Toronto Suffers First Regulation Loss In Last 8 Games

(SYRACUSE, NY) – With the heated playoff race in the North division, the Marlies threw everything they could at the Crunch, and if they could have tossed the kitchen sink in as well, they would have.

Toronto out shot and out played their opponent, but fell 4-0 to the Crunch in Syracuse on Friday night.

Greg Moore had two goals while Evan McGrath and Chad Kolarik had singles. Kevin Lalande recorded the shutout making 33 saves.

Despite the final score, the Marlies controlled most of the game, hitting the goal post five times in the game, and had several close scoring chances where they just couldn’t tap home a goal.

Moore put the Crunch up 1-0 midway through the first when he tipped a Michael Ratchuck point shot over the glove of James Reimer on the power play. The Marlies held a 17-7 shot advantage in the opening period.

The Crunch added to their lead in the final minute of the second period, when McGrath tipped home a loose puck in the Toronto crease during a mad scramble.

Kolarik made it a 3-0 game just over six minutes into the third period, but the Marlies were still getting their chances.  With just under seven minutes to go in the third period, Toronto went to the power play, and pulled James Reimer for the extra attacker. The net remained empty with several scoring chances, while the Crunch were blocked themselves from an empty net goal. While working on a second power play with net still empty, Moore was able to send a puck from his own zone into the empty net with 1:50 to go, making it a 4-0 game.

The Marlies, who are 6-1-1 in their last seven games, will face the Rochester Americans at home on Saturday afternoon in the front end of a home and home series.

With eight games to go in the regular season, the Marlies are five points behind Manitoba for the final playoff spot in the North division.