Marlies advance to Calder Cup Finals

TORONTO — the Marlies Simon Gysbers scored the game-winning goal late in the third period, to give his team the privilege to meet the Norfolk Admirals for the AHL Championship.
 
The game started with a power-play opportunity for the Marlies.   Dan Ringwald was whistled for hooking, with only 26 seconds expired in the opening period.   A rebound magically found Matt Frattin’s stick in the slot.   His shot sailed into the net, just under the crossbar.   Assists on this score went to fellow NHLer Philippe Dupuis, and Jake Gardiner.   “I thought we came out great on the power-play,” said Toronto coach Dallas Eakins.   “It gets us one early; it gets us some life.”  
 
At the four-minute mark, the Barons got a power-play opportunity, however were not able to convert.   This man advantage was nullified when defenseman Bryan Rodney was sent to the box for cross-checking forty seconds later.   Each team had another power-play opportunity late in the first period, yet were not able to score.
 
With about a minute remaining in the second period, Oklahoma City was going to go on the power-play, yet undisciplined play by Josh Green nullified the man advantage.   Greg Scott was whistled for high-sticking while Green served time for slashing.
 
33 seconds later, the Barons would even the score at one, when Chris VandeVelde scored on a pass from Manus Paajarvi and Rodney.   Paajarvi was able to skate around the two defensemen and get Scrivens out of position.   The Barons had the momentum and the man advantage heading in to the third period.  
 
Mid-way through the final period, Toronto would take the lead on a slap shot from the blue line.   Simon Gysbers earned his first post-season score when the puck passed Yann Danis on the glove side low.   “I saw Nicky breaking, I just hit is as hard as I could,” said Gysbers.   Setting up this play were teammates Nicolas Deschamps and Joe Colborne.
 
With less than a minute remaining in the game, the Barons pulled their goaltender for an extra skater.   Frattin’s rush up ice resulted in a goal when: he, Barons defenseman Dylan Yeo and the puck, all landed in the net.   Frattin appeared to be injured on this play, and limped off the ice.   This was his second score of the night, and the tenth of the post-season.  
 
“Fratty got sent down after the Leafs were done,” said Gysbers.   “He has been unbelievable for us; such a good skater.   He scored two big goals for us.   What’s to say about Scrivey, he has been our backbone the whole play-offs, we owe a lot to him.”
 
Despite being the top regular season team in the Western Division, the Barons lost game five. “They are the hardest team we have seen so far,” said Gysbers. “They matched our work ethic every night; they were hard to platy against. They worked every shift, they brought it every game.   Hats off to them, they gave us a hell of a run.”
 
The Marlies won game 5 by a score of 3 to 1.   The Barons lost three consecutive regulation games for the first time this season.   The Barons were 0 for 3 on the power play, while the Marlies were 1 for 3.  
 
Ben Scrivens stopped 26 of 27 shots and improved his stats to 1.61 goals against average, .952 save percentage, which is tops in the AHL.   In his 12 games with the NHL Toronto Maple Leafs this year, his record was 4-5-2.  
 
“The play-offs are always a marathon and it is amazing what teams go through,” said Eakins.   “A guy like Josh Engel jumps in. He is not even playing his position [defense]; his is playing center on the fourth line.   He gives us two excellent games.   That is what play-offs are all about: those unsung guys stepping up and giving you big games.
 
The Marlies will face the Norfolk Admirals in the Calder Cup Finals.   This series will be a 2-3-2 format.   Game one is slated for June 1 in Norfolk.  
contact the author at gail.hamill@prohockeynews.com