2016 AHL PLAYOFFS - SECOND ROUND - DIVISION FINALS
North Division Finals – Series “J” (best-of-7)
N1-Toronto Marlies vs. N2-Albany Devils
Game 1 – Wed., May 4 – Albany at Toronto, 7:30
Game 2 – Fri., May 6 – Albany at Toronto, 7:30
Game 3 – Sun., May 8 – Toronto at Albany, 5:00
Game 4 – Tue., May 10 – Toronto at Albany, 7:00
*Game 5 – Thu., May 12 – Toronto at Albany, 7:00
*Game 6 – Sat., May 14 – Albany at Toronto, 3:00
*Game 7 – Mon., May 16 – Albany at Toronto, 7:30
Central Division Finals – Series “K” (best-of-7)
C2-Lake Erie Monsters vs. C4-Grand Rapids Griffins
Game 1 – Thu., May 5 – Grand Rapids at Lake Erie, 7:00
Game 2 – Sat., May 7 – Grand Rapids at Lake Erie, 12:00
Game 3 – Sun., May 8 – Lake Erie at Grand Rapids, 4:00
Game 4 – Tue., May 10 – Lake Erie at Grand Rapids, 7:00
*Game 5 – Sat., May 14 – Grand Rapids at Lake Erie, 7:00
*Game 6 – Mon., May 16 – Lake Erie at Grand Rapids, 7:00
*Game 7 – Tue., May 17 – Grand Rapids at Lake Erie, 7:00
Pacific Division Finals – Series “J” (best-of-7)
P1-Ontario Reign vs. P2-San Diego Gulls
Game 1 – Thu., May 5 – San Diego at Ontario, 10:00
Game 2 – Sat., May 7 – Ontario at San Diego, 10:05
Game 3 – Sun., May 8 – San Diego at Ontario, 10:00
Game 4 – Fri., May 13 – Ontario at San Diego, 10:05
*Game 5 – Sat., May 14 – San Diego at Ontario, 10:00
*Game 6 – Mon., May 16 – Ontario at San Diego, 10:05
*Game 7 – Wed., May 18 – San Diego at Ontario, 10:00
Atlantic Division Finals – Series “I” (best-of-7)
A1-Hershey Bears vs. A3-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Game 1 – Wed., May 4 – W-B/Scranton at Hershey, 7:00
Game 2 – Fri., May 6 – W-B/Scranton at Hershey, 7:00
Game 3 – Sat., May 7 – Hershey at W-B/Scranton, 7:05
Game 4 – Mon., May 9 – Hershey at W-B/Scranton, 7:05
*Game 5 – Wed., May 11 – W-B/Scranton at Hershey, 7:00
*Game 6 – Fri., May 13 – Hershey at W-B/Scranton, 7:05
*Game 7 – Sun., May 15 – W-B/Scranton at Hershey, 5:00
Calder Cup Playoffs Preview: Marlies vs. Devils
The Toronto Marlies had little trouble escaping the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs, but things won’t be so easy in Round 2.
After rolling past the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in three games, the Marlies face a stiff test against one of the AHL’s top teams in the Albany Devils.
The New Jersey Devils affiliate finished the regular season second to the Marlies with 102 points and third in the AHL with 46 wins. They are even better now after the reinforcements arrived.
Albany added forwards Reid Boucher and Joseph Blandisi and defenceman Damon Severson after New Jersey’s season came to an end, while top prospect Pavel Zacha joined the team after spending the year with the OHL’s Sarnia Sting. All four players made a big impact in Albany’s first-round win against the Utica Comets.
The Marlies are still the deeper and more talented team, but they're going to have to tighten up and play more disciplined against a Devils team that doesn't give up much against. Albany was the second-best defensive team in the league and their third-ranked penalty kill has yet to relinquish a power-play goal against in the post-season.
They're also solid in net, although the goaltending matchup in this series is essentially a wash.
