LeafsParadise.com

It was a week of ups and downs for the Toronto Marlies.

The Baby Leafs started the week brightly, shutting out the Abbotsford Heat 5-0 Wednesday night for the club’s most convincing win of the season to date. Prior to being called up to the parent club, Ben Scrivens made quick work of the Heat, stopping all 23 shots he faced to earn the shutout.

Blueliner Matt Lashoff left Sunday's game with an injury (Courtesy of Marlies.ca)

As well, the two Joes were at it again – linemates Joe Colborne and Joey Crabb combined for three goals and six points to lead the Marlies offence. Jerry D’Amigo, the third member of the ‘Joe Line,’ collected two assists, while Greg Scott and Darryl Boyce rounded out the scoring.

However, this was all the Marlies had to cheer about this week.

The team opened their nine-game road trip with a loss to Lake Erie on Friday, falling to the Monsters 2-1. The loss came with some consolation, as Colborne’s lone goal extended his point streak to eight games. The lack of offence was uncharacteristic for the Marlies, as their single goal was the least scored by Toronto so far this season. Jussi Rynnas’s impressive play kept the Marlies in the game and can hardly be blamed for the loss, making 31 saves in the losing affair.

The Marlies stuck around Cleveland for a couple of extra days, facing off against Lake Erie for the second time in three days on Sunday afternoon. It seemed as though the Marlies were destined to lose the Halloween affair to the aptly-named ‘Monsters,’ as Toronto’s bleak offensive output continued, succumbing to Lake Erie 4-0. The game marked the first instance where the Marlies were shut out this season. Rynnas stopped 22 of 25 shots in the match, with the Monsters adding a late empty net goal.

Bits and Bobs:

• Joe Colborne is leading the AHL in scoring (8G, 8A), with Joey Crabb hot on his heels in third place (7G, 8A). Both players have played nine games.
• Colborne’s goal was his eight of the campaign, matching his output after 20 games with the Marlies last season.
• Colborne is tied for third in the league in +/-, sitting at +8 on the year.
• Nazem Kadri was minus-1 with 2 shots in his first game of the season with the Marlies on Friday. He followed that up with another -1 performance on Sunday.
  
• Keith Aulie is a team-worst -7 in nine games played. The next lowest tally is Greg Scott’s -3.
• The Marlies powerplay is now just 1 for the last 19.

The Marlies are still first in their division with a 5-3-1 record. They still have seven games to go on their road trip, picking things up in Austin, TX Thursday night when they face off against the Texas Stars.

As always, I welcome your thoughts.

- – -

If you’re interested in NHL betting or NHL odds, be sure to check out these links.