Former Maple Leafs Player Nearly Involved in Fight During Handshake Line as Marlies Are Eliminated From Calder Cup Playoffs
The Marlies tied the game late in the third period, but couldn't find the overtime winner like they did in Game 2.
The Toronto Marlies put up a fight, something they've done all season long. However, they've come out of it this time, heading home with their season over.
Similar to Game 2 of their series against the Belleville Senators, there were some late-game heroics to send the game to extra time. Marshall Rifai scored his third goal of the series and Logan Shaw had a shorthanded goal late in the second period to make it a one-goal game heading into the final frame.
These goals proved what the Marlies were all year: A team that wouldn't quit.
And with less than seven minutes left in the third period, Matteo Pietroniro's point shot — his first goal since Mar. 17 — found its way past Mads Sogaard, tying the game at three goals a piece.
Toronto secured another opportunity to head to overtime. This time, though, the final goal would not only send the opposing team to the dressing room but would also end their season.
On Belleville's third shot of overtime, the puck bounced off Dennis Hildeby and the Senators' Garrett Pilon, who had two goals in the series, potted it into the nearly open net, moving them on to the next round of the Calder Cup Playoffs against the Cleveland Monsters.
"I thought we probably played our best game of this series," Marlies head coach John Gruden said to the team's play-by-play commentator Todd Crocker after the game.
"Unfortunately it wasn't good enough, but I liked our compete, I liked the way we played, I liked the way we stayed patient, I liked a lot about what we did, but unfortunately it was — we lost and it doesn't feel good and I feel for the guys right now because they played so well."
This was the Marlies' 13th game this year against the Senators. It's proven to be one of the most hated rivalries in the AHL's North Division, and maybe even in the league.
And it showed in the handshake line following the game as both Boko Imama and Kyle Clifford got into it. These two players have a history going back to when Imama jabbed Hildeby after the second period of their game on Jan. 12.
However, now, it's Belleville headed to the next round of the Calder Cup Playoffs, winning their best-of-three series against the Marlies 2-1.
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