Scott Wedgewood was lights out in the regular season, albeit in limited action, posting a 1.55 goals-against average and .933 save percentage in 22 games. Wedgewood, who represented Canada at the 2012 world juniors, turned in a .922 SV% and 1.93 GAA in Round 1.
After Antoine Bibeau and Garret Sparks split duties in the first round, the latter should take the reins to start the second. Bibeau was chased after allowing four goals in the series finale against Bridgeport, while Sparks hasn't allowed a goal in 88 minutes of playoff action after putting up impressive numbers in 21 regular-season appearances.
Regular season head-to-head
TOR 3-2 (OT), ALB 3-2, TOR 3-2 (OT), TOR 4-0, ALB 3-2, TOR 3-0 ....
Toronto Marlies
Record: 54-16-5-1 (114 points), First in North Division, First in Eastern Conference
Power play: 17.4% (10th)
Penalty kill: 84.0% (12th)
Goal differential: 294 GF (1st) | 191 GA (4th)
Leading Scorer: T.J. Brennan, D (69 GP, 25 G, 43 A)
How they got here: Swept Bridgeport in Round 1
Three to Watch
Connor Carrick
Connor Carrick is the early leader in playoff scoring race with seven points thanks to a three-goal, five-point night in the series clincher against Bridgeport.
The 22-year-old blue-liner can't be expected to keep up that pace, but he's been a difference-maker at both ends of the ice. He also gives the Marlies a dual threat from the point on the power play, which opens up more space for leading scorer T.J. Brennan.
William Nylander
William Nylander only hit the scoresheet twice against Bridgeport, but he played a well-rounded game.
He competed well in the defensive zone and had some dangerous moments in the offensive zone. Yes, Nylander will need to produce more going forward but if he keeps creating chances like he did in the first round the points will come.
It will be interesting to see who Nylander lines up with against Albany after he saw time with a number of different winger combinations against Bridgeport.
Mark Arcobello
One of the AHL's top scorers in the regular season, Mark Arcobello has had a quiet start to the post-season with two assists and only four shots on goal.
Although the Marlies rely on a offence-by-committee approach, they will need the veteran to play a bigger role against a tough opponent like Albany.
Albany Devils
Record: 46-20-8-2 (102 points), Second in North Division, Second in Eastern Conference
Power play: 18.3% (8th)
Penalty kill: 87.2% (3rd)
Goal differential: 212 GF (15th) | 167 GA (2nd)
Leading Scorer: Matt Lorito, LW (71 GP, 18 G, 36 A)
How they got here: Beat Utica 3-1 in Round 1
Three to Watch
Reid Boucher
There might not be a better pure sniper on either team than Reid Boucher.
The skilled winger had a point in every game in the first round and is second to Carrick with six points. Boucher, who led the OHL with 62 goals in 2012-13, was nearly a point-a-game player in the AHL this season with 32 points in 34 games. He added eight goals and 19 points in 39 games with New Jersey.
Damon Severson
Damon Severson is an NHL defenceman on AHL duty.
The 6-foot-2 rearguard played three games in the AHL this season and has only suited up in five games in Albany since being drafted out of Kelowna in 2012. He played 72 games for New Jersey in 2015-16 after getting in 51 a season ago.
Severson is second on the Devils in scoring after picking up five assists in Round 1.
Pavel Zacha
Pavel Zacha looks every bit the player the Devils were hoping for when they drafted him sixth overall last June.
After spending the year with the Sarnia Sting, where he put up 28 goals and 64 points in 51 games, the big centre made his NHL debut against the Maple Leafs in the regular-season finale and recorded two assists with a plus-4 rating.
Zacha had three points in three games after joining Albany at the end of the season and kept it going in the playoffs with a goal and two assists in four games versus Utica.
---- SPORTSNET http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/calder-cup-playoffs-preview-marlies-vs-devils/
Let's get a line-up all the way to the ACC, for this next series...!
#ConquerCalder: Toronto Marlies 2016 Playoff Tribute/Pump - TML
GO MARLIES GO !!
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