Fast start makes Marlies feel good | TheAHL.com

Patrick WilliamsTheAHL.com Features Writer

This is very similar to it.

The Toronto Marlies are off to a 7-1-2-1 start, putting them in a position to chase first place that will bring back memories for fans who remember the team capturing five North Division titles in seven years between 2011-12. and 2017-18. That streak ended with Toronto edging the Texas Stars in a seven-game sweep of the 2018 Calder Cup.

Since then, however, the Marlies have only won the division title in one season; after winning the North in 2022-23, Toronto dropped back to fifth place and a first-round exit last season.

Now in his second season as head coach, John Gruden his club is in the early stages of another fruitful campaign. But the postseason is still five months away. This season is all about setting the parameters for success that can make a long playoff run possible.

Effective special teams play is one of the main pillars. Early on, Toronto ranked third on both the power play (25.0 percent) and penalty kill (90.2 percent).

Goal setting is another key, of course, and the Marlies have had that piece. Dennis Hildebywho had a short stint with the Maple Leafs, has a .938 save percentage over his first two AHL starts this year. Artur Akhtyamovtaken in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Draft, he is 4-0-1 with a 2.14 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage in five appearances. Also a two-time Stanley Cup champion Matt Murray it offers solid gameplay and tutorial. Scoring a goal like that can take a team far.

Toronto picked up three of four points when it visited Charlotte last weekend, mounting third-period comebacks in both games to record a 4-3 win on Saturday and a 5-4 overtime loss on Sunday.

“For them to find a way to do it, I'm proud of them,” Gruden said after the game.

Forward Nikita Grebenkinas a 21-year-old Akhtyamov from the KHL, he made a quick transition to the AHL. The 2022 fifth-round draft pick has nine points (three goals, six assists) through 11 games and has become a go-to option for Gruden, especially on the power play. Rookie Fraser Minten2022 second round pick and the subject of much attention in Toronto, made his season debut on a trip to Charlotte and scored his first professional goal in last night's contest in Cleveland; he was out in September with an ankle injury.

As always, Leafs management made sure to provide plenty of experience to the Marlies, a team led by a third-year captain. Logan Shaw and last year's scoring leader Joseph Blandisi. Coming off a 27-goal season, the fourth-year champion Alex Steves earned the call-up this week after scoring nine goals in the first 10 games. Toronto also imported Alex Nylander on an AHL deal, and has given up five goals in his first 11 games. Matt Benningwho played 464 NHL games, could be an anchor on the blue line after being dealt to the Marlies this week; Benning was acquired from the San Jose Sharks in an Oct. 30 Timothy Liljegren.

Now the Marlies return home, opening a five-game homestand Saturday afternoon when Belleville visits Scotiabank Arena, home of the Maple Leafs. This is a game Live Saturday Community AHL Game of the Weekstreams for free on FloHockey's Facebook, X and YouTube accounts. Toronto has won all five of its home dates so far, outscoring opponents, 19-9.

While the build is still ongoing, Gruden came away happy with his team's decision, especially after coming together the way it did in Charlotte.

Said Gruden, “We'll take that all day.”

In the American Hockey League for two decades, TheAHL.com features writer Patrick Williams and currently covers the league for NHL.com and FloSports and is a regular contributor to SiriusXM NHL Network Radio. He was the recipient of the AHL's James H. Ellery Memorial Award for the league's top scorer in 2016.