With the Toronto Maple Leafs on pause for most of February due to the Olympic break, the spotlight shifts to their AHL affiliate-the Toronto Marlies. And over the past week, the Marlies gave fans plenty to chew on with a pair of games that showcased both resilience and firepower.
Let’s start with the February 3 matchup against the Cleveland Monsters. The Marlies dropped this one 3-2 in a shootout, but there were still some encouraging signs-starting in net.
Dennis Hildeby, back in the AHL after logging heavier-than-expected minutes with the Leafs this season, looked sharp in his return. He turned aside 31 of 33 shots and gave Toronto every chance to come away with the win.
Offensively, Jacob Quillan continued to build on what’s becoming a standout AHL campaign, notching his ninth goal of the season. Luke Haymes also found the back of the net, helping the Marlies jump out to a 2-0 lead.
But Cleveland clawed back. Luca Del Bel Belluz, a promising Blue Jackets prospect, cut the deficit, and former Leaf Zach Aston-Reese tied things up in the third with his first AHL goal of the year.
The game would eventually head to a shootout, where Jack Williams buried the winner for the Monsters.
The Marlies didn’t dwell on the loss for long.
Four nights later, they came out flying against the Springfield Thunderbirds and never looked back, cruising to a 5-1 win. Vinni Lettieri wasted no time getting things started, scoring just over a minute into the game. From there, the veterans took over-Logan Shaw and Michael Pezzetta each lit the lamp before the first intermission, giving Toronto a commanding 3-0 lead after 20 minutes.
Springfield got one back late in the second courtesy of Calle Rosen-yes, that Calle Rosen, the former Maple Leaf-but that was the lone blemish on an otherwise dominant night for Toronto. Luke Haymes stayed hot, scoring for the second straight game to make it 4-1, and Benoit-Olivier Groulx sealed the deal with an empty-netter. Groulx had himself a night, finishing with a goal and two assists, while defenseman Noah Chadwick quietly racked up two helpers of his own.
Between the pipes, Artur Akhtyamov was steady and composed, stopping 29 of 30 shots to earn the win. It was a strong showing from a goaltending prospect who continues to gain traction in the Leafs’ system.
With three points collected over the week, the Marlies now sit third in the North Division with a 23-15-4 record. They’ll get a few days off before heading to Laval on Saturday to face the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate.
No Leafs? No problem. The Marlies are keeping the competitive fire burning in Toronto-and giving fans a glimpse of the organizational depth that could pay dividends down the stretch.