marlies a 3-2 win. Toronto now advances to the North Division Final to face the Cleveland Monsters, who eliminated Syracuse in four games.
Lettieri, who played for the Bruins and AHL Providence last season, is second in playoff scoring with nine points (5 goals, 4 assists). William Villeneuve, who assisted on Lettieri’s game-winner and had a cup of coffee with the Leafs at the end of the year, is leading the AHL in defensive scoring (8 points) and assists (7). Rookie Easton Cowan is benefiting from the playoff experience and has six points (2 goals, 4 assists) in eight games.
Here is the schedule for the series:
| NORTH DIVISION FINALS | |||
| DATE | GAME | TIME | |
| Thursday, May 14 | Game 1 – Toronto Marlies at Cleveland Monsters | 7:00 p.m. EST | |
| Saturday, May 16 | Game 2 – Toronto Marlies at Cleveland Monsters | 7:00 p.m. EST | |
| Wednesday, May 20 | Game 3 – Cleveland Monsters at Toronto Marlies | 7:00 p.m. EST | |
| Friday, May 22 | *Game 4 – Cleveland Monsters at Toronto Marlies | 7:00 p.m. EST | |
| Sunday, May 24 | *Game 5 – Toronto Marlies at Cleveland Monsters | 3:00 p.m. EST | |
