TORONTO,ONT- To quote the song lyrics of Meat Loaf “Two of three ain’t bad” can sum up the week for the Toronto Marlies. A home win against Hartford Wolfpack kicked off the week, thier first of the season. Multiple points nights from Kris Newbury (two goals) and Jaime Sifers (one goal, one assist) along with frozen out Maple Leaf Mark Bell who recorded his first point as a Marlie and Staffan Kronwall helped secure a 4-1 victory in front of 1753 fans at the Ricoh Coliseum. A standout 
performance from netminder Justin Pogge and the water tight penalty kill kept the Wolfpack out of net despite being outshot 31 to 21. Sunday’s matinee game at the Colisuem was in complete contrast to saturdays performance. A division match-up against Grand Rapid Griffins started badly for the Marlies giving up a powerplay goal with less than a minute on the clock, the first on the Marlies at home. The usually reliable Justin Pogge gave away a number of rebounds and wasn’t long before the Griffins latched onto a stray puck. Francis Pare put the visitors ahead by two after a two on one break away left Pogge vulnerable. Further goals from the Griffins in the second period was enough to give the visitors a 5-1 lead with Ben Ondrus replying for the Marlies. Head-coach Greg Gilbert had seen enough and pulled Pogge with with four minutes of the second period left. Former Syracuse Crunch shot stopper Adam Munro saw his first action as a Marlie since signing in the summer. Despite the change the Marlies failed to recover as Brent Aubin’s two goals were not enough to swing the momentum as the Griffins killed off any attempt of a come back with a late unassisted goal by Abdelkader handing the Marlies thier third loss of the season. The third game of the week saw the Marlies face off to bitter rival Hamilton Bulldogs. In a fast paced game it was the special teams that decided the tight battle. Two first period powerplay goals from Andre Deveaux and Mark Bell, his first as a Marlie gave the Marlies breathing room going into the second. The Bulldogs did have the chance to get back into the game late in the first as Staffan Kronwall was assessed a game misconduct for an elbowing. However the Bulldogs failed to capitalise on the ensuing five minute penalty as the Marlies penalty kill held firm. A poor turnover for by Brent Aubin in the second gave a shorthanded attack by the Bulldogs which Yanick Lehoux finished off by blasting the puck at Pogge in net. Despite cutting the speed of the shot Pogge was unable to keep himself and the puck out of the net. The Bulldogs came out for the third firing on all cylinders, clawing back two goals with less than half of the period gone. Goals from Chad Anderson and a second from Lehoux following a suspect rebound from Pogge gave the visitors a one goal lead. As the Marlies pushed for the equaliser the ensuing pressure from the Marlies paid off forcing the Bulldogs to take a penalty. A vicious slap shot from Jeremy Williams on the powerplay tied the game with Bell earning his second point of the night for assist. Williams earned his second goal of the night in overtime on a two on one breakaway goal that left Cedrik Desjardins in net cursing himself after missing the puck glove side off Williams wrist shot. The win gives the Marlies thier second of the season, and with the special teams firing on all cylinders Greg Gilberts Marlies are showing after a shaky start they will be contenders again. Contact the author at Kevin.oconnor@prohockeynews.com
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