The Toronto Maple Leafs AHL affiliate is hoping to take a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-five series against the Cleveland Monsters on Saturday after taking the opening game of the North Division Final in Cleveland on Thursday. The Marlies trailed 2-0 late in the second period, but scored five unanswered goals in a 5-2 win.
Artur Akhtyamov has been the primary starter in goal for Toronto, with five postseason wins, and Vinni Lettieri and William Villeneuve lead the club with nine points. The win marked the professional debut of 2024 first round pick Ben Danford, who completed his junior career with the Brantford Bulldogs earlier this month, after they had been eliminated in the OHL Playoffs by Barrie.
“He skates extremely well, he’s smart, he’s strong, he’s physical,” Marlies head coach John Gruden said. “I thought he got stronger as the game went on. It’s going to take some time, but to come in like that your first AHL game was pretty impressive.”
Here is an update on how the former Leafs are doing with clubs in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.:
Eastern Conference
Buffalo
Conor Timmins – GP 11, G 0, A 2, Pts 2, -1, SOG 10, ATOI 16:34, PIM
Tampa Bay
None
Montreal
None
Boston
Fraser Minten – GP 6, -2, SOG 7, ATOI 15:53
Ottawa
Michael Amadio – GP 4, -1, SOG 4, ATOI 16:54, PIM 2
Carolina
Freddie Andersen – GP 8, Record 8-0, GAA 1.12, Save % .950, SO 2
Pittsburgh
Connor Dewar – GP 6, G 2, A 0, Pts 2, SOG 9, ATOI 13:49, PIM 2
Noel Acciari – GP 6, G 0, A 1, Pts 1, -1, SOG 8, ATOI 11:40, PIM 12
Philadelphia
None
Western Conference
Colorado
Nazem Kadri – GP 9, G 2, A 4, Pts 6, +2, SOG 25, ATOI 15:51, PIM 2
Nicolas Roy – GP 9, G 3, A 3, Pts 6, +4, SOG 12, ATOI 12:06, PIM 2
Dallas
Colin Blackwell – GP 6, -2, SOG 5, ATOI 11:55
Minnesota
Nick Foligno GP 11, G 2, A 1, Pts 3, +2, SOG 10, PIM 6, ATOI 12:05
Zach Bogosian GP 9, -2, SOG 3, PIM 4, ATOI 12:45
Utah
Sean Durzi GP 6, G 0, A 2, Pts 2, -2, SOG 5, PIM 4, TOI 16:53
Alex Kerfoot GP 6, G 0, A 1, Pts 1, -3, SOG 5, PIM 6, TOI 17:00
Vegas
Mitch Marner GP 12, G 7, A 11, Pts 18, +11, SOG 29, PIM 4, ATOI 20:56
Edmonton
Kasperi Kapanen – GP 6, G 4, A 2, Pts 6, +7, SOG 15, ATOI 17:53
Zach Hyman – GP 6, G 2, A 0, Pts 2, -6, SOG 13, ATOI 18:49
Anaheim
None
Los Angeles
Trevor Moore – GP 4, G 1, A 1, Pts 2, -1, SOG 11, ATOI 19:47
Scott Laughton GP 4, -2 SOG 12, ATOI 16:27
Cody Ceci GP 4, -2, SOG 3, ATOI 16:40
Joel Edmundson GP 4, G 1, A 0, Pts 1, -3, SOG 7, ATOI 17:48
