Leeb scored the relocated AHL franchise's first game-winner late in the second period as Toronto skated to a 5-2 victory in front of 8,056 fans at Ricoh Coliseum on Wednesday night.

The game marked the return of AHL hockey to the Toronto area after the parent Maple Leafs moved the team from St. John's, N.L., at the end of the 2004-05 season.

"We were nervous. Heck, I was nervous,'' said Maurice, who is in his first year as an AHL coach after coaching Carolina in the NHL. "You've got the general manager and the assistant general manager of the Leafs (here), so everybody knows they're at the game. Your home opener, first time, new Marlies.

"We did a lot of playing in our heads, but not much with our bodies. It took us a while to get our feet going and then after we settled in.''

Staffan Kronwall, Carlo Colaiacovo, Brett Engelhardt and John Pohl also scored for the Marlies (1-1-0).

Mark Hartigan and Geoff Platt replied for Syracuse (1-1-0).

Marlies goalie Jean-Sebastien Aubin let in the first

shot he faced, but went on to make 29 saves to help

Maurice get his first AHL win.

The Crunch opened the scoring just 53 seconds into the game when Hartigan wired a wrist shot over Aubin's shoulder.

Platt scored short-handed at 6:06 of the first period to make it 2-0 for Syracuse before defenceman Colaiacovo got Toronto on the board with a big slapshot from the point.

In all, the Marlies defense amassed five points in the game.

"We've got two or three offensive defencemen here,'' said Maurice. "What we're trying to get them to do is recognize offence, but not look for it.''

Despite a few turnovers, including one that directly led to Platt's goal, Colaiacovo was pleased with the performance of his fellow defencemen.

"We've got the experience and the veteran leadership (on defence), and the skill," said Colaiacovo, who was one of the last player's cut at the Maple Leafs training camp.

The game was a penalty-filled affair, with 37 penalties called and 15 power plays for the Marlies, who scored three goals with the man advantage.

All photos by Graig Abel Photography