Toronto Marlies/Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby (41) defends his net against the Minnesota Wild ina game at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, MN. (Source: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images)The Toronto Marlies beat the Rochester Americans 4-2 to win Game Three of the First Round Series of the North Division of the 2026 Calder Cup to qualify for the division semifinals where they will face the Laval Rocket.
The Marlies packed 39 punches on the Americans, set up in the first period where Toronto outshot Rochester 16-8.
The Amerks got the first shot of the game on Marlies goalie Dennis Hildeby in the 27th second of the game, but then not only did Toronto hold Rochester shotless for almost 10 minutes, but put up 10 shots of their own, where the first one found the back of the net off the stick of forward Ryan Tverberg after a giveaway from a fanned shot by Rochester's Ryan Johnson.
Four of the Amerks' eight shots in that period came in a two-minute power play.
The Americans kept the shot-differential close in the second period with Rochester barely outshooting Toronto 14-13. Each team got an even-strength goal and a power play goal to keep the score at 3-2
Rochester again barely outshot Toronto 10-9 in the third period, but the outstanding start for Toronto dug too deep of a hole for the Amerks to climb out of, and Marlies goalie Hildeby making key saves was just too much of an obstacle, ensuring the series win for the Marlies.
Hildeby made 29 saves off 31 shots for a save percentage of 0.935.
Rochester goalie Levi made 35 saves off 38 shots for a save percentage of 0.921.