Marlies Fall Short Against Crunch in Hard-Fought Battle

Josiah Slavin in the faceoff circle against the Syracuse in AHL action on March 1, 2024 (image source: X / @TorontoMarlies)

In a tightly contested match at the Upstate Medical University Arena, the Toronto Marlies faced off against the Syracuse Crunch on Friday night. Despite putting up a valiant effort, the Marlies fell short with a final score of 3-2 in favor of the Crunch.

The game kicked off with both teams showcasing their offensive prowess in the first period. Syracuse drew first blood with a goal from Gabriel Dumont at 11:15, giving them an early lead. However, the Marlies quickly responded, as Jonny Tychonick found the back of the net with just 18 seconds remaining in the period, assisted by Sam Solow and Kyle Clifford. The teams headed into the first intermission tied at 1-1.

In the second period, the Crunch regained the lead when Luke Witkowski scored at 8:32, putting Syracuse ahead 2-1. Despite their best efforts, the Marlies couldn’t capitalize on their opportunities, and the period ended with the Crunch holding a one-goal advantage.

The Marlies came out determined in the third period, with Kyle Clifford netting the equalizer at 7:25, assisted by Joseph Blandisi. However, Syracuse answered back with a power-play goal from Gabriel Dumont at 13:33, his second of the night, sealing the victory for the Crunch.

Penalties proved to be a factor in the game, with both teams spending time in the sin bin throughout the night. Despite several power-play opportunities for the Marlies, they were unable to convert, finishing the game 0 for 3 on the man advantage.

In the goaltending department, Marlies’ netminder Hildeby faced 32 shots and made 29 saves, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win for Toronto. On the other side, Alnefelt stood tall for the Crunch, turning away 28 of the Marlies’ shots.

With the loss, the Marlies’ record moves to 15-9-6 for the season. Despite the defeat, the team showed resilience and determination, giving their all until the final buzzer sounded.

The Marlies will look to bounce back from this setback as they continue their push for the playoffs in the coming games. Stay tuned for more updates on Toronto’s AHL affiliate as they strive for success in the remainder of the season.

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